From the BBC
Afghan government forces have lost control of the center of the town of Sangin in Helmand province after days of fierce fighting, reports suggest.
Officials told the BBC that the Taliban controlled the local government building and police station.
The Taliban say their fighters have seized the entire district and that their flag is flying over Sangin.
Yet another example of the West treating the rest of the world like the West. We continue to treat countries that are not industrialised, where the incentives are to grab land as though they are industrialised (where the incentives are to make a cheaper computer or handbag).
Someone out there might connect these two histories:
Invade Afghanistan
Install weak government
Protect government
Leave Afghanistan
Strong militia takes part of the country a few years later
and
Invade Iraq
Install weak government
Protect government
Leave Iraq
Strong militia takes part of the country a few years later
The only solution to places like Afghanistan is to find a way to industrialise them. That's what gives you democracy, human rights and so forth.
Debate Magazine
