You're pretty much right. Capitalism can give everyone freedom, but it can't make you rich from birth.

You're a punk if you think war is that simple.

I know it's that simple because I have history on my side. Osama Bin Laden served as a good ally in containing communism. However, once communism fell, we left him in the cold to fend for himself. Then we continued our imperialistic saga throughout the 90s, setting up military bases (including in Mecca) and starting wars for our own interests. In essence, we did what the Soviets were trying to do- control the region. Obviously Bin Laden would do the same to us as he did the Soviets, especially since we were preparing to overtake his homeland through economic and militaristic means. So we went after him and he went after us, and the only way he could ever win was putting the U.S. into a fearful state of mind. Thus, 9/11 happened, along with the many other attacks against the Western World. We provoked him, and while that doesn't give him the right to slaughter innocent people, it played to his strategy. Now we're stuck trying to exterminate "terrorists" from a foreign country whom wouldn't do shit to us if we would just leave altogether. Although by now they might have the mindset that we are the devil or something like that, but diplomacy could erase that.
To me, that's a fairly good paraphrasing of what the War in Afghanistan is all about.

thumbed up because I agree - wars are pointless. Humanity had no need for armies since ww2....

I do feel terrible for the father though. Nobody should have to go through the excruciating pain of losing a son.

You're a punk if you think war is that simple.

I know it's that simple because I have history on my side. Osama Bin Laden served as a good ally in containing communism. However, once communism fell, we left him in the cold to fend for himself. Then we continued our imperialistic saga throughout the 90s, setting up military bases (including in Mecca) and starting wars for our own interests. In essence, we did what the Soviets were trying to do- control the region. Obviously Bin Laden would do the same to us as he did the Soviets, especially since we were preparing to overtake his homeland through economic and militaristic means. So we went after him and he went after us, and the only way he could ever win was putting the U.S. into a fearful state of mind. Thus, 9/11 happened, along with the many other attacks against the Western World. We provoked him, and while that doesn't give him the right to slaughter innocent people, it played to his strategy. Now we're stuck trying to exterminate "terrorists" from a foreign country whom wouldn't do shit to us if we would just leave altogether. Although by now they might have the mindset that we are the devil or something like that, but diplomacy could erase that.
To me, that's a fairly good paraphrasing of what the War in Afghanistan is all about.

Oh wow. The white guilt is strong with you.