... And so it goes, learn a lesson will ya? Looks like the CIA did.

[MrScorpio]

The Russians went into Afghanistan uninvited and overstayed their time in country. We feared an expanding Soviet Union. A civil war ensued, replete with foreign fighters (Via the CIA) who went in after the Godless infidels and lots of people were killed. The country was practically destroyed, making it vulnerable to the extremist religious fundamentalists that filled the vacuum and took over the country.

Today Afghanistan is a drug producing basket case. The current leader is a snappy dresser, though. That's the bright side.

Before that, there was Iran. We feared loss of control of Iranian oil. The CIA didn't like Mossedegh, so it got Schwartzkopf's daddy to send him packing and help install the Shah. Well that didn't go over well after a few years. With Israeli trained SAVAK torture and all gumming up the works, a bloody coup ensued and the Shah fled town. Eventually, extremist religious fundamentalists filled the vacuum and are in control today.

Today, we call Iran a Target Rich Environment. More to come on that, I guarantee.

Before that, the US went into South East Asia, overstayed their welcome. We feared another Vietnam. The Cambodian Lon Nol government, (CIA puppet regime) was weakened because of the spillover from the war in Vietnam, a civil war ensued, the extremist Khmer Rouge took over to fill the vacuum and lot of people were killed.

Today, the Khmer Rouge are gone, but Cambodia is another drug producing basketcase... With an AIDS epidemic thrown in for shits and giggles.

Before that, speaking of which, there was Vietnam. We feared the "Domino Theory" of South East Asian communist expansion. The CIA installed a puppet government (See a pattern here?) in "South Vietnam" and the US sent in troops which help to escalate a what would have been a civil war. "South Vietnam" eventually collapsed and the communists took over the south filling a vacuum left by US troops and their fleeing puppets.

Today, Vietnam is a basket case, but it's a basket case that we've learned to live and let live with.

Before that, there was Cuba. The ultimate CIA cluster fuck. Lost that puppy big time.

Today, there's still bad blood all around because of that boner.

Now we have Iraq. We feared something (it couldn't possibly have been WDMs) and invaded. It's a basket case now and will continue to be one for perpetuity. But this one is DIFFERENT: Not much CIA involvement these days... The last thing that the nosy-assed CIA wants to do is go through some more crap like it has gone through before, just to have the blame rightly pinned on its ass. I guess the that they know something here.

Maybe the son of a former CIA Director should pay some heed to this situation.