Thanks TC. At least our government was honest about one thing; we were trying to create a government for Afghanistan that was patterned on the one we have. None of this is really surprising if one has followed the ups and downs of the last twenty years and can place them in a contextual pattern with Vietnam; it's simply disgusting and, hopefully, sharing stories like this will wake up enough people to have some positive impact on the behavior of people in our government.
A government: Our government, is the punch line that knocks one out. Irony is the least of it. We have become what we beheld and disparaged so often in the banana republics of the world. We are a nation manipulated by a select few greed- motivated oligarchs, and we have been a while. Thanks, Dave Conant, for your perceptive analysis. Thanks, TC, as always. Vote. Often. Time for a flood tide of small d democracy.
Thanks for posting this super essay. I believe she appeared on the PBS Newshour on Friday evening. I had already gotten the essay, but I am glad you are sharing it further. The folks who were protesting the adventure in Afghanistan and Iraq were on the right side of history it would seem. The news reports are awful, the images worse. I say - follow the money - who got it, and why did they get it. My guess is a whole new war adventure will appear in the near future. Germany is already poised in Mali. I think it all speaks of a business model to support the unsupportable and keep the stock market going for weapons makers and their think tanks. Oh well . . . I suppose I've become jaded after all these years. BTW - I happened to listen to Richard D. Wolff last night. I had not heard of him before and I felt as though I was finally hearing truth about the kind of capitalism still huffing and puffing and blowing houses down. Onward and upward. That's my prayer. I just wish the old guys and gals in DC could get beyond the old saws.
Well, it seems as if what is always decided in these regions…that of murky, clandestine, and dangerous solutions. Ones that create millionaires and abject poverty and are at odds with military alliance, thus sacrificing the service of Anerican soldiers. It’s hard for me to reconcile the sleaze business deals of Trump, Cheney, etc and then the parties backpedaling on their support.
The Taliban. Thugs. Used by the ones making political and business fortunes. Same method of madness in any insurrection. Just like the one within on January 6th.
And the talk now of America feeling ashamed and wringing hands over the humanitarian crisis. Probably valid but disingenuous at same time. So much sacrificed for greed and power. It must end.
Thanks, TC. She really shows the complexity of it all, with little actually being what it seems to be. There is such a fine line to walk here in not causing despair to the military families of those who lost life and limb and brain serving in Afghanistan.
Thanks TC. At least our government was honest about one thing; we were trying to create a government for Afghanistan that was patterned on the one we have. None of this is really surprising if one has followed the ups and downs of the last twenty years and can place them in a contextual pattern with Vietnam; it's simply disgusting and, hopefully, sharing stories like this will wake up enough people to have some positive impact on the behavior of people in our government.
"a government... patterned on the one we have..." Took a third read to get the irony there. :-)
A government: Our government, is the punch line that knocks one out. Irony is the least of it. We have become what we beheld and disparaged so often in the banana republics of the world. We are a nation manipulated by a select few greed- motivated oligarchs, and we have been a while. Thanks, Dave Conant, for your perceptive analysis. Thanks, TC, as always. Vote. Often. Time for a flood tide of small d democracy.
Thanks Stephen.
Thanks.
Thanks for posting this super essay. I believe she appeared on the PBS Newshour on Friday evening. I had already gotten the essay, but I am glad you are sharing it further. The folks who were protesting the adventure in Afghanistan and Iraq were on the right side of history it would seem. The news reports are awful, the images worse. I say - follow the money - who got it, and why did they get it. My guess is a whole new war adventure will appear in the near future. Germany is already poised in Mali. I think it all speaks of a business model to support the unsupportable and keep the stock market going for weapons makers and their think tanks. Oh well . . . I suppose I've become jaded after all these years. BTW - I happened to listen to Richard D. Wolff last night. I had not heard of him before and I felt as though I was finally hearing truth about the kind of capitalism still huffing and puffing and blowing houses down. Onward and upward. That's my prayer. I just wish the old guys and gals in DC could get beyond the old saws.
And so, it seems, we are left in a quagmire with no clear, easy or safe solutions. What can feasibly be done?
Well, it seems as if what is always decided in these regions…that of murky, clandestine, and dangerous solutions. Ones that create millionaires and abject poverty and are at odds with military alliance, thus sacrificing the service of Anerican soldiers. It’s hard for me to reconcile the sleaze business deals of Trump, Cheney, etc and then the parties backpedaling on their support.
The Taliban. Thugs. Used by the ones making political and business fortunes. Same method of madness in any insurrection. Just like the one within on January 6th.
And the talk now of America feeling ashamed and wringing hands over the humanitarian crisis. Probably valid but disingenuous at same time. So much sacrificed for greed and power. It must end.
Thanks, TC. She really shows the complexity of it all, with little actually being what it seems to be. There is such a fine line to walk here in not causing despair to the military families of those who lost life and limb and brain serving in Afghanistan.