The point of this article is being lost already. The fact is that helping people is a vastly better option than killing them.

Unfortunately this fact is lost on the Americans who appear to believe that dropping a bomb on, or firing a missile at someone, will lead to peace and unity and democracy. Of course, they don't really believe this but it is a good camouflage for their blatant imperialism and the fact that they make money from war.

It's up to America's allies to tell them to stick their 'endless war' policy up where the sun don't shine! Hopefully this will happen this week when Afghanistan is debated in the Parliament!

P.S. Will all those Aussie war-lovers keep in mind that Australia is in the middle of a Muslim world. America isn't.

http://www.dangerouscreation.com

Loudmouth,
BTW. Thanks for your previous abuse. It only goes to show that "education" does not always work, or in your case it hasn't much.

But why does China fear al-Qaida?

Vanna,

Thanks for the serve. Why does China fear al-Qaida ?

1. Its western colony, Xinjiang, PLUS Qinghai, PLUS Muslim areas in Yunnan and elsewhere - together these make up about a third of China's imperial territory. Afghanistan borders its territory in Xinjiang;

2. Overland, China's trade routes go through Muslim countries, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, etc., which are not particularly stable politically, and which would be easily infiltrated by Islamists from Afghanistan if it fell to the Taliban. China is increasingly dependent on these countries for its oil and gas supplies;

3. In Africa and the Middle East, al-Qaida and its affiliates (AQIM, AQAP) are harassing Chinese mining projects in a number of countries. China knows that it would not be difficult for al-Qaida to incite locals against Chinese on racist, political, economic and social grounds.

The Chinese government would be very well-advised to fund the education which Brian is advocating, for its own long-term interests - not to mention other infrastructure projects.

Joe

For goodness sake... WAKE THE HECK UP Brian Holden...your thinking seems unrelated to the strategic issues facing the world.

The US and Australia are in Afghanistan for STRATEGIC reasons of self defense.

Here is how it works.

1/ Taliban victory/re-taking of Afghanistan
2/ Taliban then move at removing the secular/lukewarm muslim regime in Pakistan
3/ Taliban get their filthy paws on NUKES... and if they don't obliterate the idolatrous Indians (and themselves) over Kashmir, they will surely have a go eventually at 'the great satan' in New York.

So...no matter whether we win hears and minds or not.. we are STUCK there as long as Pakistan is not absolutely rock solid and stable.

My gripes are as follows:

1/ END all poppy production forthwith..and just take the reaction as it comes. If it produces hard core enemies.. deal with them in a very final/terminal manner.
2/ Forget trying to understand Tribal societies from a secular humanist perspective..it is not going to happen in this or the next lifetime.
3/ As for how to produce a stable government in AFghanistan? Forget that too..it's impossible.

4/ The best solution is

a) Forget that 'human rights' exist..because they simply do NOT for the tribal mob or their lords.
b) Divide the country into Pashtoon areas and Turkmen areas (with their own governments)
c) Put the Hazzara's where they are least likely to be liquidated (whether they like it or not) (remember..the Hazzar'as did their OWN dirty work against others..which is why they are now reaping their 'reward')

5/ Work with both for the exploitation of the natural resources in a fair and amicable sharing manner.

[Deleted for abuse. Poster suspended.]

Joe Loudmouth,

A further question. Where does al-Qaida get its arms supplies?

Also I’m not certain that education by itself stops wars. Iraq had an educated population, but invaded Kuwait, and countries such as Germany and Japan had an educated population, but invaded everyone.

Also not certain that women will stop wars, educated or not.

Highly educated women such as Hillary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Condoleezza Rice, Madeleine Albright etc have no record of ending wars.