Little Hawk:

The launching of the military-magnitude attacks of 9-11 occurred in Afghanistan.

I agree the joke was in bad taste, but I stronly suspect that in the very unlikely event you were placed in charge of security and policy decisions for the UNited States you would be much less judgemental.

This does not change the fact that very stupoid economic and political decisions built up a nasty bunch of potential long before 9-11 ever occurred.

But do not forget that when US troops first moved into Afghan soil, it was to help the locals get the Sovietsoff their backs. Remember that?

Perhaps we should have let Afghanistan roll over and succumb to the occupation by the Soviets? WHatcha think?

Or should we have taken the position that Afghanistan's covert support of the AL Qeda attacks was forgiveable and none of our business even though it made the 9-11 attacks possible?

Whatcha think?

I hope you know me better than to suppose from this that I am a supporter of either of these goddamn wars, but I also have some sense of history and of realpolitik and with your understanding of the ebb and flow of history I would expect you would also, and not just churn out these vague denouncements without regard to situational dynamics.

A