This is the American philosopher George Santayana, who observed that those who ignore the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them.
The disgusting Bliar and the absurd Bush, both ignorant of history despite having had very expensive educations, landed us by lying and subterfuge in military disasters.
Since the days of Alexander the Great who passed through but had the sense not to stop – and perhaps longer – the foolish have sent men to Afghanistan and lived, whilst other, finer men died, to regret it.
Now I see drugs are being smuggled into our military bases there.
What a surprise. Armies from countries where drug-taking is common right throughout society go to a country where providing the raw material for drugs is the only way farmers can make money.
These armies are fighting an unwinnable war in one of the most unpleasant climates on earth. What do they do in their spare time? Play chess? Discuss Jacobean tragedy? No; they are the beneficiaries of the great British and American educational systems, where – at the behest of the idiots in charge – history is no longer taught.
Vietnam all over again, but without girls.
Isn't it ironic that, when the Taliban were in power, drug production went down.
Just goes to show that even the most unpleasant people have some good points.
I think they should rename “Operation Panther's Claw” as “Operation Soviet Invasion”.
It's basically the same level of delusion.
The Taliban used to say to the Soviet invadors “You have the watches, but we have the time”.
The US/UK can chase them out of an area but, once the armies are redeployed, the Taliban just come back.
So, what's the solution going to be?
Endless occupation?
Or killing every one of the Taliban?
Can't see either of those things happening…
So, that leaves us with the 3rd option – called the “Soviet option” – hanging on there until the war becomes so expensive and so unpopular, the politicians just give up.
'triffic!
Steve
“Just goes to show that even the most unpleasant people have some good points.”
Funny how they became 'unpleasant' as soon as Russia was taken care of.
Before that they were allies.
Don't believe everything you read in the news, do you?
Or everything the politicians tell you?
You certainly didn't seem the type.
Reminds me of a guy from one of my work places who wouldn't believe anything politicians said… until they were speaking against 'Islamic terrorists', and then he was all, “Why would they lie?”
I believe that any group who blow up magnificent centuries old monuments and treat women like cattle are deeply unpleasant. Silly old me
“I believe that any group who blow up magnificent centuries old monuments and treat women like cattle are deeply unpleasant. Silly old me”
I have no idea about the first part of this but for the latter, like I said, do you really believe everything you hear about from the western press?
I can guarantee you Islam treats women with more the type of equality inheard of in western society.
Unless, of course, you been to Afghanistan and seen it for yourself.
Do you know how the Taliban were formed?
A young woman was kidnapped and a local leader/imam was approached to do something about it.
He put together a group of people and went and rescued the woman.
From there the imam gained prominence.
Bet you'd never hear of that in the press.
How many of the western leaders began their careers doing anything remotely like that?
Here they'll show one piece of footage over and over again of someone doing something against the laws of Islam and people start to believe the Taliban as a group are all the same.
Heck, I've seen an English man beat a woman outside – should I assume all English men beat their women?
I know that's what the western media would like everyone to think of us.
You've met me – do I come across as such a person to you?
The Buddhas of Bamyan (Persian: بت های باميان – but hay-e bamiyaan) were two monumental statues of standing Buddhas carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamyan valley in the Hazarajat region of central Afghanistan, situated 230 km (143 miles) northwest of Kabul at an altitude of 2500 meters (8,202 ft). Built during the sixth century, the statues represented the classic blended style of Gandhara art[1].
The main bodies were hewn directly from the sandstone cliffs, but details were modeled in mud mixed with straw, coated with stucco. This coating, practically all of which was worn away long ago, was painted to enhance the expressions of the faces, hands and folds of the robes; the larger one was painted carmine red and the smaller one was painted multiple colors.[2] The lower parts of the statues' arms were constructed from the same mud-straw mix while supported on wooden armatures. It is believed that the upper parts of their faces were made from great wooden masks or casts. The rows of holes that can be seen in photographs were spaces that held wooden pegs which served to stabilize the outer stucco.
They were intentionally dynamited and destroyed in 2001 by the Taliban, on orders from leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, after the Taliban government declared that they were “idols” (which are forbidden under Sharia law). International opinion strongly condemned the destruction of the Buddhas, which was viewed as an example of the intolerance of the Taliban and of fundamentalist Islam. Japan and Switzerland, among others, have pledged support for the rebuilding of the statues.[3]
The Buddhas of Bamyan (Persian: بت های باميان – but hay-e bamiyaan) were two monumental statues of standing Buddhas carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamyan valley in the Hazarajat region of central Afghanistan, situated 230 km (143 miles) northwest of Kabul at an altitude of 2500 meters (8,202 ft). Built during the sixth century, the statues represented the classic blended style of Gandhara art[1].
The main bodies were hewn directly from the sandstone cliffs, but details were modeled in mud mixed with straw, coated with stucco. This coating, practically all of which was worn away long ago, was painted to enhance the expressions of the faces, hands and folds of the robes; the larger one was painted carmine red and the smaller one was painted multiple colors.[2] The lower parts of the statues' arms were constructed from the same mud-straw mix while supported on wooden armatures. It is believed that the upper parts of their faces were made from great wooden masks or casts. The rows of holes that can be seen in photographs were spaces that held wooden pegs which served to stabilize the outer stucco.
They were intentionally dynamited and destroyed in 2001 by the Taliban, on orders from leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, after the Taliban government declared that they were “idols” (which are forbidden under Sharia law). International opinion strongly condemned the destruction of the Buddhas, which was viewed as an example of the intolerance of the Taliban and of fundamentalist Islam. Japan and Switzerland, among others, have pledged support for the rebuilding of the statues.[3]
So they destroyed two statues and that's enough to condemn them as people, despite what other good they do?
The British, Americans and Europeans have murdered and plundered countries throughout the world, even killing the indigenous people to take over their lands.
If the destroying of two statues is enough to label an entire people for life, then I would say the British and Americans have a lot to answer for.
To claim open-mindedness means to study about those you condemn in order to find out the truth overall beofre you condemn them.
Otherwise claiming open-minded is false.
I'm a supporter of Jewish Voice for Peace.
It's a good thing I try to be open minded or I might just assume ALL Jews are the same.
Let's skim over the fact you've ignored what I wrote about the Taliban and their treatment of women.
Aren't we always begin told we need to obey UK law if we are to live here?
Those statues were in Afghanistan and it's their country.
What gives the rest of the world the right to 'dictate' to them what they can and can't do in their own country according to their law.
Double standards abound here.
And, if world opinion is enough, where's the condemnation here of what Israel did and is still doing in Gaza?
Let's skim over the fact you've ignored what I wrote about the Taliban and their treatment of women.
Aren't we always begin told we need to obey UK law if we are to live here?
Those statues were in Afghanistan and it's their country.
What gives the rest of the world the right to 'dictate' to them what they can and can't do in their own country according to their law.
Double standards abound here.
And, if world opinion is enough, where's the condemnation here of what Israel did and is still doing in Gaza?