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A recent poll of Afghans about the causes of their nation’s conflict revealed some answers that might surprise some Americans:
"70% see unemployment and poverty as a key driver of civil war; 48% blame the government’s weakness and corruption; 36% point to the Taliban; 25% to interference by neighboring countries; 18% to the presence of international forces; 18% to al Qaeda; and 17% to the lack of support from the international community."
Which raises the fundamental question: Is the solution found in escalating military action, or in rebuilding the devastated economy?
What’s on you mind tonight?
5 Comments
There is an audio of her speaking. Bombs, white phosphorous, no rights for women, and civilian deaths..she says NATO should leave Afghanistan yesterday.
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“This morning as Ottawa reels from news that could affect Canadian politics and it’s place in international law… a lone Afghan woman is making her way across to Canada arguing that our troops and all foreign forces should get out.
Malalai Joya was 27-years-old when she became the youngest person elected to the new Afghan Parliament. She’s now suspended from Parliament for criticizing other MPs and accusing many of being warlords and criminals. She calls Afghanistan’s democracy a farce and says her country’s liberation is a lie. She has written a book called A Woman Among Warlords. Malalai Joya was in Toronto. ”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24026.htm
Can we fire all the self-styled pundits saying we need to ‘win’? Please.
And only 2% of the U.S. money being spent in Afhganistan makes it to the people.
Something wrong about that picture.
The government won’t tax the rich for money for single payer, but they might for war.
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“Higher-income Americans should be taxed to pay for more troops sent to Afghanistan and NATO should provide half of the new soldiers, said Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
An “additional income tax to the upper brackets, folks earning more than $200,000 or $250,000” a year, could fund more troops, Levin, a Michigan Democrat, said in an interview for Bloomberg Television’s “Political Capital With Al Hunt,” airing this weekend. ”
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aI4IdHYuAl94
“The US military has allowed journalists into its newly expanded secret detention centre at Bagram air base in Afghanistan this week.
The base has been described by campaigners as Guantanamo Bay’s “more evil twin” and the allegations of torture and murder within its secretive walls continue to this day.
The US claims this is proof of its determination to provide greater transparency and openness in its policy of extraordinary rendition and detention without trial.
The claim was somewhat undermined by the fact that the touring journalists had no access to the hundreds of inmates held at the facility.
Omar Deghayes is one man who has personal experience of both Bagram and Guantanamo. He was not impressed by US grandstanding. ”
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/83515