The latest absurdity out of the swamp, unfortunately seems to come from Trump. By the time you read this, a couple of days will have passed of the glorious ‘week of reduced violence,’ which will signal part one of a peace treaty with Afghanistan. It reminds me of a possible 30 year old criminal drunk who has killed countless innocents, and a judge giving him a week to do less violence, and he may go free. I picked up a book at a yard sale last week, titled “The Wrong War,” and of course it is about Afghanistan. The book is full of horrible details about the Taliban killing, torturing, and acting like the uncivilized creatures they are. It tells of the wholesale genital mutilation of girls, and endless abuse of women. It details how the Soviets invaded Afghanistan on Christmas Day, 1979, and in February of 1989, they had enough, and left with their tails between their legs. It was hopeless. It took them ten years of expensive realization. In 2001, America invaded, and after 19 years so far, we have no realization. Page 114 of the book, describes the Soviets as follows: “Exhibiting a stunning lack of sanitary common sense, the Soviet army did not insist its cooks wash their hands after they defecated. Seventy percent of all Russians who served in Afghanistan over a five year period – 160,000 soldiers – suffered from dysentery, typhoid, or cholera.”
A paragraph on page 117 of the book reads, “Whatever the motivation of the mountain tribes – religious, clannish, xenophobic, or simply committed to medieval life – some folks will not buy what we are selling, no matter how hard we try. It may take another century for some mountain tribes to accept electricity, let alone rule by a Kabul government.” Another paragraph on page 109, about a soldier, who said, “Over the past year, I’ve delivered 70,000 pounds of food and aid supplies to remote villages. I’ve tried to win their hearts and minds, but some people need killing if we’re to win.” Over a captured handheld radio, a Taliban leader was taunting them. Ahmad Shafi, an interpreter provided a translation. “You came in,” a mature voice said, “Now I decide how you leave. We killed the Russians here. Now we kill you, unless you surrender. Stop shooting and I will let you live.” A typical happening, one of maybe a hundred listed in the book, on page 88, tells of American soldiers who dug a ditch around a school to prevent entrance by vehicles. “A shabby Toyota barreled headlong into the ditch, bounced three feet in the air, and came down inside the schoolyard. The driver detonated an explosion that killed fifteen children.” On page 160, “The Taliban are pictured as extremists who stone women to death, burn schools, and whip men, but our generals picture them as misguided youths.” Page 175 indicates that “Each soldier in Afghanistan costs about $1 million to pay and support.” The first paragraph on chapter 16 reads, “The United States invaded Afghanistan in order to destroy the al Qaeda network. However al Qaeda and the Taliban escaped over the border into Pakistan. Instead of pursuing them, America stayed in Afghanistan, vowing to build a strong democratic nation that would prevent the return of the terrorists.” After 19 years, it hasn’t happened. Of course the week may not be up yet.
Every time I get an e-mail from Trump, where it asks for a comment, I always say “Get out of Afghanistan,” and I am sure others say the same. He sent in more troops, and now, to make it even more ridiculous, he has given them a week to “do less violence.” Gimme a break!
Don Stott- don@coloradogold.com