I’ve argued before against “solutionism”–the optimistic American belief that there is always going to be a correct, successful solution to any given international problem as long as people of good will, etc.
Alas our endearing but naive American optimism repeatedly comes up against a world in which people of good will, etc. (by our definition) are in short supply. The argument for and the argument against making a big push in Afghanistan are both persuasive to some extent, but neither is a solution. Heads we lose one way, tails we lose another. .
If you doubt this please read this deeply pessimistic account of an ex Marine who resigned his Afghan civilian post out of hopelessness.
I used to think false hope was better than no hope. No so much anymore.
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3 Comments
1. charlie finch:When a market in Pakistan is savagely bomber while Hillary visits, it is time to attack PAKISTAN. This shit is just gonna metastastize until New York is dirtybombed and it is unfair to scapegoat the Israelis into doing our dirty work. Radical Islam understands two things only: shame induced by brute force. Meanwhile the morons at the New York Times are wringing their hands over the introduction of sharia law. Stoning people to death is just a slower more focused version of the ovens. Get out the bunker busters and take out Mecca. Only that will “transform” the Muslim fascists.
Oct 28, 2009 - 9:29 am 2. charlie finch:Multiple air strikes by US and Israel on Pakistani nuclear facilities, Iranian nuclear facilities and Mecca. Our commandoes seize both Saudi and Iranian oil fields and nationalize them in the name of the United States. Worldwide Muslim outrage is turned against the jihadists for provoking the humiliation of Islam. Muslim nukes eliminated, oil dependency stopped, US international debt drastically reduced, Israel secured, Chicoms and Russians rendered impotent. All the United States has left to emply is its military superiority. As Noam Chomsky (!) rightly points out we control the militarization of space through our satellites. The elites, with their kawtawing to the worst elements in the Muslim world have sold us out to the point where they are pushing containment strategy vis Iran. The United States, having spent a century in blood and treasure saving the world from the worst tyrannies in history, is now dependent on the heirs of those tyrannies to maintain a quickly depleting standard of living. Enough: strike now or die the death of a million slow cuts.
Oct 28, 2009 - 11:26 am 3. WestWright:Charlie, I agree with your plan. I doubt old Ron does though, its WACIST!
Oct 29, 2009 - 12:21 pm