Article

2010-05-12 Afghanistan

U.S. embrace of Karzai's brother threatens to undermine the U.S. campaign to purge the Taliban

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Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2010-05-12 02:49|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top

#1 There's no Afghan people, just a load of tribes in a geographic area named Afghanistan. This means an Afghan wide democracy will not work.

You might be able to have several small democracies. But propping up the Afghan sham is a waste of time.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2010-05-12 07:10|| 2010-05-12 07:10|| Front Page Top

#2 Like Muslim countries that's less ethnically diverse are democracies?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2010-05-12 07:51|| 2010-05-12 07:51|| Front Page Top

#3 I think that the problem is both that Karzai is a weakling and a waffler, and his brother is a strongman and effective. And the former is the "de jure" leader, but the latter is rapidly becoming the "de facto' leader.

The sad truth of government begins with the fact that government starts solely by being the most powerful criminal organization in whatever country.

It becomes government because it delivers what it promises, and this is an essential point, because this determines if a government remains in power. A simple ratio of "government efficiency"-- promises:delivery.

When the organization becomes the government, in effect, everyone are members of the organization. Or, as Locke put it, everybody signs on to "the social contract", with the government, and the government becomes legitimate. Those on the outside become the new criminals at worst, or the political opposition, at best.

Ironically, no matter who the government becomes, if they want to stay in power, they eventually have to deliver what the public wants. The lesson long learned in China, when they were regularly conquered, that in a few generations, their conquerors would "become Chinese", by doing things "the Chinese way."

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-05-12 09:48|| 2010-05-12 09:48|| Front Page Top

#4 a horse's head message would do wonders

Posted by Frank G 2010-05-12 23:16|| 2010-05-12 23:16|| Front Page Top

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