The problems began in Afghanistan when Pres Carter and Brzezinski decided to arm Muslim radicals to undermine the then Socialist Government of Afghanistan in 1979 - even before Russia invaded - in the process they created al Qaeda and the whole sorry mess that is now engulfing Syria and Iraq and of course Afghanistan and they used the same types in libya and ELSEWHERE. All these countries have been destroyed by American foreign policy. They have killed millions, created millions of refugees destroyed country after country and made military and security companies rich beyond their imaginations. No one in the MSM connects the dots. No one is game to tell the truth about something that is so plainly obvious to anyone that understands history. I could go on about the absolutely negative consequences of this for the world - every country pays a price for this wanton naked aggression. It is an outrage that these facts are not reported truthfully and it makes a mockery of our so-called free press and the stupidity of our political and security commentators and experts.

To paraphrase the author:

- Look Afghanistan's problems are all someone else's fault, give us the money or we'll send refugee boats to you.

- Afghanistan is full of decent people full of sound business opportunities but give us the money first.

- Afghanistan is not just a collection of constantly warring tribes and ethnic groups with little tradition or understanding of Nationhood.

- Afghanistan has no Warlords demanding protection money that amount to one third of Afghanistan's gross national income.

- Afghanistan is not one of the 10 most corrupt countries in the world, full of leaders who salt away aid money into Swiss Bank accounts (Karzai?)

- Afghanistan is safe for pipelines, mining interests and convoys with no protection money extorted

- Afghanistan is not dominated by Pakistani national interests delivered through cross-border Pakistani intelligence (ISI) operations.

- In the end Afghanistan is not a stoutly religious conservative society that doesn't lock away its women, while basically hating foreign infidel contact

Afghanis - not just a minority of the Westernised diaspora - need to work peacefully for years (by actions not just words) more to convince the West that Afghanistan is no longer the above.

Sabar Siddiqi would like Australia to give Afghanistan lots of money. And he would like Australia to give Afghanistan lots of money forever. He darkly hints that unl;ess we keep giving Afghanistan lots of money forever, it will revert back to terrrorism, and everybody in Afghanistan will then want to go to Australia by heading towards the local Khyber Pass travel agent and booking a ticket on a boat.

Now, there is something in what Siddiqi says that is true. But from my perspective, Saddiqi is running a protection racket. He is part of the system which hands out the money, so his own professional self interest and monetary gain could be a factor in his opinions. And Saddiqi does not tell us where he himsellf stands with the terrorists. He implies that he is against terrorism, but since he is almost certainly Muslim himself, unless he renounces Jihad and Sharia Law, he is part of the problem anyway.

Finally Saddiqi says that Australia could use the Afghans now resident in Australia to enhance Australia's prestige among the people of Afghanistan. Why Australia would want to raise it's prestige among far off barbarians who live in a totally dysfunctional Muslim state, is beyond me. Given the very high incidence of violent criminal behaviour among Muslims in Australia, one can conclude that, whatever the virtues bestowed upon Muslims by their religion, gratitude and respect for others are not the most prominent. The Afghans should be more worried about enhancing their own prestige in the modern world, than the other way around.

The way to do that is to ignore their ignorant mullahs and begin re thinking their beliefs, attitudes and behaviours.

No amount of foreign aid can save the Muslim world from the debilitating effects of their stupid, backward, misogynistic, intolerant, and war advocating religion. We in the first world have no interest in financially supporting a failed civilisation that despises us for our success, and refuses to modernise. If you love Islam, then stay in your own countries and wallow in its failure