Do not risk the lives of westerners in this religious hell hole.
Spend the money now wasted on the occupation to flood the country with radios,televisions,computers(internet),mobile phones and fast food so they can feel how good it can get.
Let them post on a forum like this.
Only the religious nutters will be unhappy and will threaten the gullible with punishment by God for enjoying themselves.
The major religions from that part of the world think that everything enjoyable is a SIN.

Well done Daggett, nice counter to the pre-canned view that our press and government(s) have tried to push...and Bazz and many others have swallowed.
The whole effort against "enemies" that the US actually created in the first place has been massively underreported...and largely ignored by the "their commin' right for us!!" (ala SouthPark) brigade.
Of *course* we have no place being there...but wouldn't the whole post 911 hissy fit the West went into look silly if it were just Iraq?
BTW. The "real" reason the US is still there is an oil pipeline, without which they never would have gone.

Well Ozandy; Where is the pipeline ?
From where to where does it run ?

Perhaps it is in the imagination of the conspiracy theorists ?

Thanks, Ozandy.

---

Bazz asks, "Where is the pipeline? From where to where does it run?"

Check out these links, Bazz:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Afghanistan_Pipeline

http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/news/1/7169-americas-other-glorious-war-.html

The building and protection of oil and gas pipelines in Afghanistan, to continue farther to Pakistan, India, and elsewhere, has been a key objective of US policy since before the 2001 American invasion and occupation of the country, although the subsequent turmoil there has presented serious obstacles to such plans. A planned Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline has strong support from Washington because, amongst other reasons, the US is eager to block a competing pipeline that would bring gas to Pakistan and India from Iran.[5] But security for such projects remains daunting, and that's where the US and NATO forces come in to play.

http://english.alarabonline.org/display.asp?fname=2009%5C01%5C01-04%5Czbusinessz%5C988.htm&dismode=x&ts=04/01/2009%2004:08:42%20%C3%A3

India, meanwhile, had examined the U.S.-backed $7.6 billion Trans-Afghanistan pipeline to bring natural gas from Turkmenistan some 1,044 miles to South Asian markets.

Commitments made by Turkmenistan to transport natural gas west to the Caspian region leave the future of a planned pipeline through Afghanistan in doubt. Officials in Turkmenistan said in May they had enough gas to meet market demands.

---

It seems real enough to me

Ozandy and Daggett;
I had a look at your reference and as I suspected you are refering to;

The Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline (TAP or TAPI) is a proposed natural
gas pipeline being developed by the Asian Development Bank.

The US would have minimum interest in this pipeline.
There is no likely hood of it being built anytime soon.
Certainly India and Pakistan would have an interest.

The US would not have much interest in a NG pipeline to India.
If it was an oil pipeline they would not have an interest except it
might take oil away from the Baku to Turkey pipeline.

No I think you are drawing a long bow there.
I tried the second link but it did not work.

There are other gas sources that the US could pursue in much more
reliable places. It would require an LNG plant which India would
build perhaps but I doubt if US companies could get the finance.
I could see your argument if it was oil but not natural gas.