[Grovenet] Three cups of tea

[David Morelli]

I just finished reading "Three cups of tea".  It is an interesting  
history of Greg Mortenson, the American mountain climber who has been  
competing with the Islamic madrassas in Pakistan and Afghanistan for  
the hearts and minds of the next generation.  A very interesting story.

There is more available at
http://www.threecupsoftea.com/

In one chapter it reminded me that in the run up to the American  
support for the Northern Alliance, the United States promised that  
they were going to rebuild Afghanistan and that we would not forget  
them.  It further reminded me that after the Taliban had been removed  
from power and Al Quaeda had been sent packing, the Bush  
Administration redirected money approved by Congress for Afghanistan  
to further his plans for an invasion of Iraq.

Because Bush did not follow up on his promise to Afghanistan and  
America for the rebuilding of the shattered country, today we again  
face the prospect of a protracted war in Afghanistan with a resurgent  
Taliban and spill over into Pakistan.

Some members of Congress are fearful that Obama will allow the gains  
in Iraq to slip away.  Where were they when Bush did that in  
Afghanistan?  Why are they not making the Bush failure to secure  
Afghanistan part of their arguments for their proposed policy in Iraq?

The answer may have more to do with Republican Party political  
posturing than any real concern for Iraq or Afghanistan.  The people  
in those nations are pawns in the game of "Washington Power  
Politics".  They are only important when they can help get a  
Republican elected, otherwise they are expendable or invisible.

Are the Democrats the same?  Bill Clinton took a lot of heat from the  
Republicans for getting involved in Bosnia when Christians were  
cleansing Muslims.  His action bought a lot of good will among  
moderate Muslims.  Good will that evaporated with Abu Grabe and  
Guantanamo.  It makes me wonder if the Republican Party hates all  
Muslims, or if their spokes persons are oblivious to the existence of  
moderate Muslims.

The Reagan Republican think tanks are paranoid of "Islamofascists"  
and the whole fundamentalist Islamic movement, which may be a valid  
concern.  But, pushing moderates into that camp is not a smart move.   
The last eight years has shown the world that a Republican  
administration considers dead Muslim civilians to be "collateral  
damage", not innocent human beings.  People who wish to continue that  
sort of thinking should not be trusted with sharp objects.

David