Article

2009-01-10 Afghanistan

Afghan and Pakistan problems are really one: Gen Petraeus

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Posted by Fred 2009-01-10 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top
File under: Taliban

#1 We need to get serious about some cultural issues in Afghanistan. First of all, pick a language and teach all children in all provinces in that language. Second, build out a national entertainment/news/TV/Radio infrastructure in that language. Kids from all parts of Afghanistan should be sharing a common cultural identity. Third, get serious about building serious transportation infrastructure that interconnects all the provinces. People need to share a common language, a common cultural identity, and be able to travel easily. Producers in one province should be able to get goods to other markets. Workers in one place, to jobs in another.

Use some cultural propaganda. Have TV shows where a young couple, maybe one Uzbek and the other Pashtun marry. The old people don't like it but they are portrayed as backwards hillbillies and the kids as hip modern movers and shakers who succeed despite the comical backwardness of their tribal elders.

The people need to become Afghans and blur the tribal lines. That will begin to reduce the influence of the Pakis and other outsiders and give them confidence in their own abilities. Language, culture, communications. Those are the keys.

Posted by crosspatch 2009-01-10 02:44|| 2009-01-10 02:44|| Front Page Top

#2 Afghan and Pakistan problems are really one

Both countries are full of the followers of a psychotic, dehumanizing cult that have been working to destroy the rest of Humanity for 1400 years.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2009-01-10 04:04|| 2009-01-10 04:04|| Front Page Top

#3 Both countries aren't really countries.

There's probably and 5 different real countries/peoples in Pakistan-Afghanistan region.

Split them up and concentrate on the belligerent ones.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2009-01-10 04:49|| 2009-01-10 04:49|| Front Page Top

#4 A common language is an excellent idea. English is necessary for success, not just in the West, as it is the international language of the scientific world, and would open up the 21st century to them. Back in the 80's, the US took quite a few Afghan refugees in and they have done well. I know a Pashtun US graduate that speaks English well, knows 3-4 regional dialects, is computer literate and currently serving covertly. We need many more or they will never give up the poppy trade.

Posted by Danielle 2009-01-10 14:14|| 2009-01-10 14:14|| Front Page Top

#5 The new National Afghan Military Academy, modeled on West Point, is a start at producing leaders with a shared national rather than tribal identity. Gonna take time.

Posted by lotp 2009-01-10 15:46|| 2009-01-10 15:46|| Front Page Top

#6 We have no business civilizing the Afghans or establishing a single culture or language for them or the Paks. We would be pissed if someone tried to do that to us.

We should tell them that it's their country, if they want the Taliban, they should just wait and if they don't they better get cracking because we're going home. If bad things happen to us that come from there, we'll be back and bad next time.

We have no national interests at stake in either Pakistan or Afghanistan and we should get out toot sweet. Or recognize with whom we are really at war and call it a Crusade in South Asia.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2009-01-10 16:08|| 2009-01-10 16:08|| Front Page Top

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