Non-motoring > Afghanistan Miscellaneous
Thread Author: sooty123 Replies: 116
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New Mon 23 Aug 21 10:50 
 Afghanistan - Terry
Politicians have clearly demonstrated a very pragmatic lack of integrity. But it would be naive to assume most politicians behave otherwise - they do that which electorally secures their position.

The media want stories to sell papers and advertising. A large part of their audience respond to the emotive, not objective balanced reporting (unless occassionally the two are actually aligned). But we know the media isn't generally worthy of our complete trust anyway.

Apparently the Afghan army were both reasonably (basically) trained, equipped and outnumbered Tailban by a factor of 3 to 6. Yet these soldiers who no doubt have mothers, sisters, children, brothers simply turned and ran.

They must be either untroubled by the Taliban, or actually sympathetic to them. The west have anyway been entirely ineffectual in their efforts to create stability.

Final point - there may be things to be learned from history, but the crritical issue is what to do moving forward. Only a few generic options are open:

1. Invade Afghanistan again - not the slightest chance of this happening, complete lack of public support

2. Marginalise Afghanistan, sanctions, characterise Taliban as evil incarnate. Simply perpetuates conflict and lack of trust and possibly terrorist response. Makes situation worse not better for non-combatants.

3. Try to create a dialogue. Set up trade. Provide humaitarian aid. This is the only option which has a positive outcome, even if it is less than guaranteed.

Compare the regime in Afghanistan with that in Saudi Arabia with whom we have had generally cordial relations for decades. It was and still largely is a state dominated by Islamic law - particularly with respect to women, religius freedom, rights of expats etc etc.

Unpleasant though it may be for some locals, they need to decide their own future, we have proved the we are unable to force our views upon them.
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 Afghanistan new sooty123 14 Aug 21 20:40
 Afghanistan new legacylad 14 Aug 21 21:22
 Afghanistan new Zero 14 Aug 21 21:38
 Afghanistan new R.P. 14 Aug 21 22:42
 Afghanistan new Zero 14 Aug 21 23:07
 Afghanistan new Lygonos 15 Aug 21 01:10
 Afghanistan new zippy 15 Aug 21 01:15
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 15 Aug 21 01:42
 Afghanistan new sooty123 15 Aug 21 06:14
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 15 Aug 21 01:44
 Afghanistan new sooty123 15 Aug 21 06:24
 Afghanistan new Zero 15 Aug 21 07:58
 Afghanistan new Zero 15 Aug 21 08:17
 Afghanistan new legacylad 15 Aug 21 08:23
 Afghanistan new sooty123 15 Aug 21 08:57
 Afghanistan new Terry 15 Aug 21 13:05
 Afghanistan new Duncan 15 Aug 21 13:36
 Afghanistan new sooty123 15 Aug 21 14:18
 Afghanistan new Zero 15 Aug 21 15:08
 Afghanistan new sooty123 15 Aug 21 14:16
 Afghanistan new Zero 15 Aug 21 15:16
 Afghanistan new martin aston 15 Aug 21 15:20
 Afghanistan new sooty123 15 Aug 21 15:26
 Afghanistan new sooty123 15 Aug 21 15:35
 Afghanistan new zippy 15 Aug 21 19:00
 Afghanistan new Zero 15 Aug 21 19:12
 Afghanistan new Netsur 15 Aug 21 19:34
 Afghanistan new sooty123 17 Aug 21 06:55
  
 Afghanistan new Duncan 17 Aug 21 07:00
 Afghanistan new sooty123 17 Aug 21 07:05
 Afghanistan new Duncan 17 Aug 21 07:18
 Afghanistan new sherlock47 17 Aug 21 07:53
 Afghanistan new Zero 17 Aug 21 08:02
 Afghanistan new Duncan 17 Aug 21 08:30
 Afghanistan new martin aston 17 Aug 21 08:34
 Afghanistan new Kevin 17 Aug 21 09:22
 Afghanistan new MD 17 Aug 21 10:49
 Afghanistan new Zero 17 Aug 21 10:57
 Afghanistan new Duncan 21 Aug 21 09:15
 Afghanistan new Bromptonaut 21 Aug 21 09:45
 Afghanistan new Bromptonaut 21 Aug 21 10:52
  
 Afghanistan new Zero 21 Aug 21 11:05
 Afghanistan new martin aston 21 Aug 21 11:14
 Afghanistan new sooty123 21 Aug 21 11:34
 Afghanistan new Duncan 21 Aug 21 12:27
  
 Afghanistan new Manatee 21 Aug 21 12:54
 Afghanistan new Terry 21 Aug 21 18:09
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 21 Aug 21 19:06
 Afghanistan new BiggerBadderDave 22 Aug 21 14:15
 Afghanistan new Zero 22 Aug 21 14:59
 Afghanistan new Manatee 21 Aug 21 19:14
 Afghanistan new Zero 21 Aug 21 20:52
 Afghanistan new sooty123 21 Aug 21 21:49
 Afghanistan new Terry 21 Aug 21 21:08
 Afghanistan new Robin O'Reliant 21 Aug 21 20:59
 Afghanistan new sooty123 23 Aug 21 08:20
 Afghanistan new Zero 23 Aug 21 09:36
 Afghanistan new bathtub tom 24 Aug 21 11:56
 Afghanistan new Duncan 27 Aug 21 22:39
 Afghanistan new Zero 27 Aug 21 22:50
 Afghanistan new Kevin 27 Aug 21 23:51
 Afghanistan new zippy 28 Aug 21 02:49
 Afghanistan new sooty123 28 Aug 21 06:44
  
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 22 Aug 21 16:15
 Afghanistan new Zero 22 Aug 21 18:40
 Afghanistan new martin aston 22 Aug 21 19:09
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 22 Aug 21 19:35
 Afghanistan new Zero 22 Aug 21 19:38
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 22 Aug 21 19:39
 Afghanistan new Zero 22 Aug 21 19:41
 Afghanistan new Kevin 22 Aug 21 19:32
 Afghanistan new Zero 22 Aug 21 19:33
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 22 Aug 21 19:37
 Afghanistan new Zero 22 Aug 21 19:44
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 22 Aug 21 19:46
 Afghanistan new zippy 22 Aug 21 20:53
 Afghanistan new Zero 22 Aug 21 21:15
 Afghanistan new zippy 22 Aug 21 21:26
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 23 Aug 21 01:50
 Afghanistan new zippy 23 Aug 21 02:45
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 23 Aug 21 03:46
 Afghanistan new zippy 23 Aug 21 04:09
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 23 Aug 21 04:29
 Afghanistan new Kevin 23 Aug 21 07:18
 Afghanistan new Terry 23 Aug 21 10:50
 Afghanistan new Zero 23 Aug 21 10:57
 Afghanistan new bathtub tom 23 Aug 21 14:50
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 23 Aug 21 15:29
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 23 Aug 21 15:34
 Afghanistan new MD 23 Aug 21 21:09
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 23 Aug 21 14:59
 Afghanistan new Bromptonaut 23 Aug 21 15:37
 Afghanistan new sooty123 23 Aug 21 16:14
  
 Afghanistan new Zero 23 Aug 21 16:36
  
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 23 Aug 21 19:57
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 23 Aug 21 20:00
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 23 Aug 21 19:45
 Afghanistan new Terry 23 Aug 21 20:53
 Afghanistan new zippy 25 Aug 21 23:55
 Afghanistan new sooty123 26 Aug 21 06:35
 Afghanistan new zippy 26 Aug 21 18:34
 Afghanistan new Zero 26 Aug 21 18:53
 Afghanistan new zippy 26 Aug 21 18:58
 Afghanistan new sooty123 27 Aug 21 07:53
 Afghanistan new Manatee 27 Aug 21 08:48
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 27 Aug 21 14:10
 Afghanistan new martin aston 27 Aug 21 14:56
 Afghanistan new sooty123 27 Aug 21 15:59
 Afghanistan new Lygonos 27 Aug 21 16:57
 Afghanistan new zippy 28 Aug 21 04:14
 Afghanistan new sooty123 29 Aug 21 07:37
 Afghanistan new legacylad 29 Aug 21 08:20
 Afghanistan new sooty123 29 Aug 21 08:53
 Afghanistan new Duncan 29 Aug 21 10:04
 Afghanistan new Bromptonaut 29 Aug 21 10:11
 Afghanistan new No FM2R 1 Sep 21 01:07
 Afghanistan new Terry 1 Sep 21 14:30
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