General Discussion

Jspur

(783 posts)

82. I was 18 when 9/11 happened and even at

Reply to USAFRetired_Liberal (Original post)

Sat Aug 14, 2021, 02:12 AM

Aug 2021

that age I knew invading Afghanistan was stupid. I did have some knowledge of Islamic culture since my parents are immigrants from India. I'm not a Muslim but I knew the history of India and how it was oppressed by Islam for a few hundred years and it took a blood bath to get free from Islamic control.

What people failed to see back then and now is that you can't defeat or change a culture over night. It takes a long time for a culture to change which could be hundreds of years. Afghan culture never wanted to change and never wanted the US to influence there way of life or living.

I know some will scream that these people are scared of the Taliban but if they truly wanted things to change they would be willing to risk their lives for change. Just look at the American revolution and how people were willing to die for their freedom versus being ruled and occupied by England. These people don't want it bad enough and it has to do with them being accepting of the radical Afghan-Islamic culture.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

88 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I was deployed in Afghanistan in 2013 [View all] USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 OP

Thanks for providing insight from your personal experience, I don't think we have had much truth in ShazamIam Aug 2021 #1

The media report what they see and what the military and officials tell them. Martin68 Aug 2021 #72

In the end, Afghanis need to run their own country... Wounded Bear Aug 2021 #2

Bingo. Couldn't agree more. paleotn Aug 2021 #31

Yep-- my feeling. If we couldn't get them ready in 20 years, they were never gonna be ready LymphocyteLover Aug 2021 #38

3 administrations... joshcryer Aug 2021 #64

very true LymphocyteLover Aug 2021 #65

Sad, but true, I think. calimary Aug 2021 #78

Thanks for posting Duncanpup Aug 2021 #3

Worth fighting for and worth dying for are two different things Johnny2X2X Aug 2021 #4

We have to learn that invading and occupying almost any country is just not good for anyone. Hoyt Aug 2021 #5

Looks like the American People are Getting Tired of these Adventure Wars! McKim Aug 2021 #75

Thank you for this perspective. hamsterjill Aug 2021 #6

While waiting for their response... krkaufman Aug 2021 #10

I think they are more concerned USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #11

Appreciate it. hamsterjill Aug 2021 #17

were the translators the same way? the ones we've heard so much about bringing to the US? LymphocyteLover Aug 2021 #39

in what respect? stopdiggin Aug 2021 #80

I mean yes, but I guess I was just wondering if the translators were better than the average Afghan LymphocyteLover Aug 2021 #83

It sounds reasonable to me that their family's survival is important lunatica Aug 2021 #57

Thanks for posting this n/t hibbing Aug 2021 #7

Yep. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Aug 2021 #8

They used to have a King, Historic NY Aug 2021 #9

Afghan jumping jacks. Go! Aviation Pro Aug 2021 #12

Thanks for posting. JoanofArgh Aug 2021 #13

thanks for that perspective. I needed to hear that. samsingh Aug 2021 #14

I was afraid to open this post, assuming you'd be in the throes of "why did we make these sacrifices lindysalsagal Aug 2021 #15

As weird as it sounds USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #18

I'm not surprised... Postal Grunt Aug 2021 #16

exactly-- it's the same awful lesson we didn't learn in Vietnam LymphocyteLover Aug 2021 #40

Speaking of Vietnam, Mr.Bill Aug 2021 #53

Years ago, I was startled the first time I picked up a product with 'Made in Vietnam' label. 70sEraVet Aug 2021 #56

definitely! LymphocyteLover Aug 2021 #66

:) Someone finally mentioned the words "religion" and "culture." Hortensis Aug 2021 #44

That is so sad PatSeg Aug 2021 #19

Are the Taliban any tougher as individuals than the Afghan military personnel? Shermann Aug 2021 #20

Because they have their 12th century Gawd behind them? A HERETIC I AM Aug 2021 #25

Being "tough" and actually believing in what they're doing paleotn Aug 2021 #35

They're religious fanatics. Pretty hard to destroy in the best of times Arazi Aug 2021 #36

conviction qazplm135 Aug 2021 #63

Thank you for your service AZProgressive Aug 2021 #21

Thanks...I was in Iraq, too in 2007 USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #22

thank you for the sacrifices you made, both tangible and intangible, in choosing the martial life Celerity Aug 2021 #47

Thanks for the insight. Fla Dem Aug 2021 #23

Because its an ideology, impossible to contain. Jon King Aug 2021 #37

Where's the profit in winning? The profit is in continuing to feed the war hogs BComplex Aug 2021 #52

I agree with you on the military/industrial complex. Fla Dem Aug 2021 #59

What bothers me about it is that there are so many people in the world with so much hate and BComplex Aug 2021 #70

Where empires go to die keithbvadu2 Aug 2021 #24

It has always been thus with Afghanistan NQAS Aug 2021 #26

Coming here to say just that. AngryOldDem Aug 2021 #32

Same with the Saudis; an AWOL rate above 60%!!!! Grins Aug 2021 #27

Excellent thread, Politico had a great story a month ago saying same thing. Jon King Aug 2021 #28

Was deposing the Taliban even part of the mission? Politicub Aug 2021 #29

I guess originally USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #30

I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like there. Were you frustrated? Politicub Aug 2021 #41

I was frustrated at first USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #45

Randi Rhodes said almost 20 years ago the Taliban would wait it out. Jon King Aug 2021 #33

Now that the Taliban takeover is obviously inevitable Martin Eden Aug 2021 #34

And in 20 years there will be a Broadway musical about it. Politicub Aug 2021 #42

As long as it adds to our popular culture Martin Eden Aug 2021 #51

If Afghanistan won't stand up to the Taliban now, they were never going to djacq Aug 2021 #43

Thanks and same! USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #46

I would like to think that the women there had a better life for a couple of decades madville Aug 2021 #48

Yes you are correct USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #50

Thank you for confirmng waht I've been saying from an historical viewpoint Warpy Aug 2021 #49

I heard this many times from soldiers I corresponded with Skittles Aug 2021 #54

I think Rebl2 Aug 2021 #55

I arrived in Kandahar in Sep2002, CRK7376 Aug 2021 #58

Yes there were a lot of hard workers, but USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #62

Not an expert on the topic, Mr.Bill Aug 2021 #60

For sure: EX500rider Aug 2021 #61

99% of their GNP comes from heroin and grift FakeNoose Aug 2021 #67

Thank you for this perspective. llmart Aug 2021 #68

Tribal it was and tribal it will be. Brits, Russians and USA all failed to affect change. nt Evolve Dammit Aug 2021 #69

Like the Vietnamese, the Afghani people appear feckless and weak because the occupying forces, Martin68 Aug 2021 #71

The more I think about it you assessment is better than mine USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #77

Never should have went there. The Jungle 1 Aug 2021 #85

I wouldn't accuse any entire "culture" of rampant sexual abuse - unless you include the US. How many Martin68 Aug 2021 #87

Im very curious what % of the country wanted this result quakerboy Aug 2021 #73

How much American blood was shed while we were in Afghanistan. Biden want out in 2009 as VP. usaf-vet Aug 2021 #74

Don't forget, the withdrawal from Afghamistan was planned under Trump, not Biden Shoonra Aug 2021 #76

The only question is why not evacuate the helpers before setting the withdrawal date? Jon King Aug 2021 #79

agreed. but a), look at how crippled stopdiggin Aug 2021 #81

I was 18 when 9/11 happened and even at Jspur Aug 2021 #82

We learned nothing from Vietnam!!!!!!!!!!! The Jungle 1 Aug 2021 #84

Substitute "ARVN" for "Afghan military" thucythucy Aug 2021 #86

Who wants to give their life for a kleptocracy (Afghan Government)...? the installed government JCMach1 Aug 2021 #88