Isaac you say "It’s time to try something new." then you say "If we can help them do that from afar, and continue the stalemate that’s existed for two decades, peace talks may come anew without our presence — and the course of the country may actually change for the better".
Something new would be to not invade other countries and not make judgements on what "changes are for the better". What is right for America and Americans is contentious within America so for Americans to make the decision on what is "better" for the Afghan is narcissistic paternalism.
America should feel free to provide humanitarian aid but should lay off the deciding of how other peoples live and govern themselves. If you are so worried about democracy, schooling, human rights, and the rights of the girls in Afghanistan why are you so chummy with Saudi Arabia where the same issues exist and whose people planned and executed 9/11?
Hey Dan! I appreciate the note, but think you're misunderstanding me (or at least creating a disagreement that doesn't exist). We are aligned in that something new is not to invade other countries, and I agree with you that would be a very good new policy for America to pursue. But we have already invaded Afghanistan. We're there. So it's a strawman argument to raise it relation to my writing. And given where we are, I think I can say unambiguously that not allowing the Taliban to take over the country would be "a change for the better."
So my point is that "something new" (now that we've already been there for 20 years) that would equal a "change for the better" would be *actually* leaving and allowing the peace process to play out organically without our involvement, but also to do whatever we can to help the Afghan govt preserve its power from afar.
Finally, I have no idea who you're addressing when you say "you" -- but I have been extremely critical of the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia in Tangle and publicly on my Twitter page. So you're preaching to the choir. I am not "chummy with Saudi Arabia" and I care deeply about those issues throughout the Middle East, so you'll have to drop a citation to level that kind of accusation... I've pointed out all the same contradictions you have.
Isaac firstly, did not mean to impugn your overall take on the withdrawal and by you I meant America and specifically your government and not YOU personally.
I think it was the "help from afar" that struck me. What America considers help is not always "helpful" and while I would not like to live under Taliban rule, it may be the best thing for Afghanistan at this point in time. They may be the only force that can unify the country and end the civil wars. I am no fan of Fundamental Islam (or any other fundamentalist religion) but it is for the people of Afghanistan to decide their own culture.
So while you may "say unambiguously that not allowing the Taliban to take over the country would be a change for the better", and I don't think America can do anything about it, "better" is a relative term that may be coloured by your beliefs and it may not, in fact, be a change for the better for Afghans.
Isaac you say "It’s time to try something new." then you say "If we can help them do that from afar, and continue the stalemate that’s existed for two decades, peace talks may come anew without our presence — and the course of the country may actually change for the better".
Something new would be to not invade other countries and not make judgements on what "changes are for the better". What is right for America and Americans is contentious within America so for Americans to make the decision on what is "better" for the Afghan is narcissistic paternalism.
America should feel free to provide humanitarian aid but should lay off the deciding of how other peoples live and govern themselves. If you are so worried about democracy, schooling, human rights, and the rights of the girls in Afghanistan why are you so chummy with Saudi Arabia where the same issues exist and whose people planned and executed 9/11?
Hey Dan! I appreciate the note, but think you're misunderstanding me (or at least creating a disagreement that doesn't exist). We are aligned in that something new is not to invade other countries, and I agree with you that would be a very good new policy for America to pursue. But we have already invaded Afghanistan. We're there. So it's a strawman argument to raise it relation to my writing. And given where we are, I think I can say unambiguously that not allowing the Taliban to take over the country would be "a change for the better."
So my point is that "something new" (now that we've already been there for 20 years) that would equal a "change for the better" would be *actually* leaving and allowing the peace process to play out organically without our involvement, but also to do whatever we can to help the Afghan govt preserve its power from afar.
Finally, I have no idea who you're addressing when you say "you" -- but I have been extremely critical of the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia in Tangle and publicly on my Twitter page. So you're preaching to the choir. I am not "chummy with Saudi Arabia" and I care deeply about those issues throughout the Middle East, so you'll have to drop a citation to level that kind of accusation... I've pointed out all the same contradictions you have.
Best,
Isaac
Isaac firstly, did not mean to impugn your overall take on the withdrawal and by you I meant America and specifically your government and not YOU personally.
I think it was the "help from afar" that struck me. What America considers help is not always "helpful" and while I would not like to live under Taliban rule, it may be the best thing for Afghanistan at this point in time. They may be the only force that can unify the country and end the civil wars. I am no fan of Fundamental Islam (or any other fundamentalist religion) but it is for the people of Afghanistan to decide their own culture.
So while you may "say unambiguously that not allowing the Taliban to take over the country would be a change for the better", and I don't think America can do anything about it, "better" is a relative term that may be coloured by your beliefs and it may not, in fact, be a change for the better for Afghans.
Exactly.