The Four Pillars of Insurgency in Afghanistan

[spikesmth]

Actually if you look at the demographics of suicide bombers they are almost entirely middle/upper class young men who are well educated. Plus they sell drugs and extort money FROM the poor. This is why they are a capable force.

[marsCubed]

Christopher Hitchens has the right angle IMO.

Buy their drugs for 2 billion a year... it would be many many times cheaper.

Use the drugs for meds as we do with Turkey's opium production or just dump them at sea 'til Afghanistan becomes a more developed state, + it gives an economic lever and stops nastiest junk reaching the west.

Spend the money saved on public health, nurses and teachers, make college cheap of free.

Imagine the economic benefits that would follow.

[joralebedev]

Unfortunately, what would follow is that every person in the country that could would start to grow opium and in no time they would be completely dependent on growing it as virtually their only source of revenue. Drug dealers would simply raise their prices to pay more than the US, etc. Good idea, though. It's still a lot cheaper than the war.

[marsCubed]

It is not what happens in Turkey.

So there is already a model which shows that it can be done successfully.

The real problem is not voodoo right whining economics, it is the transition. For a while we would be paying the enemy, some of the money would be used for guns against our troops.

Politically it would be a brave move.

[PhilWithCoffee]

marsCubed,

The only problem is that that solution is too easy and cost effective. It has to be costly, flashy, and wrapped in the American flag or else it isn't worth it.

[1RadicalOne]

There's one really fundamental pillar. ISLAM. The damn jihad and the "world conquest" the believers are so invested in.

[afghanhunter221]

jihad ? do u even know wat that means? its not wat the media portrays it is. its a struggle towards justice , a struggle towards good. a struggle towards God's way. ie: self defense, freedom, justice, self governance.

u have taken rights away from people of their own land and then u blame the religion of Islam. lol ur nick explains ur mental position. ur no different then the radical jihadist that are fighting to take over the world. why dont u drink ur cold beer and chill lol .

[1RadicalOne]

I am afraid you are completely out of orbit on this one.

First off, yes, I do know what Jihad means. If you are going to merely redefine it as nonviolent - when all the evidence suggests otherwise - you are doing what is known as the "no true scotsman" fallacy. And if you are going to say that the media is perpetrating some vast conspiracy against Islam, I recommend you keep that to yourself; I disdain conspiracy theories for the insanity they are.

[cont'd]

[1RadicalOne]

[cont'd]

Taken rights away?

Why, then, have terrorist attacks happened BEFORE the Iraq war? Such as the one that STARTED the war?

[cont'd]

[1RadicalOne]

[cont'd]

"lol [sic] ur [sic] nick explains ur [sic] mental position"

My callsign is not one tied with extremism; it is in fact the name of a vehicle in a game I used to make modifications for. Such skimming does not bode well for your arguments.

No different?

The jihadist wants everyone to share his religion and his sharia. He kills to acheive that.

I want people to STOP killing each other over such petty things as a magic sky man.

If you cannot see the difference, you ARE brainwashed.

[1RadicalOne]

I do not want to start a religious debate here - nor do ForaTV's other viewers - so to continue I would prefer if you took this to personal messages.

[ndyt]

totally hopeless, Obama get our ass out of there now!

[Hottides]

If Obama pulls the USA out of Afghanistan, Al Qaeda and the Taliban will take over. Realistically, the US can't achieve Neocon fantasies like riding Afghanistan of Islam, creating instant Democracy, cleansing corruption, or transforming Pashtuns into Middle Class Americans. What we can and MUST DO is maintain political control and prevent the Jihad's return. We can manipulate the Afghan government through puppets like Karzai or via bribery. We must also maintain a strong military presence.

[ndyt]

Hottides, what is the worst think that could happen if we pull out and they take over? They didn't launch or train for 911 there, they did that right here on USA soil.

[73mandala]

@ndyt Obama can't get your ass out of nowhere he's just your president he runs nothing he has no power,look at Bush they're just puppets of the rich and powerful,Obama's a joke,46 yrs old with no experience at all on the world stage,hasn't he only been a senator for 6 yrs,what a joke,you Americans are so desperate you voted in a complete novice to run one of the most dangerous and powerful countries in the world,Putin laughed so hard when he heard about Obama he almost threw up.

[ndyt]

73mandala, I guess would rather have the old man and Palin?

[73mandala]

@ndyt no, i would've thought Mrs Clinton would've been the obvious choice,after all she has the conections around the world,she's respected around the world, has tons of experience is intelligent and finally you get 2 for the price of 1,i simply cannot believe you voted Obama over her,it's simply the most ridiculous appointment i've ever witnessed. Obama rarely leaves America,he looks like a frightened deer in the spotlight,also his wife is a racist,she's way out of her depth,so is he

[ndyt]

@73mandala , We were not given a chance to vote for Mrs Clinton, she lost the Democratic primary. I never could figure out what she stood for, did you?

[Mrmoc7]

You see, unlike you Australians, Americans don't follow anyone's lead. We do whatever the fuck we want, and we don't give a **** who likes it and who doesn't. Our self-esteem as a nation does not depend on whether Putin likes our choice of president. You Australians might care about what Putin thinks of you, but goddamit, we're Americans!! And on behalf of all Americans, I would like to tell you to please, go **** yourself.

Thank you.

[73mandala]

@Mrmoc7 yes i agree,we (Australia) have followed your lead in a few of these "wars" and like the other Vietnam you'd think we'd have learnt our lesson but our government at the time believed the bs your country said and blindly and stupidly followed you into another bs unwinable war that was made up of lies and deception. What you Americans need to do is purge your govt of the dual citezenship high level politicians who are loyal to Israel first and are destroying your country. Wake up for fs

[Mrmoc7]

@73mandala

You think Obama is loyal to Israel?  I think Netanyahu would disagree, vehemently.

[ndyt]

73mandala, I guess would would rather have McCain and Palin?

[GOPsithlord]

I am very surprised this gentleman did not discuss that some parts of the insurgency are running their own version of COIN relative to NATO and the US in particular. It is vital to the West to remember to do it better than they do.