Slog - Comments on A New Study Says Afghanistan Could Fail as a State

Comment by um

um — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:48:06 -0800

afghanistan, the 51st state.

Comment by max solomon

max solomon — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:52:26 -0800

COULD fail?

Comment by Greg

Greg — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:55:34 -0800

I could have told you that. Bush and co. pretended to give a shit about Afghanistan long enough to blow up pretty much everything of value left after the Soviets and the Taliban finished with it, then promptly forgot all about the country and moved most of the troops over to the meat grinder that is Iraq. The result? Anarchy, corruption, a resurgent Taliban, Al Qaeda moving back in, and most of the ordinary people fucked over just like before. America has always sucked at nation building, but we convinced ourselves otherwise after we got lucky with Germany and Japan.

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:08:40 -0800

Well, Canada has told NATO they've had it and are leaving this year if US troops don't start showing up.

No, not the pitiful 3500 GWB proposed, but more like 35,000.

Right now Canada has half its entire military in Afghanistan and they've been there since 2002 and they're sick and tired of pulling the weight for NATO.

And I'm sick and tired of watching my comrades in arms Maple Leaf-draped coffins flown in and buried with full honors on national TV ... for a war that GWB and his neocons forgot.

Comment by Cascadian

Cascadian — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:13:06 -0800

It's already too late there. One of the things that I don't look forward to in a new Democratic president is the doomed attempt to "win" in Afghanistan. Or the really scary mess that will likely blow up in Pakistan.

Comment by Mahtli69

Mahtli69 — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:14:04 -0800

Nothing surprising there. Afghanistan has never really been a country, but rather just a migration path for all of South Asia. Its people do not share a common language or culture. The country is rugged, arid, and land-locked. Opium is its only real export. It is basically a patchwork of warlord controlled provinces.

Comment by Bald Face Lie

Bald Face Lie — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:56:48 -0800

Obama- "It�s time to heed our military commanders by increasing our commitment to Afghanistan, and it�s time to protect the American people by taking the fight to al Qaeda."

Clinton - "It would be tragic if we fail in Afghanistan because of an unwillingness to deploy a manageable size of additional troops to aid an important and willing ally during a time of true need.�

__________-" I would not maintain the occupation of Afghanistan. That was mainly motivated by oil pipelines and some other things that are never discussed."

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:56:49 -0800

Um, actually, @6, they are also now the #1 exporter of Marijuana worldwide.

Which can't be tolerated, as that displaces Canada's number one cash crop.

Comment by Mahtli69

Mahtli69 — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:24:00 -0800

@8 - That's good for America, since we can't afford Canadian weed anymore.

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:27:55 -0800

Will: "they are also now the #1 exporter of Marijuana worldwide" -- cite please. Or did this come out of the same ass as "80 MPG 4WD diesels"?