Originally posted by: Lemon law
I think Rainsfort is somewhat arguing at cross purposes. By in large I think there WAS world wide agreement that a US invasion of Afghanistan was justified. But the notion that Pakistan is responsible for the resurgence of the taliban, basically a group of retro reactionary nuts lacking any education is absurd.
But when the Nato occupation has only 62,000 troops in a nation of 31 million, when the US and Nato have done basically nothing to provide the economic aid that would prove the Taliban has nothing to offer the Afghan people, and then the US empowers war lords who have taken over much of Afghanistan, it becomes an easy sell for the Taliban to say
all your miseries are caused by Western influences.
This is still a battle for the hearts and minds of the Afghan people and its a battle that must take place in the free marketplace of ideas. Its totally absurd that 62,000 Nato troops or even triple that will do anything but prove the taliban correct. The taliban will still find new refuges as the USA becomes the most hated nation in the region.
In many ways, The Green Bean is somewhat a typical modern Pakistani, he wants to support the US efforts, but its certainly equally possible to get all Pakistanis to unite against the USA.
And when we have so few Pakistanis posting on P&N, I hardly think we should dismiss The Green Bean as some defiant nut that fails to fall down and worship us. If he is anything remotely resembling typical, its a warning that we should heed.