Notice I feel for the innocent women and children

[Hoopguru]

In Afghanistan. I hope the the Islamic community deals with the dirt bags that target children and women.


Bombing Outside Afghan School Kills at Least 30, With Girls as Targets
The New York Times·1 hour ago

 

[riverman]

Militias or gangs have roamed Somalia, Nigeria and many African countries kidnapping school girls by the hundreds and abusing them.....happened recently again in Nigeria....over 200 girls....girls in these places are afraid to go to school now....I think Afghanistan is a similar situation....we usually get really upset if it happens to white children.....it's sad how we've allowed this to continue in places like Africa, India, Central America, etc..

 

[riverman]

Much as I hate seeing this, I don't want the US to be the world's police. Let them deal with their own shit. They'll figure it out eventually.

Afghanistan is a bit older than the US....it's not like they're going to figure that shit out...paternal societies hanging onto stone age phylosophies

 

[Hoopguru]

Militias or gangs have roamed Somalia, Nigeria and many African countries kidnapping school girls by the hundreds and abusing them.....happened recently again in Nigeria....over 200 girls....girls in these places are afraid to go to school now....I think Afghanistan is a similar situation....we usually get really upset if it happens to white children.....it's sad how we've allowed this to continue in places like Africa, India, Central America, etc..

You'd think in the 21st century civilized countries in their neighborhood, would stand up to this type of crime against humanity.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Such a fine line between actively fighting for global human rights vs being seen as a tyrant, no matter the Formicidae.

 

[Hoopguru]

Such a fine line between actively fighting for global human rights vs being seen as a tyrant, no matter the Formicidae.

Thats what tribalism along with segregation gets you. If your not with us your against us.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Thats what tribalism along with segregation gets you. If your not with us your against us.

yeah, felt alot more of that in recent times...painsakingly so.

 

[Minstrel]

I agree that the US can't be the world police, but I also don't think villagers are likely to "figure it out" against warlords and the like. I think the best solution is for the US to work in concert with other nations to protect people from murderous regimes. The biggest issue for the US has been unilateral action, where they pretend that they alone know what's best for the world (or pretend to be working for the best interests of others, but are actually protecting their own interests). Creating a coalition to act on the world stage, whether militarily or in other ways, makes a huge difference, IMO.

 

[Hoopguru]

Much as I hate seeing this, I don't want the US to be the world's police. Let them deal with their own shit. They'll figure it out eventually.

I agree we simply cannot and that over there is a religious war.

 

[Orion Bailey]

You'd think in the 21st century civilized countries in their neighborhood, would stand up to this type of crime against humanity.

need not look any further than our police force AND sects in the streets to know that its a rarity for people to stand up for whats right, amidst their own people’s wrongdoings.

 

[Hoopguru]

I agree that the US can't be the world police, but I also don't think villagers are likely to "figure it out" against warlords and the like. I think the best solution is for the US to work in concert with other nations to protect people from murderous regimes. The biggest issue for the US has been unilateral action, where they pretend that they alone know what's best for the world (or pretend to be working for the best interests of others, but are actually protecting their own interests). Creating a coalition to act on the world stage, whether militarily or in other ways, makes a huge difference, IMO.

I agree there should be a serious united front/coalition to deal with these war lords.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I agree we simply cannot and that over there is a religious war.

i currently agree about not getting involved, but is there a point where parts of certain religious beliefs align more like a cult and should be regarded as such?

 

[Hoopguru]

i currently agree about not getting involved, but is there a point where parts of certain religious beliefs align more like a cult and should be regarded as such?

If you talking about the Islamic religion in the region standing up against war lords, that would be great but they kill each other over there because of certain sects.

 

[Orion Bailey]

If you talking about the Islamic religion in the region standing up against war lords, that would be great but they kill each other over there because of certain sects.

exactly that. The mainstream handling their own radicals. But again. Hard to instill over there when it happens here.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Even warlords want to see their lands have nice things. How are they going to enjoy their nice sport cars without good roads to drive on? Some of them may develop a taste for Sushi and Dim Sum. Gotta have nice restaurants for that.

I'm saying as the world is fast progressing, they may want to catch up. As my grandfather once told me, being a tyrant of ants is no bueno.

so. Global economy? Global trade? Global infrastructure that leaves all stone age warlards behind?
I like it but thst would require removing thier title of their lands i would think?

 

[Road Ratt]

America has been meddling in the Middle East since before I was born. We have literally toppled some of their legitimately elected democratic countries.

You want to see the real villain here... it is America, not the Taliban nor the Arab people.

 

[Hoopguru]

America has been meddling in the Middle East since before I was born. We have literally toppled some of their legitimately elected democratic countries.

You want to see the real villain here... it is America, not the Taliban nor the Arab people.[

If we lived amongst the Taliban and listen to all our music we like we would be headed.
They will execute a women for wanting an education or wanting equal rights. If your gay they will execute you.

 

[Road Ratt]

If we lived amongst the Taliban and listen to all our music we like we would be headed.
They will execute a women for wanting an education or wanting equal rights. If your gay they will execute you.

So you are telling me that they are republicans. Got it.

 

[jonnyboy]

Militias or gangs have roamed Somalia, Nigeria and many African countries kidnapping school girls by the hundreds and abusing them.....happened recently again in Nigeria....over 200 girls....girls in these places are afraid to go to school now....I think Afghanistan is a similar situation....we usually get really upset if it happens to white children.....it's sad how we've allowed this to continue in places like Africa, India, Central America, etc..

If only those countries had oil we’d already be there installing democracy.

 

[Minstrel]

Even warlords want to see their lands have nice things. How are they going to enjoy their nice sport cars without good roads to drive on? Some of them may develop a taste for Sushi and Dim Sum. Gotta have nice restaurants for that.

I'm saying as the world is fast progressing, they may want to catch up. As my grandfather once told me, being a tyrant of ants is no bueno.

I remember a thought experiment an economist once posed: would you rather be a king 1000 years ago, or below the poverty line today? The point being, is it better to be the top dog with much less "cool stuff" or to live below the standards of other people in an age with TV and the internet, etc?

It's not necessarily a question everyone will answer the same way, but here's what I think: while we are all used to having streaming entertainment and video games and easy transportation, amenities are easily gotten used to and their absence is also easily gotten used to, as many people who have moved to work in developing nations have discovered. More, there's a famous economic study that found that most people judge how well off they are by how they measure up to their neighbors. That is, people who make $50K per year living alongside people who earn $40K per year "feel wealthier" than people who make $75K per year but live alongside people who earn $100K per year. Our sense of how well off we are is very relative.

Point of all of the above being, I think most people would actually be (much) happier as a king 1000 years ago than living below the poverty line today, especially after some time of acclimatization. So, when we apply it to these warlords--are we sure that they'd prefer to have fancy materialist things if it means risking losing their power? I am definitely not sure of that and would lean towards the idea that they'd prefer to keep their societies behind the times if it means they remain the "kings" of their societies.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Much as I hate seeing this, I don't want the US to be the world's police. Let them deal with their own shit. They'll figure it out eventually.

As much as I hate being the world's police, we should not be allowing that to happen. We should set up a base there and mind our own business as long as women and children are safe.

But as soon as bands of murderers start targeting innocent people we should know and respond immediately.

*Edit* Ideally as a coalition. We don't even have to be involved, IMO. As long as it's being done well.

 

[Orion Bailey]

It’s all about clout though, amirite? But seriously, don’t think it’s applicable in this situation with the time shift. A king 1,000 years ago is at the top of his domain and rivals his peers in power and prestige. He would have access to just about anything he’d want at the time. A warlord ruling a bunch of oppressed and unlearned people over a vast swathe of rocks and sand is what today? A possible drone strike victim?

How about: would you rather be Mullah Omar (or someone with a much lower ranking, as I think Omar had access to some rather cool stuff) or a millennial still living in his rich parents’ basement? The millennial might be socially awkward and doesn’t get to boss a bunch of people around, but at least he’s still alive watching porn and playing 2K21 on his PS5.


I’ve lived in poor countries as an adult, so I’ve seen this effect firsthand. But guess what? The “rich” people living in a poor country still want to relocate to a rich country so that they can make more money. My wife’s aunt in VN is considered rich, but that doesn’t stop her from asking my wife and I to sponsor her to America. She might be happy in her current situation, but she’s not content because she knows there could be more. There are a lot of people like her. I think people wanting more is a normal human tendency.


A king 1,000 years ago is a Jay-Z. A warlord today is a Ja Rule. I’ve already addressed much of this earlier, so I won’t go over it again. I’ll add this: As the saying goes, knowledge/information is power. Never before has information been so accessible to so many. As much as these warlords would like for time to standstill or even to go back in time, they’re on borrowed time.

never thought of it that way. Great post!

 

[Shaboid]

I remember a thought experiment an economist once posed: would you rather be a king 1000 years ago, or below the poverty line today? The point being, is it better to be the top dog with much less "cool stuff" or to live below the standards of other people in an age with TV and the internet, etc?

It's not necessarily a question everyone will answer the same way, but here's what I think: while we are all used to having streaming entertainment and video games and easy transportation, amenities are easily gotten used to and their absence is also easily gotten used to, as many people who have moved to work in developing nations have discovered. More, there's a famous economic study that found that most people judge how well off they are by how they measure up to their neighbors. That is, people who make $50K per year living alongside people who earn $40K per year "feel wealthier" than people who make $75K per year but live alongside people who earn $100K per year. Our sense of how well off we are is very relative.

Point of all of the above being, I think most people would actually be (much) happier as a king 1000 years ago than living below the poverty line today, especially after some time of acclimatization. So, when we apply it to these warlords--are we sure that they'd prefer to have fancy materialist things if it means risking losing their power? I am definitely not sure of that and would lean towards the idea that they'd prefer to keep their societies behind the times if it means they remain the "kings" of their societies.

If I were king could I have much prettier minstrels than yourself?

 

[stampedehero]

America has been meddling in the Middle East since before I was born. We have literally toppled some of their legitimately elected democratic countries.

You want to see the real villain here... it is America, not the Taliban nor the Arab people.

RR: It's the horrible policies both Republican and Democratic administrations enacted for years that made Afghanistan tribal leaders hate us and give fuel for resistance. They live in a completely different universe. We should never had gotten involved but special interest groups control our Administrations and our young Military Personnel die at their will..

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

If only those countries had oil we’d already be there installing democracy.

Actually, Afghanistan is supposedly chock a block full of precious resources. They’re just hard to find and extract. And of course the people don’t want us there. Resources are why over the centuries, country after country has invaded Afghanistan……and why each and everyone has been defeated. We’re just the latest chumps to figure it out the hard way. To think that we could succeed where others (especially Russia) failed spectacularly can only be attributed to our innate American arrogance……

 

[riverman]

Actually, Afghanistan is supposedly chock a block full of precious resources. They’re just hard to find and extract. And of course the people don’t want us there. Resources are why over the centuries, country after country has invaded Afghanistan……and why each and everyone has been defeated. We’re just the latest chumps to figure it out the hard way. To think that we could succeed where others (especially Russia) failed spectacularly can only be attributed to our innate American arrogance……

They have silicon mines in the mountains for making batteries....only a few places on earth mine the stuff...another one is Chile.

 

[Lanny]

I simply cannot abide by what the Taliban want to do to their own country. I can't stand anyone abusing anyone's human rights. It's wrong and it needs to be corrected preferably by a large consortium of like minded countries.