Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for April 28, 2012

If you go back, you will not be able to see anything in the real Afghanistan through a burka.

I did see Afghanistan as a tourist – in the 1970s. A pity what happened to the country.

bring ’em home

Yep. Nation Building is NOT something we should be involved in.

If we need to send in the Army, let’s go in, destroy whatever needs destroying, and go home.

Orion

I thought about going back to ‘Nam. Much of the better parts I remember (I LIKE “wilderness”), I’ve seen pictures and film of, and it’s trashed, between our actions, and post-war harvest the jungle is largely gone. At the same time, a town I have photos of with with dirt streets and huts, now has paved roads, modern buildings (I don’t like cities) and a changed culture. The disconnect makes me think about what we’re doing here at home, resources gone for short term profit- and where will both cultures actually end up??

Great inputs yesterday for fragging the embed. My personal favorites: compulsory transfer, editing, & Fred.

Mission will be over … good luck with that.

…I still can’t get over how you said such mean things about FOX…

Mickey D on every corner in the new despoiled Afghanistan.

Didn’t GT set up Mel to hook up with Red Rascal?

Afghanistan was part of the Great Game buffer between colonial India and Czarist Russia, a game still in play with some new players.

Gatocat: I’ve also met a number of folks younger than me who’ve come from ‘Nam to work here, for the money. They generally plan to go back home, because that economy is growing and they can be part of a better future. It’s very interesting indeed.

In Afghanistan, the story IS different, different terrain, environment, and drastically different culture, but both DO have thousands of years experience with invaders, and driving them out! In “recent” times, the French wanted latex, oil, and resources from IndoChina, the British wanted the opium from Afghanistan to enslave China. Hmm, only minor change there!

That goes for both Faux Snooze and CNN. Both are right wing propaganda machines.

Sorta like “seeing” ‘Nam in the 70’s……….

Take away the heroin with Agent Orange & leave. Then see what happens. Alexander the Great never should have left.