Afghan store keeper in Bamiyan: "We need the Americans"

[DCBob]

BAMIYAN, Afghanistan — The massive Buddhas that were carved into the sandstone cliffs here 15 centuries ago are gone, and so too are those who dynamited them into oblivion.

U.S. troops have cleared out the Taliban from this valley, but the people of Bamiyan live in fear that the strict Muslim clerics and their ruthless brand of Islam are not gone for good.

"We need the Americans," says Haji Hussain, 40, the owner of a grocery store who says he was shot by the Taliban. "When they leave, it will be very difficult and the Taliban will come back."

more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/afghanistan/story/2011-10-26/bamiyan-afghanistan-buddha/50919232/1

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This is the incredibly difficult quandary that the President faces. There have been tremendous improvements in Afghanistan and if we leave no one knows what may happen. We all know the Taliban were instrumental in helping OBL and AQ in planning and training for 9/11. This is a legitimate issue, not like Iraq which was a manufactured one by Bush/Cheney and the Neocons.

I remember at the time when the giant Buddha statues were demolished by the Taliban and I said to my wife these people need to be taken out.. they are a threat to humanity. I didnt realize how right I was.

[Skittles]

1. Afghanistan sounds like a terminally ill country

:(

[DCBob]

2. I hear you.. it may be a near hopeless situation.

I do think its time to get out and let the chips fall where they may. We have done more than enough. The Afghans need to step up and fix their country or it will just fall back to the Taliban. My other hope is even if the Taliban do take over again it wont be as extreme as before since many Afghans know what freedom is now and will have some influence over the Taliban extremists... maybe.

[Skittles]

4. I feel for the Afghan people, I really do

I send clothes and toys for Afghani children to troops there - I don't know what the answer is but it surely isn't endless war :(

[Nostradammit]

3. "There have been tremendous improvements in Afghanistan"

Such as?

"We all know the Taliban were instrumental in helping OBL and AQ in planning and training for 9/11."

We do not.

For all we know Dick Cheney was the mastermind of 9/11.

[DCBob]

5. yeah, for all we know the easter bunny did it.

enjoy your delusions in bizarro world. ciao.

[eilen]

6. The Afghans should step up and be masters of their own destiny

We are not the white knight of the world. They can hire their own mercenaries.

[closeupready]

7. Afghanistan is never going to be stable.

Never was, as far as I know.