Pakistan is in
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From: Ft. Campbell
I didn't read all of the posts, but check out the front page of CNN World http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/. It might be time to join the Corps.
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From: West Mids.
Good article!(Originally posted by Skitz)
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/.
Liquat Ali speaks of having trained and fought as a terrorist in Afghanistan, but today clearly finds the concept of terrorism repugnant. This lends a lot of credibility to Sunchild's assertion that far from being brainwashed, people are responsible for their own actions, and capable of making their own decisions. Clearly amongst these people there are the extreme, committed and forceful individuals against whom no amount of reason will prevail.
It does however hold out some hope that a great many will be operating under the influence of these manipulative stronger characters, through force, fear, ignorance and simple peer pressure. With a few of these key individuals removed from the equation, the fervour of resistance in Afghanistan may be somewhat less than many think. These people operate in a very parochial environment where the controls and pressures on them must be enormous, but that's a long way removed from brain washing! It gives me some hope at least that reason may not be totally lost on some of these people, even of it is only the simple wish to survive.
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/.
Liquat Ali speaks of having trained and fought as a terrorist in Afghanistan, but today clearly finds the concept of terrorism repugnant. This lends a lot of credibility to Sunchild's assertion that far from being brainwashed, people are responsible for their own actions, and capable of making their own decisions. Clearly amongst these people there are the extreme, committed and forceful individuals against whom no amount of reason will prevail.
It does however hold out some hope that a great many will be operating under the influence of these manipulative stronger characters, through force, fear, ignorance and simple peer pressure. With a few of these key individuals removed from the equation, the fervour of resistance in Afghanistan may be somewhat less than many think. These people operate in a very parochial environment where the controls and pressures on them must be enormous, but that's a long way removed from brain washing! It gives me some hope at least that reason may not be totally lost on some of these people, even of it is only the simple wish to survive.
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From: Phoenix
Did anyone else see that casualty statistics for the Russian/Afghan war? CNN, MSNBC.com and Fox News all say that the Afghanis lost over 1million and the Russians lost 15,000.
Russia may have lost the war, but the kill ratio was 67:1 in their favor.
Russia may have lost the war, but the kill ratio was 67:1 in their favor.
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From: Los Angeles
Russia may have lost the war, but the kill ratio was 67:1 in their favor.
Also the claim that 15,000 Russians died is almost certainly understated as that claim is made by the Russian military itself. I am in NO way saying that I would be happier if the number was higher - but it probably is.
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From: Havre de Grace, Maryland
I did a very quick bit of research and have not been able to find any other figures on the Russian/Afghanistan War. Some how I think the figures are off, but cannot find anything on my history books or on the net to dispute it.
I was in the area during the war and seem to recall that Russian casualties were higher, but I maybe having a senior moment. All the documentation I looked at concurs with the figures provided.
I was in the area during the war and seem to recall that Russian casualties were higher, but I maybe having a senior moment. All the documentation I looked at concurs with the figures provided.
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From: NYC
Here's an encouraging article:
http://www.iviews.com/scripts/articles/sto...category_id=106
Perhaps our most powerful weapon will be the bags of cash we can throw around. Also, I've heard enough hyperbolic rhetoric from the enemy. They're just hypocrites like everyone else. They're for sale. I read that the hijackers were seen getting wasted at a bar in Florida and then argued about the bar tab. Aren't devout muslims supposed to refrain from alcohol? These guys talk a big game about piety and sacrifice, but...we'll see how they do in the face of the almighty dollar. You know bin Laden's charisma to these people is largely based on his monetary generosity and free construction efforts during the early parts of the Russian invasion. I suspect we'll be able to buy the peons off -- if not, we'll at least be able to buy off their pilots! (Not that they stand much chance against America's Air Force.) Anyway...
http://www.iviews.com/scripts/articles/sto...category_id=106
Perhaps our most powerful weapon will be the bags of cash we can throw around. Also, I've heard enough hyperbolic rhetoric from the enemy. They're just hypocrites like everyone else. They're for sale. I read that the hijackers were seen getting wasted at a bar in Florida and then argued about the bar tab. Aren't devout muslims supposed to refrain from alcohol? These guys talk a big game about piety and sacrifice, but...we'll see how they do in the face of the almighty dollar. You know bin Laden's charisma to these people is largely based on his monetary generosity and free construction efforts during the early parts of the Russian invasion. I suspect we'll be able to buy the peons off -- if not, we'll at least be able to buy off their pilots! (Not that they stand much chance against America's Air Force.) Anyway...