I'm going to have to disagree with the President on this one point...

[dianaredwing]

18. I tend to 'forget' Raygun on purpose

But he was so totally destructive.

Unfortunately, he is not around to pay for his sins.

Who does have to pay for his sins then? Americans or Afghanis?

Modern global capitalism is simply an extension of colonialism (which was after all an economic effort). So, at some point, reasonable people such as President Biden have to step up and plug up the dike and some folks will drown. It is the way of the world and certainly the way of global capitalism.

I obviously don't have any answers, but I think there are many more questions that need to surface that Americans need to face. Our decisions and our lifestyle have imperiled the planet. We are not alone, but we are the first and biggest. Those poor Afghanis, even the rich ones, have only oil and natural resources to bargain in an increasingly cut-throat global marketplace.

They were used, abused, and shouldn't trust anyone at this point. I know I wouldn't.

As far as reverting to the fourth century or whatever, there is no way they can avoid modern trade and still feed those who remain. They will have to bargain something. Opium, oil, whatever. You trade what you've got.