Why are We here today?

Bartle Bull has made a sensible evaluation of American expansion in Afghanistan. It would take too many American troops and military resources to accomplish even a mediocre performance. Many conversant with the Country think We made a vital mistake in disarming the Village Bandit Chiefs, in the vane (or vain) attempt to strengthen the central government in Afghanistan. It created a vacuum easily filled by Taliban and al Queda. The central government proved to be only lightly benefitted, while disarmament left the Villages open to Taliban terror. The only viable American military objective, the closing of the Afghan-Pakistan border, has never seriously been attempted. Stationing American troops in Afghani villages, or regularly patrolling them, will simply feed Afghani antagonism to American occupation. Americans have yet to learn that any occupation, no matter how benign, can only generate hostility in Populations which are culturally dissimilar. Bull discusses the real futility of current American mission goals in Afghanistan, and the doubtful character of further American intervention.

Europe may get a Gold medal for Honesty, as I believe that the American and Euro economies are about Par. Simply put: I don’t trust the Bush administration Bean Counters. They has a horrible tendency to proclaim good Numbers, implying that the Bush Government is meeting their economic policy goals, then sliding in further Comment a month later without fanfare, stating that the Numbers were really not that good upon reevaluation. They were given the benefit of the Doubt in the early years, but consistent practice and declining fortunes has generated some complaint–at least Mine! George W. Bush likes to suggest he is a wild Cowboy, but how does one play Russian Roulette with the Cylinder empty of Shells?

Traditional Banking has weathered the Financial Crisis without relative harm. I think it not only proves that sound Lending practice could show a Profit without resort to risky financial instruments which could not be devolved, but that there was sufficient liquidity without such Instruments to fuel the economic development. I believe that distance will attribute the Finance Crisis to Bank Management malfeasance in 20 years time. It was most like scalping Tickets to events; a certain segment of the Market insisted on a Profits share where they had no interest or business. The financial instruments generated about a 9% Unload fee on Average, and the Crime was that Investors listened to their avaricious brokers. lgl