America "loved" Iraq. Therefore Iraq must have "loved" America. No? They threw us out? How could that be? The "bloody" ungrateful wogs!" America really "loves" Afghanistan! These "wogs" will love us and treasure our love.
How absurd. How truly absurd in both cases. The Iraqis showed us the door. The Afghans (the Pushtuns, Tajiks, Hazara, Turkmen, etc.) will do the same in a bit.
We are a nuisance. We insist that they should behave as the "strawmen" of our collective dream should behave.
The "hospital story below is representative of the impossibility of making a "silk purse out of a sow's ear" in places like Afghanistan (unless you want to rule the place for a hundred years). The US built this magnificent facility for the Afghan military of our dreams. We paid for it, supplied it, trained staff, advised the hospital. In the end the Afghans running the hospital are acting like Afghans. They are charging military wounded and sick for treatment and food and letting them rot in their filthy beds. Why? From the Afghan point of view, why not? These patients are rarely kin or tribal brothers. This is a chance to make money! Once again - Afghanistan is not a nation-state. It is merely a state.
These American generals covered this up for political reasons? Courts-martial all around should be the response. Question: what is the difference betwee a present day US Army general and a Walmart manager or a Wall Street type? Answer: ten or twelve rows of medal ribbons for meaningless awards. People ask what Jesus would do in particular situations. I ask what "Cump" Sherman would do? pl
http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/afghanistan-declared-a-major-us-non-nato-ally-1.3824784
_Albion's Seed_ by Fishcer is one of the best books I've ever read; helped this Swamp Yankee understand the realities of regional difference.
Posted by: Cronin | 08 July 2012 at 10:56 PM
Dear Colonel,
Having lived in the Northeast, Northwest, Midwest, South (Georgia) and now Southern California, plus Europe, I do not think there is much understanding between any of the different sections of the US. The South/North divide just being one of the broader.
Then again, look at North and South Italy - or Ireland?
That said, really hate humidity and mosquitos, but culturally appreciate the South most.
Posted by: ISL | 09 July 2012 at 08:49 PM
ISL
Bless you. pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 09 July 2012 at 08:53 PM
But not Mexico, Canada, or the UK? Interesting.
Posted by: Medicine Man | 10 July 2012 at 04:53 PM