Afghanistan: Progress real, not imagined

[charrison]

Linkage

In a Dec. 19 briefing, Dr. Joe Collins, the Pentagon's Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Stability Operations, reported that over 200 Civil Affairs troops were on the ground in Afghanistan. Since the war began, 127 schools, 400 wells, and 26 medical clinics have been built. Over $900 million has been spent on such projects and more is on the way.

 

[Broohaha]

good post!

 

[optoman]

But aren't we there for the oil?

 

[tbates757]

Originally posted by: optoman
But aren't we there for the oil?

hehe, you can bet somebody would have beaten the drum

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: optoman
But aren't we there for the oil?

For $900M we could have built a 1/3 of a pipeline, but we decided schools and hospitals would be better.

 

[Zipp]

Nice post charrison !

 

[yllus]

What would make my month is to see secular teachers, textbooks, engineers and doctors make their way into the country. That's probably asking for a little much though. There are plenty of expatriate Afghanis living abroad who may be able to fill these needed roles.

As I eventually said at the beginning of that war, the Afghani people will one day hugely thank the American people.

 

[feralkid]

I dunno, most other reports indicate resurgent fundamentalism and there have even been reports of taliban returning to some areas. Looong way to go, but let's keep it up!

 

[chiwawa626]

Does afgainstan have oil? if not we can start the worlds biggest ash-tray sand company!

 

[optoman]

It is a good start but it'll take 10 years minimum to get things in order. I just hope we don't lose anymore of our soldiers.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: chiwawa626
Does afgainstan have oil? if not we can start the worlds biggest ash-tray sand company!

Nothing that is developed. The proposed natural gas pipeline that was signed at the end of the year, runs through Afganistan, not from Afghanistan.


Consider this.

That pipeline is worth 3Billion, we have put 900M+ into construction.

The Afghanistan economy is "only" $21B. This should be a major economic boost.

 

[FrontlineWarrior]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: optoman
But aren't we there for the oil?

For $900M we could have built a 1/3 of a pipeline, but we decided schools and hospitals would be better.

i'm saddened at the lack of priorities in our govt. who decided the welfare of strange looking people on the other side of the planet are more important than saving gas money for americans? /me cries.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: FrontlineWarrior

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: optoman
But aren't we there for the oil?

For $900M we could have built a 1/3 of a pipeline, but we decided schools and hospitals would be better.

i'm saddened at the lack of priorities in our govt. who decided the welfare of strange looking people on the other side of the planet are more important than saving gas money for americans? /me cries.

Gas prices are an issue?

 

[Zebo]

Charrison you do know there are daily skirmishes from just normal afganis pissed off about loosing loved ones. especially in the south. But overall dispite the "weekly standard" it's good we are doing PR there while we biuld a pipeline.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: chiwawa626
Does afgainstan have oil? if not we can start the worlds biggest ash-tray sand company!

They could destroy the market for rock and gravel. We must act now!!
:Q














                                                                                         

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Charrison you do know there are daily skirmishes from just normal afganis pissed off about loosing loved ones. especially in the south. But overall dispite the "weekly standard" it's good we are doing PR there while we biuld a pipeline.

Or maybe we just dont want it to turn into a rats nest again. It is going to be a few years before life is "normal" there again.

And exactly what problems do you have with the natural gas pipeline that is going to built by non US companies that is going to provided jobs and income for Afghanistan? Or are you just an asshat that would rather Afghanistan stay poor forever?

 

[Broohaha]

Originally posted by: FrontlineWarrior

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: optoman But aren't we there for the oil?

For $900M we could have built a 1/3 of a pipeline, but we decided schools and hospitals would be better.

i'm saddened at the lack of priorities in our govt. who decided the welfare of strange looking people on the other side of the planet are more important than saving gas money for americans? /me cries.

lmao!

(btw, where was the /end sarcasm) /end concern

 

[SuperTool]

Well, at least some country is benefitting from Bush's economic policies.
Wish it was us though
It's the economy again, stupid

 

[Broohaha]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Charrison you do know there are daily skirmishes from just normal afganis pissed off about loosing loved ones. especially in the south. But overall dispite the "weekly standard" it's good we are doing PR there while we biuld a pipeline.

wrong. the people who are "pissed off" are remnant al qaeda and taliban as well as militia aligned with anti-americna warlords (who, it should be added, are getting swiftly routed in any encounters with US troops). people lost loved ones months ago but the bombing has stopped and rebuilding has started. stop being such an anti-american dipshit and open your eyes.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
Well, at least some country is benefitting from Bush's economic policies.
Wish it was us though
It's the economy again, stupid

And still unemployment is still a relatively low 6.0%. The economy is slowly picking up. Hopefully more tax cuts will go out so the economy can get going again soon.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: SuperTool
Well, at least some country is benefitting from Bush's economic policies.
Wish it was us though
It's the economy again, stupid

And still unemployment is still a relatively low 6.0%. The economy is slowly picking up. Hopefully more tax cuts will go out so the economy can get going again soon.

Well, Dubya better get something going in the next couple years. These 10 year tax cut plans aren't exactly going to help him in '04.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Broohaha

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Charrison you do know there are daily skirmishes from just normal afganis pissed off about loosing loved ones. especially in the south. But overall dispite the "weekly standard" it's good we are doing PR there while we biuld a pipeline.

wrong. the people who are "pissed off" are remnant al qaeda and taliban as well as militia aligned with anti-americna warlords (who, it should be added, are getting swiftly routed in any encounters with US troops). people lost loved ones months ago but the bombing has stopped and rebuilding has started. stop being such an anti-american dipshit and open your eyes.

YAWN Don't forget the millions hiding out in Pakistan who will return the day we leave, if we ever can. How you interprt that as anti-american or anti-afgani I have no clue. It's not as rosey as presented by the week;ly standard.

And Charrison sure as long as the profits for transporting go back to them I think it's great.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl

Originally posted by: Broohaha

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Charrison you do know there are daily skirmishes from just normal afganis pissed off about loosing loved ones. especially in the south. But overall dispite the "weekly standard" it's good we are doing PR there while we biuld a pipeline.

wrong. the people who are "pissed off" are remnant al qaeda and taliban as well as militia aligned with anti-americna warlords (who, it should be added, are getting swiftly routed in any encounters with US troops). people lost loved ones months ago but the bombing has stopped and rebuilding has started. stop being such an anti-american dipshit and open your eyes.

YAWN Don't forget the millions hiding out in Pakistan who will return the day we leave, if we ever can. How you interprt that as anti-american or anti-afgani I have no clue. It's not as rosey as presented by the week;ly standard.

And Charrison sure as long as the profits for transporting go back to them I think it's great.

Considering Afghanistan has been in a state of war for about 20 years, no one really expects it to be normal within a short time. We are training their army so they can hopefully take care of the radicals that are going to be hanging out there. General Franks said we will probably be there for at least 10 years.

And yes, the Afghan goverment is going to be getting transport and maintance fees on the pipeline.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: charrison
Linkage

In a Dec. 19 briefing, Dr. Joe Collins, the Pentagon's Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Stability Operations, reported that over 200 Civil Affairs troops were on the ground in Afghanistan. Since the war began, 127 schools, 400 wells, and 26 medical clinics have been built. Over $900 million has been spent on such projects and more is on the way.

Let's take some bets: Once US influence wanes just a bit, the fundamentalists will move in, kick the women out (and make them wear burqas), turn the schools into madrassas so they can squirt out more Taliban, and close the clinics for being "un-Islamic" for practicing Western medicine...

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: SuperTool
Well, at least some country is benefitting from Bush's economic policies.
Wish it was us though
It's the economy again, stupid

And still unemployment is still a relatively low 6.0%. The economy is slowly picking up. Hopefully more tax cuts will go out so the economy can get going again soon.

Well, Dubya better get something going in the next couple years. These 10 year tax cut plans aren't exactly going to help him in '04.

Well i will take Bush's accellerated tax cut this year, over the democrates one time $300 rebate and no underfunded state goverment left behind plan.