Right Wing Discussion Thread XI: It's Okay To Be Right

[Conserative Morality]

Then you've lost sight of reality.

We had the Taliban down to under a thousand men at one point, before the Iraq War started draining resources and attention. Sorry that I think a drop of some 55,000 enemy combatants for under 2000 casualties at the time is a path to victory.

[Oil exporting People]

Yes, clearly Soviet brutality brought them victory. Now, through their example, I see that all we've failed to do is failed to be brutal enough. Why didn't I see this before? Thank you, glorious, ever-victorious motherland, for showing me the truth!

That Communist Afghanistan outlasted the USSR itself should be indicative, but I understand your unwillingness to utilize logical thinking on this subject.

The one where words matter and negative soundbites used to justify the murder and enslavement of hundreds of thousands of people aren't the end-all-be-all of human discourse.

I like how you claim you live in a world where you criticize soundbites while doing just that to make your case.

"The Taliban only control 4% of Afghanistan, see!"

> Active in 70% of the country
> Control more territory than when operations were drawn-down in 2014
> "About 15 million people - half the population - are living in areas that are either controlled by the Taliban or where the Taliban are openly present and regularly mount attacks."

[Salus Maior]

Then you've lost sight of reality.

We had the Taliban down to under a thousand men at one point, before the Iraq War started draining resources and attention. Sorry that I think a drop of some 55,000 enemy combatants for under 2000 casualties at the time is a path to victory.

Great. Now convince the American people of that.

[Zanera]

Well I guess the US military should enact a corps of men with Toyota technicals and infantry guerrillas.

That's not what the U.S needs. What the U.S needs to be on equal footing with the Taliban is to have our own Afghans who are motivated and know the country.

We don't have a lot of that.

Then Afghanistan must become the US. Or become nationalist. I don't know about that government after calling for the Taliban to behave and vote properly. I-I just don't know.

[Conserative Morality]

That Communist Afghanistan outlasted the USSR itself should be indicative, but I understand your unwillingness to utilize logical thinking on this subject.

The USSR broke up in '91, the DRA broke up in '90, and had little control over the country even before that. But I understand that facts are rather antithetical to your worldview.

[Zanera]

We had the Taliban down to under a thousand men at one point, before the Iraq War started draining resources and attention. Sorry that I think a drop of some 55,000 enemy combatants for under 2000 casualties at the time is a path to victory.

Great. Now convince the American people of that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taliban#Condemned_Taliban_practices
I know we shouldn't get involved in everything like a world police, but we might as well finish what we're in, especially against people like the Taliban.

[Conserative Morality]

Great. Now convince the American people of that.

My post disputing Geni's point was regarding ability, not will. I wish I could convince my fellow Americans that a lower death rate than the logging industry and seeing taxes at historically low rates *not* drop was worth the lives of millions of people. But tribalism, especially political tribalism, wins out.

[The Parkus Empire]

Some countries just can't be conquered. Napoleon couldn't conquer Spain, Russia couldn't conquer Afghanistan either and they were much more brutal than we are. We will never conquer Afghanistan. Not unless we wanted to start a major project of converting the locals to Christianity.

[Oil exporting People]

That Communist Afghanistan outlasted the USSR itself should be indicative, but I understand your unwillingness to utilize logical thinking on this subject.

The USSR broke up in '91, the DRA broke up in '90, and had little control over the country even before that. But I understand that facts are rather antithetical to your worldview.

The DRA broke up in 1992; I'll ask again what reality you live in.

[Conserative Morality]

The USSR broke up in '91, the DRA broke up in '90, and had little control over the country even before that. But I understand that facts are rather antithetical to your worldview.

The DRA broke up in 1992; I'll ask again what reality you live in.

From your own source:

After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1988–1989, the government faced increasing resistance. 1990 proved to be a year of change in Afghan politics: a new constitution was introduced, which stated that Afghanistan was an Islamic republic, and the PDPA was transformed into the Watan Party, which has survived to this day as the Democratic Watan Party.

[Conserative Morality]

Some countries just can't be conquered. Napoleon couldn't conquer Spain, Russia couldn't conquer Afghanistan either and they were much more brutal than we are. We will never conquer Afghanistan. Not unless we wanted to start a major project of converting the locals to Christianity.

Yes, that's the problem, they aren't Christian.

Your insight, as always, is... astounding.

[Oil exporting People]

The DRA broke up in 1992; I'll ask again what reality you live in.

From your own source:

After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1988–1989, the government faced increasing resistance. 1990 proved to be a year of change in Afghan politics: a new constitution was introduced, which stated that Afghanistan was an Islamic republic, and the PDPA was transformed into the Watan Party, which has survived to this day as the Democratic Watan Party.

Again with that cherry-picking I see:

1990 proved to be a year of change in Afghan politics: a new constitution was introduced, which stated that Afghanistan was an Islamic republic, and the PDPA was transformed into the Watan Party, which has survived to this day as the Democratic Watan Party. On the military front, the government proved capable of defeating the armed opposition in open battle, as in the Battle of Jalalabad (1989). However, with an aggressive armed opposition, internal difficulties a failed coup attempt by the Khalq faction in 1990 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Najibullah government collapsed in April 1992.

You can admit to being wrong now.

[The Parkus Empire]

Some countries just can't be conquered. Napoleon couldn't conquer Spain, Russia couldn't conquer Afghanistan either and they were much more brutal than we are. We will never conquer Afghanistan. Not unless we wanted to start a major project of converting the locals to Christianity.

Yes, that's the problem, they aren't Christian.

Your insight, as always, is... astounding.

The problem is they don't have any major source of zeal to muster against the Taliban, yes.

[Conserative Morality]

Again with that cherry-picking I see:

1990 proved to be a year of change in Afghan politics: a new constitution was introduced, which stated that Afghanistan was an Islamic republic, and the PDPA was transformed into the Watan Party, which has survived to this day as the Democratic Watan Party. On the military front, the government proved capable of defeating the armed opposition in open battle, as in the Battle of Jalalabad (1989). However, with an aggressive armed opposition, internal difficulties a failed coup attempt by the Khalq faction in 1990 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Najibullah government collapsed in April 1992.

You can admit to being wrong now.

"Oh, it's okay, they were still the same government, they just had different leaders, ideologies, names, and constitutions. =^)"

I guess the USSR never fell then either.

[Mujahidah]

Yes, that's the problem, they aren't Christian.

Your insight, as always, is... astounding.

The problem is they don't have any major source of zeal to muster against the Taliban, yes.

99.9% of problems in the Middle East are political or historical in nature. The Middle East would be just as much of a mess if it were Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, or Pastafarian.

[Oil exporting People]

"Oh, it's okay, they were still the same government, they just had different leaders, ideologies, names, and constitutions. =^)"

I guess the USSR never fell then either.

Except that's false; the same leader remained in power and Communism remained formally in place as well. By your logic with the Constitutions, France ceased to exist some time ago, as did many American States.

[Conserative Morality]

Except that's false; the same leader remained in power

With all new brass.

and Communism remained formally in place as well.

You really shouldn't argue about things you're uninformed about.

While direct Soviet assistance ended with the withdrawal, the Soviet Union still supported Najibullah with economic and military aid, while Pakistan and the United States continued its support for the mujahideen. Throughout his tenure, he tried to build support for his government via the National Reconciliation reforms by distancing from socialism in favor of Afghan nationalism, abolishing the one-party state and letting non-communists join the government. He remained open to dialogue with the mujahideen and other groups, made Islam an official religion, and invited exiled businessmen back to re-take their properties.[1] In the 1990 constitution all references to communism were removed and Islam became the state religion.

By your logic with the Constitutions, France ceased to exist some time ago, as did many American States.

States aren't sovereign entities. See: when we killed thousands of secesh scum '61-'65. I never said Afghanistan ceased to exist. I said the communist government fell. Likewise, the governments of the French first, second, and third republics fell, as well as the first and second kingdoms, and the first and second empires, and I don't really know how you can argue otherwise.

[The Parkus Empire]

The problem is they don't have any major source of zeal to muster against the Taliban, yes.

99.9% of problems in the Middle East are political or historical in nature. The Middle East would be just as much of a mess if it were Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, or Pastafarian.

I never suggested otherwise, and in fact I agree, although trying to completely separate politics and religion in the Middle East is not possible. Also Afghanistan is not in the Middle East

[The East Marches II]

Some countries just can't be conquered. Napoleon couldn't conquer Spain, Russia couldn't conquer Afghanistan either and they were much more brutal than we are. We will never conquer Afghanistan. Not unless we wanted to start a major project of converting the locals to Christianity.

Yes, that's the problem, they aren't Christian.

Your insight, as always, is... astounding.

Christians don't tend to have rabies anymore. We face an ideological foe whose only competitor has been mediocrity. No real spiritual competitor. We won't merc people for the wrong religious beliefs as a matter of principle. It's no wonder. Marxism at least has the fantacism of religion even if they won't admit it. For those without civilization, higher ideas go over their head.

[Zanera]

The problem is they don't have any major source of zeal to muster against the Taliban, yes.

99.9% of problems in the Middle East are political or historical in nature. The Middle East would be just as much of a mess if it were Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, or Pastafarian.

Yeah, I think the Taliban just like being assholes. Like the 4th Crusaders.

[Conserative Morality]

Christians don't tend to have rabies anymore. We face an ideological foe whose only competitor has been mediocrity. No real spiritual competitor. We won't merc people for the wrong religious beliefs as a matter of principle. It's no wonder. Marxism at least has the fantacism of religion even if they won't admit it. For those without civilization, higher ideas go over their head.

Sounds like you're gaining revolutionary sympathies, comrade.

[The East Marches II]

The problem is they don't have any major source of zeal to muster against the Taliban, yes.

99.9% of problems in the Middle East are political or historical in nature. The Middle East would be just as much of a mess if it were Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, or Pastafarian.

That's entirely incorrect. Maybe if it were the 1600s, even the Jews, Christians and Buddhists have violent radical sects today. They are having a slow burning thirty years war.

[The Parkus Empire]

Yes, that's the problem, they aren't Christian.

Your insight, as always, is... astounding.

Christians don't tend to have rabies anymore. We face an ideological foe whose only competitor has been mediocrity. No real spiritual competitor. We won't merc people for the wrong religious beliefs as a matter of principle. It's no wonder. Marxism at least has the fantacism of religion even if they won't admit it. For those without civilization, higher ideas go over their head.

The Lebanese Civil War shows Christianity can absolutely still have rabies in the right context. Even in the west I think it would still be possible in the Bible Belt, if shit hit the fan. Europe is pretty much defanged though

[Bienenhalde]

Even if we cannot fully defeat the Taliban, I hope our show of force against them was at least enough to deter future terrorism on US soil.

[Conserative Morality]

Even if we cannot fully defeat the Taliban, I hope our show of force against them was at least enough to deter future terrorism on US soil.

The Taliban didn't commit terrorist attacks on US soil.