tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867261.post1915425070735309889..comments2023-10-25T04:44:35.462-04:00Comments on Rather Than Working: Are You Convinced?Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04411527807049220749noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867261.post-63161559370836054332009-12-02T16:49:02.890-05:002009-12-02T16:49:02.890-05:00I'll slide him a few months or a year (which a...I'll slide him a few months or a year (which at minimum he's going to take anyway as the eighteen months is totally unrealistic to achieve what he says he wants to achieve) Curmudgeon.<br /><br />I just don't see Pakistan doing what it needs to do, Karzai and friends doing what they need to do and the warlords playing nice with the money and aid so as to have any kind of viable structure in the short, middle or long term future.<br /><br />Yes, were all these things to happen a viable opposition might develop. It might replace the current corruption; but, once the money and the protection being drying up - back to what they've been doing for centuries.<br /><br />I truly hope I'm wrong, though I don't think that I am.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04411527807049220749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34867261.post-63616498461092001012009-12-02T14:38:59.404-05:002009-12-02T14:38:59.404-05:00Ye gods, Dave, you sound like Sen. McCain decrying...Ye gods, Dave, you sound like Sen. McCain decrying the specific pull-out timetable.<br /><br />The Taliban have support among Afghans now -- but is it support because it is the only apparent alternative to the corrupt Karzai regime... or because these folks are so crazy they really <i>want</i> what the Taliban stand for? Mr. Obama's plan has a chance IF enough Afghans really DON'T want the Taliban back.<br /><br />Maybe, as we clear and hold areas with our surge, another option will emerge -- a viable, not-nearly-as-corrupt opposition. If it gets strong enough, we could just withdraw Karzai with us.<br /><br />As long as you're reading up on all this, you might find <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2236951/" rel="nofollow">Christopher Hitchens'</a> take on this of interest: He says we are making a mistake in ignoring India's interests in Afghanistan and over-promoting our partnership with Pakistan. (The link is to Slate.com, but I read it in this morning's Chicago <i>Sun-Times</i>.)The Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14723009641287783218noreply@blogger.com