Reply #36: I had real mixed feelings about Afghanistan [View All]

[Lydia Leftcoast]

If it had REALLY gotten rid of the Taliban and the Bush administration had spent the money now being wasted in Iraq on rebuilding Afghanistan (giving people jobs and reducing the motivation to raise opium poppies), I would have said, "Surprise, surprise, the Bushies did something right."

However, the Taliban and AlQaeda were both creatures of the Reagan, Bush Sr., and yes, Clinton, administrations' desire to harrass the Russians.

It was under Clinton in 1996 that the CIA threw its support behind the Taliban, on the grounds that they were the only force in the country strong enough to provide "stability."

If the U.S. had just let the Soviets come in and suppress the Islamic militants so that the Afghan leftists could establish a modern government (Communist-leaning, but nowhere near as oppressive as the Taliban, and far better on women's rights), there would probably be no Taliban and no AlQaeda today.

Blowback is a harsh mistress.