Don’t expect to change the Afghanis

Rome wasn't built in a day. If you're expecting quick and rapid changes to a people who have..well since ever, lived under brutal conditions by being invaded constantly by Mongols, Persians, Arabs, Communists, Westerners, think again. These people have to want to change, if they don't want to change, that's their problem. I agree that defending democracy in Afghanistan is a freaking joke considering that Christian convert debacle but sounds like this columnist has some personal issues regarding Afghanistan.

It took us centuries to climb out of the Dark Ages, so I guess we can't expect an overnight cgange in the Afghani people, who are divided not only by ethnicity but clan lines too. A neighbour of my parents is a Pashtun and his opinion the other ethnic groups in Afghanistan is none too high.

The Irish have only recently gotten their shit straightened out, mind you those nutballs from Ulster have been a problem for the rest of Ireland for thousands of years. The Slavs in the Balkans are another good example of ethnic strife in the supposedly developed world too.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/02042006/2/n ... -iraq.html

Who the hell is Mr Margiolis, and why would I lisiten to him instead of the Afghanistan ambassador to Canada? Why would I believe someone who lives in the country and cares for his people instead of someone who sells words for a living.

From this fellows own website, we have crap like this:

.. and who have I voted for?
Sir. You presume a great deal too much!

Why would I listen to a fellow who makes money selling his words over a fellow who came from Afghanistan?

The Taliban are not terrorists any more than the Mushadeen were to the USSR. I will say that hard line muslem nutbars who have siezed power are friends to no one, right or left.

As for the other two. I disagree. Opening up their society, renewing a stable open media can only be the light that banishes secrecy and mistrust. We need to help them, not because there is money in it, but because it's the right thing to do.

Agreed. China is a big hole of corruption but Afghanistan used to be better before the USSR blew the snot out of it.

My confidence in Avro's opinions has been shaken greatly by his post.

Avro, there's not one army guy alive who didn't know fighting in Afghanistan was going to be a tough slog. It's only ill-informed civvie types like you who woke up to the Sunday Sun this weekend and realized there was more to the mission than building schools and feeding the hungry.

Avro, you should try thinking for yourself sometime. Margolis is a fucking coward who sucked out of duty in Viet Nam when he was faced with the option. Then, he had the gall to pretend that his decision to avoid service was made out of "honour".

That said, there were lot's of cowards amongst his generation, and I could have stomached him until he took on the Sun's Peter Worthington in a flame war on the Sun's editorial pages about 3 years ago.

Sorry Eric, but when it comes to world events, I'll take Peter's experience as a platoon commander with the Pat's in Korea and a Bosun's Mate on the North Atlantic in '43 over your mutinous, traitorous, bullshit anyday!

This is a guy who slams Orianna Fallaci, probably the most prolific writer in modern Europe as an "Islamophobe."

Please tell me you can do better than Eric Margolic Avro!

Although China is corrupt it is the 60th best country as far as corruption goes...