tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post345882920992191299..comments2024-02-26T00:59:26.907-08:00Comments on Ana the Imp: Bribing the BarbariansAnastasia F-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-91723128023358764852010-02-02T15:10:42.024-08:002010-02-02T15:10:42.024-08:00I like the road rage image, Colin, a sudden rush o...I like the road rage image, Colin, a sudden rush of anger, an unconsidered reflex.Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-74776213963133959612010-02-01T22:39:28.879-08:002010-02-01T22:39:28.879-08:00The entire operation in Afghanistan was nothing mo...The entire operation in Afghanistan was nothing more than post 9/11 red mist - road-rage style.<br /><br />It replaced a bunch of medievalists in Government with so-called "insurgents" in the countryside, amply supplied with roadside bombs from Iran, while failing in its primary objective of locating and destroying al-Qaeda's HQ, supposedly in the Tora Bora.<br /><br />The sensible thing to have done would be to have left the Taleban in nominal control in Kabul, while spasmodically and selectively targetting its Ministry offices and barracks with cruise missiles until it complied with demands to expel al-Qaeda.<br /><br />Creating an insurgency has now made matters immeasurably worse, because the Taleban were the creation of the Pakistani ISS, and the danger now is that the Taleban in cahoots with al-Qaeda will succeed in their aim of destabilising Pakistan, and then lay their hands on nuclear materiel.<br /><br />Bribes for the Taleban? Certainly not. But I've long advocated that if the Taleban want to live in the 7th century, then they should be allowed to do so - in fortified hamlets if necessary under our temporary protection. It's not for the Christian/secular West to dictate the pace of change in Islamic countries. Sorry ladies of the veil, you will have to fight your own battles for education etc. We have more important things on our minds right now than female emancipation under the red crescent.sciencebodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12051016731274875332noreply@blogger.com