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Afghanistan: Why Is America There And What Is Its Mission?
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by Rory Cripps | September 5, 2010 at 07:23 am
1188 views | 6 Recommendations | 26 comments
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When I tell "progressives" and members of the politically correct crowd that Muslims were celebrating in the streets of Queens and Brooklyn as the Twin Towers burned to the ground, it doesn't seem to phase them in the least. That tells me where the progressives' and PC crowd's loyalties lie. I'll never forget that American Muslims were celebrating in the streets on 9/11 as thousands of Americans burned to death. But it is American Muslim's right of free speech after all and they can say anything they'd like.
On the other hand, however, it seems that nowadays non-Muslim Americans, de facto, don't have the same free speech rights that Muslims do. Indeed, anyone that dares to criticize Muslims is subjected to hysterical name calling on the part of those that believe anyone that criticizes Muslims is an intolerant/racist/Nazi/fascist/right wing Islamophobe. Ironically, the same people that become hysterical over criticism of Muslims have no problem criticizing Christians and Jews. End of debate! You're an Islamophobe and we're right and you're wrong and we can criticize Christians and Jews but you can't criticize Muslims. It's just not politically correct for you to criticize Muslims.
I wouldn't be surprised if President Obama pushes for special legislation under the "hate speech" statutes devoted exclusively to stifling criticism of Muslims. I just wish that more American Muslims would open up and tell the American people how they really feel. My belief is that anywhere from 20 to 30 percent (perhaps more) of the Muslim world support terrorists and feel exactly the same as those who danced in the streets on 9/11.
One reason why American troops are not killing those that should be killed in Afghanistan and why the war in Afghanistan will go on forever, is the fact that there is a very blurred distinction between the good guys and the bad guys in Afghanistan. The fact that Obama has a soft spot in his heart for Muslims makes things even more blurry. Indeed Obama is biased towards Muslims in my opinion. Karzai is a case in point--a low life murderous thug that stole an election and made a fortune off the Afghan drug trade. Yet the U.S. supports him because he's the best we have over there. The U.S. government's policy has long been that the enemy of my enemy is my friend no matter what a low-life murderous thug my "friend" happens to be. In my view, 1 million Afghans who act and think no differently than their ancestors did 1000 years ago are not worth one American soldier's life.
The Obama Administration's marching orders to the American troops is that their mission is to protect Afghan civilians at virtually all costs and not to kill terrorist insurgents. I have a soft spot in my heart for our troops. My loyalties are to my country and that includes the military troops that have sworn an oath to protect America. I don't see any evidence that Obama has the same loyalties. The only evidence that I see is Obama bowing and scraping and kissing up to the Muslim world while he subjects our military troops to a ROE (rules of engagement) that is for all intents and purposes a death sentence. How many more American lives will be lost protecting Afghan civilians . . . 1000, 2000, 10,000? How long will American troops be stationed in Afghanistan?
It's one thing for our troops to die honorably fighting an enemy. But it's an entirely different thing for our troops to be ordered not to kill the enemy and at the same time be ordered to protect Afghan citizens at all costs. The majority of Afghan citizens couldn't care any less about the lives of American troops and their loyalties are to the terrorist insurgents. What are we doing in Afghanistan? Can anyone answer that question with any certainty? And what makes anyone think that America will win Afghan "hearts and minds" and turn a society that thinks and acts no differently than it did 1000 years ago into a viable and civilized nation without first leveling it and then rebuilding it from the ground up?
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Rory Cripps
New Port Richey, Florida, United States
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Recommendations (6)
Barry ORegan
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
YankeeJim
Arlington, Virginia, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (26)
at 07:55 on September 5th, 2010
Rory,I have some questions and hope that you would answer.Before I pose questions,I would like to say that when 9/11 happened,to be more precise and exact was caused to happen by Bush and his clowns,no Muslims danced in New York Street or anywhere in America.That is a balatant lie,but you won't be ashamed of speaking like other conservative liars,your idols.
1) Who brought Osama Bin Laden,whose family was a business partner of Bush family,to Afghanistan?
2) Who provided funds,military training to Arab-Afghans?
3) Who introduced these Mujahideens(al-qaeda members)to American Press as Moral Equivalents of Founding Fathers?
4) Who promised recognition to Afghan government run by Mullah Omar and Osama Bin Laden if Unocal propsal to construct pipeline from Caspian Sea to Pakistan via Afghanistan Was accepted by Afghan government?
Once you answer these questions,I can expose your lies by quoting non-Muslim American sources be it about 9/11 or Obama's alleged,but baseless,favouritism to Muslims.
at 08:16 on September 5th, 2010
t k: Not a blatant lie. As to Bush, et al I'm not defending him by any means. I put him in the same category as Obama. i.e., different spins and different loyalties, but it all amounts to the same thing for Americans--bad news.
at 10:38 on September 5th, 2010
Here are some facts, T K: First off, conservatives are not my idols. I'm an independent. I run into your type of response all the time because I simply don't tow a party line and march in lock step with "progressives" and the PC crowd. It doesn't matter to the leftist heel clickers that I'm probably to the left of many of them when it comes to various issues such as economics, because I'm not "pure" in their opinion. Because I dare to criticize Muslims I'm simply not PC and everything that I think and say necessarily must be a lie because I suffer from Islamophobia. And btw, it's acceptable throughout the Muslim world to execute gays, stone women to death that engage in indiscretions such as getting raped, blow yourself and others up, diddle little boys, and so on and so forth--all in the name of Allah and the Muslim religion. For Muslims to defend that type of barbarism and savagery and not criticize it and to go into hysterics over those that do criticize it, I say this: Please! Stay in your own country and don't come to America--we have enough problems with murderers, rapists, child molesters, and religious fanatics as it is. We don't need any more of those types.
at 12:23 on September 5th, 2010
Rory,I respect your views,viewpoints even if I don't agree on various issues with you.But divergent views apart,I am least inclined to believe that Muslims danced when 9/11 was caused to happen to persue a hidden agenda.But I leave that matter here,because it is a different story.Would you please furnish any proof that Muslims danced on 09/11 on American streets.
I am myself a critic of fundamentalism of any denominations,theocratic states,reactionary regimes in the Middle-East.But the question is why US imperialists have stood by reactionary and oppressive regimes?In Iraq women were never stoned to death,hetro-sexuals never prosecuted.Iraq was a secular state.On the contrary,Saudi Arabia is hotbbed of radical Islam but most trusted ally of US imperialists.Afghanistan was an impoverished country,but never as reactionary as Saudi Arabia.Who introduced radical Islam to Aghans?US administration under Regan with active co-operation of Saudi Arabian and Pakistani establishments.
Criticism of the policies of a country where human rights are voilated,religious freedom is denied,laws are oppressive is justifiable without any religious tag.Don't you know what happened in Rwanda?What is happening in other Asian and African countries?Why do you choose to citicize Muslism and only Muslims?What does it suggest?Denial of an admission,is it not?Advise American soldiers to stay in their own country,who are more barbaric and savage than Muslims.Read an American soldier's account what US soldiers did in Iraq-A Deserter's Tale by Joshua Key as told to Lawrence Hill.
at 11:05 on September 5th, 2010
rory, you have to take peoples and cultures as you find them. if you want to move them along a path towards democracy and a charter of individual rights you have to make some concessions to that culture and can not expect that any peoples can willingly perform a 180 degree turn overnight and that - is like our own social development -generational. old school afgani are clinging to traditional power and social outlook but the younger afghani are embracing their new social and economic opportunities.
at 13:14 on September 5th, 2010
anymoose (not verified): All that we know for certain is that many in the Muslim world are still acting and thinking like their ancestors did centuries ago. Even the Counsel for the Council On American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said that it will take Muslims here in America a least a generation or more to assimilate. That's a hell of an admittance and a hell of a long time to assimilate. JEEZ! It's not up to Americans to move them along a path toward democracy. It's up to those democratically minded individuals to do what Americans did in 1776 if they don't like what's going on in their country. Afghanistan is Obama's "war" now. He's the Commander In Chief. What goes on there vis a vis the American military is Obama's doing.
at 13:44 on September 5th, 2010
"very blurred distinction between the good guys and the bad guys in Afghanistan"
IMO, there are no "good guys" in Afghanistan. The place is unworthy of investment though is quite worthy of punishment if they screw up again.
I am not anti Muslim, I am anti terrorist and anti religious radicalism no matter what the dogma.
We have prisons filled with people like Afghans. Sure, there are some kind people in Afghanistan, but it is too costly to sift them out.
at 14:31 on September 5th, 2010
Jim: I understand. One of the main reasons why people get upset with me and even get hysterical, is because I point out the fact that the terrorist insurgents in Afghanistan and the Middle East are all Muslims and they are killing themselves and others in the name of Allah and in the name of their religion. They are engaged in jihad and it is impossible to separate their actions from their religion. If terrorist insurgents were fighting for their country, they'd be wearing uniforms. There's very little difference between what Muslim terrorists are doing nowadays and what Christian Crusaders (and Muslims too) did for centuries. And there's no doubt that the Crusades were for the most part a result of actions on the part of religious fanatics. What really upsets people and drives them to hysterics is when I disagree with those that say 99.99 percent of the Muslim world consists of good/decent/tolerant folks that only want to live in peace. You just said in your above comment, "IMO, there are no "good guys" in Afghanistan. The place is unworthy of investment though is quite worthy of punishment if they screw up again." No one has yet been able to come up with convincing evidence that 99.99 percent of the Muslim world consists of good/decent/tolerant folks that only want to live in peace. I've never said that the entire Muslim world supports terrorism. But what I have said is that perhaps 20 to 30 percent of the Muslim world supports terrorism. And I only base that loosely on what I see going on in the Muslim world. With that said, I believe that I could come up with facts and statistics to prove that 20 to 30 percent of the Muslim world supports terrorism a lot easier than could those who make the baseless claim that 99.99 percent of Muslims are good/decent/tolerant folks that only want to live in peace.
at 05:47 on September 6th, 2010
1.8 billion Muslims
If 1% are radicalized terrorists = 1,800,000. I estimate, as others have, that the numbers is more likely 10% = 18 million.
If there are 180 million radicalized Muslims, where are they? Are they equally distributed among the population or are there pockets radicalized terrorists?
Of course, part of the answer is apparent: Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia...hold visible elements.
These pockets export terror into places that permit immigration. The number of exported radicalized Muslims may be small, though they are enemies to free people and pose a compelling menace.
Profiling and screening are means of self-protection and cooperation by peaceful Muslims to purge their ranks may be necessary.
at 13:48 on September 5th, 2010
t k: I have no doubt that American soldiers can be just as barbaric and savage as Muslim terrorists. Chop off heads, burn bodies alive, dismember people, kill women and children, burn down towns and villages. . . no problem. But the American military is not doing that! And if it is, I'm not aware of it! I"m not saying that there aren't some members of the American military that have crossed the line. But those that do are brought up on criminal charges. That is certainly not the case with Muslim insurgents. That's just part and parcel of the terrorist's modus operandi. If it were up to me, I'd pull all the troops out of there immediately! We've got over 20 million Americans out of work and we're spending billions to fight a "war" in Afghanistan which is not even viewed as a war by America's Commander In Chief. When Obama increased the amount of troops, I thought that our troops were going to fight a war and rap things up. But as it turned out, Obama is using the troops as policemen, social workers, and human shields and he's told them that their mission is not to kill the enemy but to protect Afghan civilians. Everything that the American troops are ordered to do in Afghanistan is playing right into the hands of the insurgents. The only way that American troops are going to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people is by making the Afghan people fear them more than they fear the Taliban, Al Qaeda, et al. But once the American troops do that, America has no choice but to establish a permanent--in perpetuity--presence in Afghanistan because if they leave the country, things will go back to the way things were. The American government is run by sociopaths, narcissists, and megalomaniacs for the most part. It's only been recently that the American people are beginning to catch on and realize that slick-talking ideologues and nut cases have been in control of their government for decades. Obama is just another slick-talking ideologue and nut case but he appears to be even more dangerous than his predecessors.
at 14:06 on September 5th, 2010
TKK is correct about many things, but one is paramount, Americans have a vested interest in oil. That is the main reason why we are in the Middle East. We need to act more like a customer and should be treated like a customer. When a customer crosses the line and begins to rob the provider and joins the ranks of hoodlums in the Arab world who are controlling oil, then we compromise our integrity as customers and our identity as "good guys" becomes blurred.
That is a theme in TKK's commentary that should not be ignored.
Often, TKK makes statements that imply goodness on the part of American opposition that simply doesn't exist. We want to be the good guys and need to work harder at doing this. It is difficult, because as TKK points out, we have some bad guys calling shots on our side too.
at 16:39 on September 5th, 2010
RORY,I do not understand what you want to say.May be I am not intelligent enough to understand your views on terrorism and Muslims.I didn't receive answer of a single question I posed to you.That doesn't matter much.
Terrorism is a vague term and till date has no comprehensive definition,acceptable to terrorists,victims of terrorism and perperators of terrorism.Not long ago,sometime in 40s,the underground movement in Israel for creation of a seperate Jewish state was dubbed as a terrorist organization,and do you know that Menachem Begin's head carried reward of 100,000 Sterling pounds.But I am sure you know who Menachem Begin was.
And you might have read somewhere that US government in Afghanistan expelled some soldiers who were agents of MI16,British intelligence.Why?Because they were distributing cash to Talibans.A rarest case of generousity.
And may be someone might have whispered in your ears that Ronald Regan,the same Regan who was president of mighiest empire,introduced Mujahideens,who were sporting long beards and wearing turbans and guns slinging from their shoulders,to American media in these words"They are mujahideens,battling against an evil empire,are Moral Equivalents of Our Founding Fathers'.Rory,where stand your Founding Fathers,I need not tell you.
The Nigerian shoe bomber travelled from Amsterdam to Detroit on a KLM flight without a passport,you know it or not.See the co-operation between a terrorist,security personnel at Amsterdam airport and intelligence agencies of US and India.
Misguided Muslims are recruited,indoctrinated,trained and funded by intelligence agencies.CIA,ISI of Pakistan and Saudi intelligence agencies recruited Mujahideens,Moral Equivalents of Your Founding Fathers,and did the rest before bringing them to Afghanistan.
American sowed wind and are reaping whirlwind.
at 17:40 on September 5th, 2010
t k: I'm fully aware that Menachem Begin was instrumental in introducing modern-day terrorism to the world. I won't condone his actions nor will I say that I don't understand why he did what he did. My father-in-law saw Hitler's handiwork re death camps up close and personal and he told me all about it-- and I believed him and I still believe him. In fact. he whacked a lot of Nazis up close and personal by whatever means was available to him. Moreover my father was instrumental in dropping many bombs on Germany which killed many Germans including civilians. In fact more Germans were killed in conventional bomb attacks than Japaneses were killed in the two atomic bomb attacks. Those were the good old days when American soldiers were allowed to kill the enemy by whatever means necessary and not have to worry about being brought up on war crimes charges. Is there any doubt why WWII was the last war that America and its Allies won?
If there's anything that I want to say and if there's anything that I want people to understand, it is this: No nation, country, society, culture, racial group, and ethnic group is pure as the driven snow. All of the above have been guilty of barbarism and savagery at one time or another throughout history. Even the Native Americans, who are portrayed by the PC crowd (who constantly rewrite history) as innocent victims, engaged in countless acts of barbarism and butchery which included, but was not limited to, slicing open pregnant women and smashing their unborn babies' heads against rocks.
With that said, much of the Muslim world is still engulfed in savagery and barbarism. Much of the Muslim world just can't seem to get its head out of the sand and accept the fact that non-Muslims have a different point of view. Yet Muslims here in America and throughout the world rail about how intolerant Americans such as myself are because we don't believe that 99.99 percent of all Muslims are as pure as the driven snow and that they only want to live in peace with the rest of the world. If 99.99 percent of the Muslim world is pure as the driven snow and just wants to live in peace with the rest of the world, then the Muslim world has a funny way of showing it . . . .
at 15:04 on September 5th, 2010
the whole world has a vested interest in oil
at 15:24 on September 5th, 2010
Does anyone actually believe that 99.99 percent of all peoples throughout the world are good/decent/tolerant folks that only want to live in peace? If anyone does, please tell us why you believe that. I, myself, believe that at least 20 to 30 percent of the American population are not good/decent/tolerant folks that only want to live in peace! LMAO!
at 15:33 on September 5th, 2010
We get the government we deserve. Americans have been pretty savvy throughout the centuries when it comes to inventions that have had a profound impact on the world's standard of living and quality of life. And there is really no reason why a savvy American inventor couldn't have come up with a viable and economical substitute for oil long ago. Indeed I'm certain that there are many viable and economical substitutes for oil out there. But for some reason, the American government along with the oil, automobile, and a slew of other industries, want Americans to be dependent on oil. I wonder why that is?
at 11:28 on September 6th, 2010
nobody wants a dependency on oil and would like nothing better than a homegrown "viable" solution. but no one is going to give up oil until it arrives and proves to be 'viable" and as cost efficient.
at 16:36 on September 5th, 2010
We get the government we deserve;our leaders never get what they deserve.Only Bush got what he deserved,courtesy Muntazar Al-Zaidi.
at 05:46 on September 6th, 2010
RORY.Despite all peretension of being independent,you failed to hide your hatred against Muslims and Islam-trade mark of a self-proclaimed good Christian like Pat Robertson,who many times called for destruction of Islam and its followers.So if a Muslim calls for destruction of Christianity and its followers,he represents entire Muslim world.But Pat Robertson represents his followers like Rory.Only a civilised person could call for destruction of followers of a religion.Rory,how civilised is your Osama aka Pat Roberstson?
And what is your esteemed,learned and independent opinion of David Koresh.He had sex with as much as 140 different girls and as young as 12 year old.Does he represent entire Christian world?
I asked you some questions,you didn't answer.You couldn't prove that Muslims danced when Twin Towers were ablaze.Intensify your rhetorics against Islam and Muslims,Pat Robertson may designate you his successor.Wish you good luck.
at 12:20 on September 6th, 2010
t k: Yes! You've found me out! I'm a right-wing fundamentalist Christian, Republican all the way, and Pat Robertson's successor. Look for me soon on the 700 Club leading the audience in prayer and my insightful comments on the End Times. You've just proved one of the points in my story. Namely, Those who don't march in lock step with the "progressives" and PC crowd are deemed not pure and must necessarily be right wing Fundamentalist Christians and intolerant racists/Islamophobe/Nazis. I'm surprised that you didn't also call me a Jew loving Zionist. No religious group is pure as the driven snow--and that definitely includes Muslims. But for some reason, there are those out there that tell us in so many words, as you've done here, that we shouldn't criticize Muslims because Muslims are not terrorists.and that Christians are terrorists. Of course David Koresh diddled little girls. And of course Muslims diddle little boys. Awhile ago, Canadian troops were complaining about their Afghan "allies" that diddled little boys. But they were told to shut up and be tolerant of the Afghan culture.
at 16:12 on September 6th, 2010
Rory,I,too,criticise Muslims monarchs,fundamentalists,Christian presidents,Zionism.Didn't you read my comments on Cardoba initiative's proposed community centre with a mosque.Even some Scholars at Al-Azhar university of Cairo,the most prestigious Islamic university,are opposed to construction of proposed centre,two blocks away from ground Zero.When Taliban announced destruction of Buddha statues,Libya offered them millions of $ in aid if they changed their decision.Number of heads of Muslim countries appealed not to demolish centuries old satues.The problem with you,RORY,is that you paint the entire comminity with one brush.
How many Muslim countries are there in the world?Every year how many women are stoned to death in Muslim countries?How many gays and lesbians have been put to death in last couple of decades in Muslim countries?
Double check with all sources that stoning to death for adultery is not a Quranic injunction,it sources are in Torah.Didn't Jesus say that"let he who is without sin cast the first stone"? Barbarianism and savage is as old as human history and would stay with humanbeings as long as they inhabit this planet.It is always there in one form or the other.In Rwanda more than 700,000 people were killed in inter-tribe strife.Would you infer that all Africans are savage and barbarians?
Criticism is one thing,demonization another.You have no business or right to critise entire community,group of people for wrongs said or done by few persons.What Osama does,or his mirror image Pat Robertson does,entire Muslim community or Christian community can not be held responsible and demonized for the actions of these two blue-eyed boys of Bush.
at 06:18 on September 7th, 2010
Only t.k.Kidwai has the right to constantly and obsessively demonize the U.S.. He has made it his business to submit a constant flow of anti-American government and cultural attacks on a daily basis while excusing Islamist activities as nothing more than and equal to a Pat Robertson rant.
at 05:49 on September 6th, 2010
These discussions are enlightening and helpful.
at 06:57 on September 6th, 2010
I think we should leave the mid east to their own devices and stop using our tax dollars into an never ending money pit.
at 12:32 on September 14th, 2010
thats a good thought mee too
at 18:56 on November 30th, 2010
Rory, nothing you have said in this whole post has been proven by facts, just generalities that you and your 'independent' followers have spewed out. In my humble opinion T.K has bested you in ever post, because you refuse to post any facts! You claim that your Grandfather was a victim of the Holocaust, yet you seem to tolerate and even support the same thing happening in Afghanistan and Iraq. Barry has a fine idea of his own, but theres just one problem--America invaded the middle east for much more then a bunch of Tribal living-under-a-rock taliban. Hell most Afghani's dont even have a damn clue what 9/11 was! look it up!But back to my point Barry, America needs the middleeast more then the 'oppressed' people need America. The U.S has it all mapped out, two things they need are oil(Iraq) and a currency that has maintained a value throughout its history, i.e--gold, saphire, emeralds, other gems-- which can be found in Afghanistan in large quantities. Look it up for yourself, but Afghanistan is currently shipping 1ton, 2,000 pounds!, of gold to america for prices that are trivial. America is a one trick pony, and excels at ripping off other unfortunate cultures that step in its destructive path.