SavannahMann
Platinum Member
- Nov 16, 2016
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I disagree. First what is victory in Afghanistan? We don't want to lose. But what is the victory going to look like? We have no idea. We are clueless. We want to end the Islamic Terror, but how the hell do you drag a bunch of people stuck in the seventh century into modern secular society? Victory is impossible. We can't win in less than a century. John McCain was right about that. We have to being modern civilization and education to the people, and it will take three or four generations to make a dent.
We are throwing good money and lives after the bad. All so we don't have to admit we lost. The best we can hope for is Nixons peace with honor which lasted about a year until the North came down and won.
One day we will be forced to leave Afghanistan. We will blame liberals and whoever we want. But the truth is that you can't conquer a people who won't quit. More people wasted. More money wasted. All so we can fight not to lose.
Are you familiar with General MacArthur forcing the Japanese to alter their religion as a result of the military conflict?
The Japanese people were more than ready to do so. The decade of militarism and nationalism had destroyed much of what the people liked, western dance clubs for example, and punished the opposition voices. The people wanted more say in their world, and did not want a return to the militarist mentality. SO much so that during the Korean Conflict five years later, the Japanese were given the option of forming a military again, instead of a "self defense force" and they voted overwhelmingly no.
The "religious" changes you mention weren't really religious. Most of that was done by the Emporer himself, starting with allowing his picture to be taken standing next to MacArthur. MacArthur kept the changes to society minimal, because he understood and respected the Japanese Culture. He was nearly as revered by the people as the Emporer.
Next example? I mean since the people were obedient in Japan, but that did not make them believers, it was just unthinkable to go against authority.