a dose of realpolitik on the tree? why are you trying to cloud my opinions with facts? lets see? where to begin?
hmmm. how about an easy one? poppies? are you kidding me? is that really a big concern of yours even if it were true?
heres an overview of the various options for gas and oil pipelines out of central asia. the afghan option is the best option for us corporations because it was the shortest cheapest corridor (if you subtract the billions we are spending to "secure" the country) and because we believe we can exert the most influence there (for now). but it certainly isnt necessary, its just desired.
as for which dog to place our bets on in the 90's, i will plead a certain degree of ignorance. but certainly we were looking for someone to further our interests and were not overly concerned with afghanistan or the plight of its people. i would be interested to know where were our concerns in '89 after we helped topple the soviet backed regime. if afghanistan was so important to halt the spread of communism dont you think we would have put more effort into securing it then? only once the iron curtain fell and afghanistan became a useful conduit did we take an interest and it seems what we were interested in was security (for our assets) above all else. this might be ok with you but it does not set well with me.
i know you have spent time in the region so perhaps you could tell me where my conjecture is implausible.
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hmmm. how about an easy one? poppies? are you kidding me? is that really a big concern of yours even if it were true?
heres an overview of the various options for gas and oil pipelines out of central asia. the afghan option is the best option for us corporations because it was the shortest cheapest corridor (if you subtract the billions we are spending to "secure" the country) and because we believe we can exert the most influence there (for now). but it certainly isnt necessary, its just desired.
as for which dog to place our bets on in the 90's, i will plead a certain degree of ignorance. but certainly we were looking for someone to further our interests and were not overly concerned with afghanistan or the plight of its people. i would be interested to know where were our concerns in '89 after we helped topple the soviet backed regime. if afghanistan was so important to halt the spread of communism dont you think we would have put more effort into securing it then? only once the iron curtain fell and afghanistan became a useful conduit did we take an interest and it seems what we were interested in was security (for our assets) above all else. this might be ok with you but it does not set well with me.
i know you have spent time in the region so perhaps you could tell me where my conjecture is implausible.
- dave 1-15-2002 6:15 pm