Friedman: Afghanistan Is Like A 'Special Needs Baby'

[jackdylan43]

I think Friedman could've made the point without comparing it to a "special needs baby", and I love his books, but he is right. We are spending our way into becoming a third world fascist state. We are readying ourselves for a dictatorship.

[jaychins]

withdraw all the troops, NOW!

[itchykami]

and I'm sure Afghanis love being compared to special needs babies.

[JBeatty17]

Uh, I think you're reading a little too much into things.

[psikyc]

lol

[zomghawtness]

Then abort it.

We've got enough retards to deal with.

[terrence0258]

He didn't think Iraq was a special needs baby.

[JBeatty17]

I guess he learned from his mistakes.

[unwashablebrain]

"special needs"...as in america's special need for a pipeline to the caspian sea without having to go through iran to get to the gulf...that is the bottom line, after all. we're not fighting terrorism there, we're propping up a phony government just like we did in vietnam. for what? natural gas. i bet someone was wondering when the truth of the matter would enter into this discussion...

[QuasiEvilScott]

Well, let's take your horrible analogy to the logical conclusion Friedman.

If it's a special needs baby, and we're broke - we're going to have to do some drastic things to get by as a family.

But if we DONT - then this baby, who has shown a history of violence towards us, will grow up and old, resenting us.

Then let's take care of the kid right, so it wont want to send bombs to us when it gets older.

-Qes

[hozehd]

A better analogy would be an unemployed couple trying to force a drifter capable of living off the land to get a job and pay taxes by burning down his garden, and stealing his aluminum cans.

[FatoDrunkoAndoStupid]

Someone get Palin and FOX News on the phone, there is outrage to be spoken.

[SamariaTV]

Its like a special needs couple adopting a special needs baby.

[cricketplus]

f them ,bomb there poppy fields once or twice a year then they can go back to milking goats driveng camels and tapestry no money for the bad guys

[jed1540]

that is not nice

[cricketplus]

bombing poppies instead of people is not nice?Are you a junkie?

[lesta09]

poor couple adopting a retarded kid???? c'mon son! i don't know if i can take this guy seriously.

[PJDolan1]

I can't take Friedman seriously after his strong support for the Iraq invasion and occupation.

[xTheOxx]

Fuck you, Friedman. Only complete morons take you seriously since you've started cheerleading for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

[MegF142857]

Stupid analogy.

[asphyxiafeeling]

we invaded and bombed Afghanistan. If we pulled out we'd look like COMPLETE assholes in the international stage. So we've got to clean up our mess. we blew em up, now we are "obligated" to help them have a secure government. i don't like it but i understand the decision.

[MetalEagle95]

Don't worry, we're already assholes on the international stage. Plus as many people have pointed out, Afghanistan is a quagmire and historically a graveyard of empires/conquerers.

[qualityrkc]

how long does that take? We have been there for 8 years. You are prepared to stay for 30?

[flavor13]

Poor Tom, he looks so sad at the thought of leaving his pet war in Iraq for a troop surge in Afghanistan-- I thought at any moment he'd say, just another six months! that's all it needs! Then they'll really suck on it!

[mephesh]

Friedman doesnt know all the facts, his analogy is incorrect. Just bought a special needs baby? BS! The war has been going for years before Obama was president ya fool. I just wanted to directly attack your analogy skills. As for the topic of discussion, keeping the troops in the middle east along with the complications of supporting Israel will destablise the region. Middle East countries arent free to industrialise at full speed, they could outgrow the US.

[estebanx]

Tom Friedman. What an asshole. What an idiot. Suck on this, bitch. How do you still have a job?

[TrollBuster9090]

Tom Friedman, aka "The Mustache of Understanding." He likes pie.

watch?v=sv6nvMUq10U

[khan0890]

this perfectly encapsulates thomas friedman's world view and brilliantly illustrates why he is consistently wrong about everything.

he views most of the world as a "special needs baby" - thomas friedman the voice of reason... from the 18th century.

keep f*cking that chicken tommy boy.

[TrollBuster9090]

watch?v=ZumilAQtL8c

[jensen1901]

This entire war is all about building a natural gas pipeline. The Central Asia and Caspian region is with abundant oil and gas. There is some behind the scenes stuff going on. We the people do not ever get the inside story.

[themou2008]

and we can't even touch our own stuff because of EPA regulations. What a joke.

[bigjstokes]

Apparently you hold the truth, and the world should beg you for it. OK Woody Harrelson,

[eros1057]

Thomas Friedman is kind of a total douche by phrasing his objections in that way; but I see his point. The US has done nothing but support various terrorist alliances throughout Afghanistan since the late 70's. The actual rational human beings in Afghanistan have been terrorized and tortured by western capitalists who are incapable of supporting the people of Afghan because they are not as capitalist friendly as the corrupt gov't apparatus that currently exists! GET US/EU OUT OF AFGHANISTAN!

[BigPurple121]

This is a perfect description.

Afghanistan has the most primitive political system possible. It's really not even a nation-state. There is no actual "Afghanistan." It's just a bunch of tribes. Building this wasteland into a state with a centralized government will take a generation: 20+ years.

[route99]

Thomas Friedman, you are in so much trouble. You have vicariously insulted Sarah Palin's family through your metaphor.

Have you no shame Mr. Friedman?! You know very well that "special needs baby" is a trademarked slogan of the Palin 2012 campaign. We will seek prompt payment of our royalty or we will see you in court.

Good day sir!

[VeohBlows]

Nice 1. I call it a retarded baby, special needs is a bit much. :P

[jletts2]

whats with this guy? doesnt he realize we went out and got this "special child" 8 years ago not now during the recession

[marniespeaks]

the point is never to leave.

[whoo689]

Thomas Friedman's an idiot. I'm not even gonna finish reading his stupid book about a "green revolution." Not happenin. Even if it did, the most it would do is reduce SOME global warming. But we're never gonna get "energy independent", nor is it that desirable. Read The Grand Delusions of Energy Independence. There's a reason mostly politicians and activists want energy independence but real experts, esp. economists, don't recommend it or are shouting for it.

[whoo689]

Afghanistan is more like a college graduate who won't stop sleeping on the couch and get a job. And we're enabling him with this bullshit troop surge.

[bigjstokes]

That's a better analogy. But we're giving the bum-kid a year and a half to get his shit together, and if he doesn't, then we're kicking him out on the street. Of course it's always hard to convince mom to get tough on the slacker.

[qualityrkc]

thats not true. I suggest you listen to defense secretary gates talk about the proposed pullout in 2011. It is non existent. If in 2 years the afghan government cannot "protect" themselves then we will stay until they can. The whole timeline thing was a lie so liberals wouldnt lose there shit. But geuss what? We are.

[milkgodnl]

I might rarely agree with him .. but Friedman of NYT has a tragically funny and expressive metaphor ..

[personage2007]

We shoudl play psychological wars against the iranian presidency instad of dropping bombs..

such as fake homosexual sex scandals against the allatolla's, fake audio recordings of them insulting their prophet, molesting children.. bring down the hole islamic world that way. We could even fake videos of the iranian president drawing the prophet mohammad.

but to the bleeding hearts this is too rude and breaks human rights of terrorists.

so i guess we'll just have to BLOW THEM UP instead.

[dennist3hmenace]

Is this the change you sheep voted for!

LESS JOBS MORE WAR WOOHOO!

[eros1057]

@dennist3hmenace Don't be silly, McCain would have escalated this bs war instantaneously and probably bombed Iran by now and you know it. That is not to say that Obama is not a liar, he clearly is and this escalation blatantly demonstrates that fact. The truth is both bourgeois douchey parties in the US really really suck and we should completely destroy both of them and have a more socially conscious party by for and of the real people, aka the workers, of the US!

[spikesmth]

Lol... it's like WHOA

[ioan6211]

You know what? All I know is that we are in Afghanistan for oil and geo-political reasons to surround Iran. Just look at the world map. Irak on one side and Afghanistan on the other!

[StoryBalloon]

audio/video synch FAIL

[rollsthepaul]

Obama could have sent 300,000 more troops and the war would still be lost. Afghanistan is 34 provinces that behave fully autonomously. The people don't believe the bullshit about the US not leaving. A handful of fighters are the opposition to the US and the small NATO force. The US will have to bring all of it's troops home from over 700bases worldwide, by the end of 2010,because it's currency will be worthless.Obama is corrupt because no one could be that stupid.Apparently Dubya was his mentor.

[atripa645]

Friedman forgot that his flat earth free market ideas are the reason that America has gone down hill but good for him for speaking out against the escalation.

[Richardgwm]

End the wars. Bring our troops home. Close our military bases throughout the world. And defund the Pentagon. Not one dollar of any of this promotes America's national interests.

[sniperbait940]

@Richardgwm Fucking tree hugger.

[joshpnw]

Well, not everyone at the NYT are idiots.

[KataVideo]

Afghanistan is a special-needs baby?

Does that mean we have to carry Afghanistan to public appearances, and then hand it off to Willow or Bristol as soon as no one is looking?

Or do we use Afghanistan as a stage prop, while cutting off funds to all the other parents with special-needs babies?

[superiorgreen]

Just what America needed a special needs baby that we rely on for VITAL national security. Who decided our security should be permanently tied to a 14th century feudal corrupt warlord ruled narco-state? We were attacked by 19 Saudi nationals with visas, paid for by Pakistani generals ...... and we invade Iraq and Afghanistan for national security? The hijackers were trained how to fly for the 9/11 operation IN America. We were attacked by passport, without Taliban knowledge or missles.

[pegelatrin]

Go Friedman! I hope everybody can see obama for the fraud he is.. He have let all his voters down, with his excuses for this war. He is escalating this war to save the the political careers of his buddies to send more sons and daughters to this unnecessary war of choice to die.

[ETericET]

Ya, invading countries is hard isn't it. How's Irac comeing along?

[SailorCire]

good ol' Irac

[alanshanelewis]

wow that scarily makes complete sense

[CYLONEJACK]

A "special needs baby" you created by drinking while pregnant and beating it everyday.