America and the Taliban

 

I've been watching the PBS Frontline special "America and the Taliban," which covers twenty years of our involvement with that scum of the earth.

It's so disheartening to see that we made the same mistakes there, in that godforsaken country, that we did in Vietnam. When we won the war in 2003 and drove out that vermin, Pakistan, our so-called ally, gave sanctuary to the Taliban, who were able to regroup and plan a counter insurgency. Similarly, Laos gave sanctuary to the NVA and the Vietcong when we had them on the run during the Vietnam War, but we didn't punish the Laotians then, just as we didn't punish the Pakistanis in 2003. Worse yet, we give millions of dollars to Pakistan every year.

Another interesting development in Afghanistan, prior to the 911 attacks, was the occupation of that country by the Soviet Union. Because of the damned Cold War mentality, we, of course, were against the Soviets. However, keep in mind that The Soviet Union intervened in support of the Afghan communist government in its conflict with anti-communist Muslim guerrillas during the Afghan War (1978–92) Under the communist government, then in control of Afghanistan, women didn't have to wear beekeeper suits if they chose not to. They were fully integrated into society and had access to education. We know what their fate was when the "Muslim guerillas" took control. I ask you, which is the greater evil, communism, or religious dictatorship? Lastly, the saddest irony of all is that the U.S. provided aid and ammunition to the Taliban, which it then used against our soldiers during our involvement in Afghanistan.