2021.08.27 20:24
The Two Blows America Is Dealing to the Taliban
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/08/two-blows-america-dealing-taliban/619903/?utm_source=feed
2021.08.27 20:31
2021.08.28 10:12
That is certainly an interesting view, Dr. HJ! I also agree with it!
So, not a total waste but what a 'small' positive dividend for 2.5 trillion dollars the U.S. poured in for a long 20 year period!
As a matter of fact, many Afghani expatriates tell us this will be the fourth wave of exodus mostly for the cream of their society, initiated by the British invasion we all are familiar with the Great Game story. Yes, they are already out throughout the world like Germany in Europe.
Indeed, my buddy Karim Ali, a famous ENT/H&N surgeon who received the training at MCV a few years behind me and served as a chair for the ENT Dept before he retired last year, is an Afghani expatriate and also current manager of our GWU Satellite office, Shaima Popal is also an Afghani so that I had ample chance to learn about their country and found only 'uneducated' bottom of their society remains after three major waves of the exodus to encounter this animal Taliban. Now, these people belonging to the bottom(?) of their society who tasted the freedom desperately want to get out!!!
BB Lee
2021.08.28 13:19
Please don't worry too much about the " 2.5 trillion dollars the U.S. poured into the Afghan war ".
Most of it, eventually, landed in the U.S., not in Afghanistan.
I am sure it has made a few billionaires and millionaires in the U.S.,
but some of it got into the pockets of poor people in the U.S. as well.
This is how a foreign war is good for the U.S. economy.
Combined with the humongous Covid expenditures, we are waiting for inflation.
That's what I am worried about.
2021.08.28 17:52
Exactly, Steve, I really worry about the inflation caused by these trillions and trillions of dollars including the stimulus bill. Such limitless printing of the greenbacks will eventually bring inflation to affect our daily life. I know you are different with enough financial cushion as a rich surgeon retired from the private practice but others like me who retired from the academic institute will have to depend on the fixed income generated from the limited resources. Such inflation has a devastating impact to daily life!
BB Lee
P.S. There are no exceptions to cause the corruption to where the American money goes in! I heard/read this lament for the first time along with the story of the CIA which kicked out prime minister Mosaddegh to replace Shah Pahlavi to control the oils in Iran in early '50 in our high school days with such surprise.
Yes, American money equals the 'corruption' throughout history! Sadly!
wholeheartedly agree with the opinions of this writer.
America succeeded in planting the seeds of democracy against all odds
in the middle of the Moslem world as evidenced by all those freedom-seeking Afghans
as articulated clearly by the writer.
It took Koreans decades before they enjoy democracy in the true sense.
It may take Afghans much longer.
But America planted enough seeds during the last 20 years so we will see.
George W. Bush's prophesy may be realized in this century.
God bless America where the true democracy started with HIS blessings
and where the Good wins over the Bad most of the time with all the necessary struggles.