1 post tagged “afghanistan”

I thoroughly enjoyed Charlie Wilson's War. I do not know about the real events, but from the fictional perspective, he helped negotiate funds for Afghanistan to overthrow communist infiltration. Obviously, since communism and the cold war were a threat during the 1980s, Mr. Wilson was able to persuade a justification of spending funds.

However, once communism leaves Afghanistan, the movie shows him struggling with funding a rebuilding of the country, particularly since the majority of the population were, according to the film, under the age of fourteen. No communism and, therefore, no reason to continue funding the country for educational purposes.

The final question really looms. What if we had continued to fund the educational system of Afghanistan? What if international support had truly spent time rebuilding the bridges blown up by Russian jets? Could International support have stopped the Taliban government from overpowering the citizens and placing strict laws against the rights of women and children? Could we have helped move Afghanistan toward its own identity instead of waiting twenty-three years later for 9/11 to happen and for our military to re-enter the country and attempt to curb the problems of a known colonialism that Afghanistan has struggled against for many years before with the Russians?

We never know exactly our outcomes of a particular situation. If we leave, what happens? If we stay, what happens? When is it time to leave? How long is too long?

Some of these questions are still being discussed in regards to the Iraq War--an unjustified mistake. But, now we are there. Do we completely terrorize a country and then pull out too quickly? Or, do we completely terrorize a country and then wait to the right point to where the country has reached a pinnacle of stability? Regardless of the answer, we still terrorized a country, so it is difficult for me to fathom a reply to this question.

However, America should be held accountable for its actions, and the only candidates I hear speaking about accountability are Ron Paul--a Republican and Libertarian--and Barack Obama--a Democrat. Both men are extreme in their political belief system, but from their differences, they understand the consequences of the United States getting involved in CAUSES that may not be justified or sanctioned.

Nevertheless, we didn't help the Afghan people when they needed us most, and now we are infiltrating their country as we continue tracking down Taliban and Al Queda networks. And, we are doing our best in Iraq to navigate our troops through safety as yet another car bomb kills an inordinate amount of people once again for the sake of some CAUSE beyond our understanding.

Charlie Wilson's War is an incredible film as it contextualizes the Reagan Administration in an interesting light to me, but more than that, it tells me that history repeats itself, and while threads of communism disappear around the world, there are other terrors still pervading all lands. Some view that terror as American and Christian colonialism, and others view that terror as Islamic Extremism.

In the end, I can only be hopeful that a man like Obama can make strides as a pragmatic President who can bring hope again to a shattered world. And, there is no cause greater in this life than global reconciliation!