I always get a few readers who are appalled at my suggestion that the only way we will ever see the development of a moderate Islam is to let Islamists take power and demonstrate to their own people that Islam is a dead end in the modern world (kind of like Obama’s election finally leading many on the fence to finally see the complete bankruptcy of leftism). They chide me because of what would happen to the Copts and the other Christians left in the Middle East.
As the descendant of Christians chased out of the Middle East, I hardly need any reminding. But our current strategy is certainly not working out for Christians there. First, of course, “democracy” in Iraq has caused half the remaining Christians to flee to more congenial countries like Syria, where the utter lack of democracy ensures a much safer life for Christians. Now we have this latest outrage against a Christian in one of our other client states in the region, Afghanistan. Under my strategy, Said Musa would almost certainly be facing the same fate — but we wouldn’t be paying for it! The Afghan justice ministry’s chief of staff says “They must be sentenced to death to serve as a lesson for others” — and we’re providing his salary and our men are bleeding and dying to protect him from his fellow barbarians in the Taliban.
Ralph Peters, in John Miller’s latest “Between the Covers” interview, has it right: “It’s a worthless war, a useless cause, without thought, without a strategy, by people who are operating on sheer inertia.” The sooner we scrape Afghanistan off our shoes, the better.
I don't think "but we wouldn’t be paying for it!" is the rallying cry we're looking for.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI was in favor of both wars. Yes, the opponents of the wars were (with some exceptions) despicable America-haters. That said, Mark Krikorian is right; we should remove ourselves completely from both Afghanistan and Iraq. I learned a lesson in the limits of foreign policy, and more importantly, I learned a lesson (a number of lessons) about the nature of Islam. The Western Left is using Islam to harm Christendom as much as possible. Whatever mistakes we (Conservatives) made in the past in support of President Bush, we must confess and correct thoroughly and immediately. Lives, ultimately our children’s lives are at stake.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf the motive for our military efforts in Afghanistan was to deny Al Qaeda a base, how well are we doing at denying Al Qaeda its bases elsewhere? If we succeeded in Afghanistan, would depriving Al Qaeda of only its bases in and next to Afghanistan sufficiently reduce its threat to US security?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRAM is on the right track. Next to nobody thinks we need to be in Afghanistan as a humanitarian mission, certainly not after so many years and lives and billions spent. The case for leaving or staying should be about national security. "It's a dump that isn't worth a drop of blood" is a nice emotional sentiment but it's beside the point unfortunately.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe Afghan justice ministry’s chief of staff says “They must be sentenced to death to serve as a lesson for others”
This is an example of how much our betters have unlearned about the world. This primitive is right. If the dominant culture wants to keep everyone in line, they enforce the rules with vigor.
If after 9/11, we had incinerated Kabul, perhaps giving them 48 hours to turn over Osama & Co, that would have served as a lesson for others - a really important lesson.
When the Romans finally had enough of the Carthaginians, they sacked the city, killed all the males, sold the women and children into slavery and salted the fields to prevent the rebuilding of Carthage.
Carthaginian terrorism was no longer a problem.
The point is we either get serious about forcing our culture on them or we leave them to destroy themselves. There's no third way.
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