I had an uncle who was a PhD college prof who was hired by the Ford Foundation to live in a variety of countries and teach college students how to grow crops suitable for their soil and climate variations, and in some countries to plant and raise 2 or more crops per year, thus increasing the food supply as well as some for exportation. The students would then go out to teach the populace to learn a new way to earn a living. Some of his stops were Philippines, Thailand, & Uganda. From what I understand Afghanistan has a hot/cold climate, and that some hardy fruit and vegetable crops could substitute for the poppies.

Perhaps it would give the people an alternative life style and they could become interested in living, instead of “war-ing”. IMHO the population needs to be re-energized into another life style. Would this be something several colleges/universities (each furnishing one educator, along with some of the military personnel, could form an “Extension service” similar to what we have in the US, to help the Afghans, instead of carrying guns and ammo to shoot-up the country? I dunno, but it might be worth a try.

What has been tried so far, has failed.

Why did sneaky Obama –when he told the CBC journalist day he visited Canada that he doesn’t “believe in military solutions, only development!–send in the troops of 17,000!!! His agenda was to distract the media with his phony 6-hour trip to Ottawa so he could send in the troops! What a phony! What a phony war….

I read that last year the Greek army had provided a HOSPITAL-TANK and was treating people. Why can’t the Army provide surgeons, doctors, nurses and Obama actually–rather than sending money that’s going to Karza’i's family pockets–sends Hillary with a billion to CONSTRUCT HOSPITAL AND SCHOOL with emphasis on GIRLS’ EDUCATION….but…no visible guns or tanks….That’s how you’d win the “War”–rather than provide bodyguards for the oil companies’ pipeline interests in the Caspian!!!

Women only have 4 years of education and males 11! Thanks to the religious fanatics of the Taliban. The Russians and the Brits before them couldn’t tame these mountaineering “insurgents”. I don’t see how Obama can. The troops should remain in there and do more of the other two “D”s Hillary spoke about. DEVELOPMENT and diplomacy. Then their hearts will be won first perhaps….I have a feeling that the presence of American troops helping out with their development needs will be welcomed more than strictly tanks in their roads….

Thank you for your comments and thoughts. I am just stuck on Afghanistan as I know it is not in our interest to be there, and I can’t stand Genocide.
The Russians killed over 1 Million Afghani’s, and displaced over 1 Million more. When 44% of the population is under 14, I think that every one of them will have had such scars, with family members being killed, being starved and scared to death, that we will have created a marching army of Patriots that will throw the invaders out, or die trying.

Keep commenting on future articles. There have been lots of stories written in the past at NQ. Search the site for some interesting past stories. Thanks to you readers for the chance to share my thoughts with you.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/BRZ110A.html

Centre for Research on Globalisation

According to this 1998 interview with Zbigniew Brzezinski, the CIA’s intervention in Afghanistan preceded the 1979 Soviet invasion. This decision of the Carter Administration in 1979 to intervene and destabilize Afghanistan is the root cause of Afghanistan’s destruction as a nation.

M.C.

The CIA’s Intervention in Afghanistan
Interview with Zbigniew Brzezinski,
President Jimmy Carter’s National Security Adviser

Le Nouvel Observateur, Paris, 15-21 January 1998
Posted at globalresearch.ca 15 October 2001

Question: The former director of the CIA, Robert Gates, stated in his memoirs ["From the Shadows"], that American intelligence services began to aid the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan 6 months before the Soviet intervention. In this period you were the national security adviser to President Carter. You therefore played a role in this affair. Is that correct?

Brzezinski: Yes. According to the official version of history, CIA aid to the Mujahadeen began during 1980, that is to say, after the Soviet army invaded Afghanistan, 24 Dec 1979. But the reality, secretly guarded until now, is completely otherwise Indeed, it was July 3, 1979 that President Carter signed the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul. And that very day, I wrote a note to the president in which I explained to him that in my opinion this aid was going to induce a Soviet military intervention.

Q: Despite this risk, you were an advocate of this covert action. But perhaps you yourself desired this Soviet entry into war and looked to provoke it?

B: It isn’t quite that. We didn’t push the Russians to intervene, but we knowingly increased the probability that they would.

Q: When the Soviets justified their intervention by asserting that they intended to fight against a secret involvement of the United States in Afghanistan, people didn’t believe them. However, there was a basis of truth. You don’t regret anything today?

B: Regret what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and you want me to regret it? The day that the Soviets officially crossed the border, I wrote to President Carter. We now have the opportunity of giving to the USSR its Vietnam war. Indeed, for almost 10 years, Moscow had to carry on a war unsupportable by the government, a conflict that brought about the demoralization and finally the breakup of the Soviet empire.

Q: And neither do you regret having supported the Islamic fundamentalism, having given arms and advice to future terrorists?

B: What is most important to the history of the world? The Taliban or the collapse of the Soviet empire? Some stirred-up Moslems or the liberation of Central Europe and the end of the cold war?

Q: Some stirred-up Moslems? But it has been said and repeated Islamic fundamentalism represents a world menace today.

B: Nonsense! It is said that the West had a global policy in regard to Islam. That is stupid. There isn’t a global Islam. Look at Islam in a rational manner and without demagoguery or emotion. It is the leading religion of the world with 1.5 billion followers. But what is there in common among Saudi Arabian fundamentalism, moderate Morocco, Pakistan militarism, Egyptian pro-Western or Central Asian secularism? Nothing more than what unites the Christian countries.

Translated from the French by Bill Blum

The URL of this article is:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/BRZ110A.html

Copyright, Le Nouvel Observateur and Bill Blum. For fair use only.

The main hotel, there was one at that time, lost power because some journalist plugged in a space heater. The entire hotel. It was freezing. We had a minor earthquake and I thought the building was done for.

The saddest part is that without the scumbag humans it actually looks like it could be Switzerland. Huge mountains looming right outside of town, ski resorts would be everywhere, attached to great public transport. Cafes everywhere. But nope, not gonna happen. Instead people dig holes in the hills and live there.

The best was that although Afghans have a lot of (pretty good) food, the UN would give them some free food if they could show a family member was starving. We called it the “Starve a Daughter” program, because to get free food that what many families did. Hopefully someone somewhere noticed that this program was a bad idea.

I am not sure we have any business being in Afghanistan. We don’t understand the culture and the tribal conficts that have existed for years in the region. Russia pulled out because they couldn’t find a military solution. I don’t think there is one.

I look forward to the report of the review underway and and approve of diplomatic efforts to stabilize the area. But I am inclined to agree with with the assessment of a former British special forces commander who described Britain’s military efforts in southern Afghanistan as “worthless.”

I have a strong feeling that our involvement will be interminable and worthless, as well. I see another Iraq shaping up and a war we can’t afford, especially as our eonomy at home is in shambles.

I don’t think we can afford to try to solve all the world’s problems with military action. All we do is further alienate the Muslims and Arabs with our arrogant stance. Might doesn’t always make right.

Obama will resist leaving Afganistan for one reason only…Jobs
Afdganistan and our advance into Pakistan represents a giant overseas work program to keep our soldiers from coming home to unemployment lines.

Since the Taliban destroyed the giant Buddhas, I couldn’t care less how they get it under control.

Train pilots and make it a weapons testing site for all I care. Turn them into amazing glass objects to replace the artifacts they destroyed in the Kabul Museum with sledgehammers -

when they smashed 2,500 priceless artifacts stored there.

They already treat women, animals, gays, and infidels like shit. Screw them and their heroin hell hole.