[jimbob]

If it had been my money I would have invested it in improving gas mileage - or how about a middle class tax cut - I could give you a laundry list. Or better yet I would pay off North Korea.

-bold added

Yes, becuase as we all know, paying off agressive dictators from financially struggling countries is always a good plan... it never results in them taking another mile (please note sarcasm )

...what should we do now in Afghanistan. Increased military presence? Increased financial aid? Leave them alone and see what happens? What would you do if you were suddenly given the authority to decide what to do in Afghanistan?

Well I didn't have time to read the article attached, but I think the world (perhaps just the liberator alliance) has a significant obligation to pour some serious cash into Afghanistan. More to the point from most Western World standpoints, it would be incredibly wise to pour significant amounts (ie. dumptrucks of ) cash into Afghanistan - otherwise you just end up with dirt poor people with nothing to lose who will open the doors to another wealthy Bin Laden . Wouldn't it be better by far to create a county that is far wealthier that won't want to risk their well being? Wouldn't it be better for the world to see and acknowledge that the Western world has been benevolent and rebuilt an aggressor (a la Germany and Japan post-WWII).

There should be no half-measures here, now is the time to do great and wonderful things for the "enemy" to heap up the coals on the head of those who would claim America and the West are simply the Great Satan! It's only too bad that this wasn't done before going in to get Sadam, as it would have sent a message to all the currently insensed Muslim nations that the West was good to their word of wanting to build up the people, but remove the dictator. Unfortunately I don't think that the West has really had a very good track record lately (see support of Russia post USSR, see support level of Haiti post turnoil, see evidence of rebuilding of Afghanistan: or lack therein!)

unfortunately, I've only got 2 cents,
and that was them

[ April 08, 2003, 23:36: Message edited by: jimbob ]