So you think Brzezniski should have fully foreseen that 20 years later Afghanistan would be taken over by a group of low rent, semi-literate Pakistani religious nuts who were financed by a complete mad man from Saudi Arabia with $300 Million at his disposal who became totally obsessed when US troops stepped on Saudi soil?
No, but it does put to lie the idea that American muddling and empire-building does not have consequences. Even 20 years later. That perhaps there was motivation beyond "they hate us because we are so noble and good and have such good fast food restaurants" that most Americans seem to feel so smug and snug believing.
You are trying to prove too much with this example. American "meddling" has often been a good thing. Every country in the Western Hemisphere is now a democracy, thanks to our meddling.
The fact that we can't control every outcome is not a particularly persuasive argument against making any attempt to influence events in foreign countries.
I suppose you probably think that just sitting at home and comtemplating the lint in our navels would be consequence-free? That a national foreign policy of "Ignore the bad mans and hope they go away!" is the best foreign policy?
You need to grow up.
Pure BS. We were checking another attempt by the Soviet Union to reach the Indian Ocean via expansion. They tried it through Iran in the 1950s, and we blocked that one too. The Soviet Union overthrew the previous Constitutional, pro-Western government in Afghanistan in 1976 and replaced it with a violent Marxist regime. We aided those who resisted that Marxist regime.
As to what kind of 'aid' the Carter administration gave to the rebels, it surely was not effective. By 1983, the rebels were all but beaten --- driven deep into the mountains with the Soviets holding every city in the country. That is when the Reagan administration stepped in and gave the Soviet Union the biggest pain in the ass that they ever had and one that contributed significantly to the downfall of the Evil Empire. It was a good thing. It may well have helped save the world from nuclear holocaust.
Is your view of Geo Politics that we should always mind our own business and let the chips fall where they may. If so, you are a fool. The rest of the world pays very much attention to what we do and who we support, and at least half the world hates us, our system, our way of life, our freedom and our very existence. They do not hate us because of what we do. They hate us for who we are --- free, prosperous, happy people. If we 'do nothing' we will be destroyed by those haters.
As to ‘muddling’, (meddling?) you're damn right we meddle. If we ever stop, we're dead. As to Empire --- exactly where in the hell is the American Empire? Who are our subjects? And if we have this huge Empire, why don’t we get them to pay some taxes instead of us paying them? Even the Romans figured that one out. It’s a no-brainer if we were an Empire.
I’m tired of this crap. Your insinuation that somehow every problem that befalls the world is the fault of America is another damn Marxist lie. It’s time we started calling it that every time one of the fellow travelers or a ‘useful idiot’ who has no conception of how the world works begins to spout it. .
The United States, and our foreign policy, have saved 100s of millions of people around the world from the misery and poverty of toleration despots. We ain’t perfect, but we’re the best there is or ever was.
Freedom ain’t Free.
Sure they do. The consequences are, at least on average, that the regions where we have intervened are less miserable sh!t holes than they would have been otherwise.
Even a case of American having unequivocally supported an unequivocally depostic regime, that of the Shah of Iran, makes the point. The Shah never would have gotten involved in that horrible, senseless and destructive war with Iraq. If we had managed to keep the Shah or a similar monarch in power, therefore, a million or two (whatever the figure is) Iranians and Iraqis who today are dead would instead still be alive. Similarly if our efforts to kill Sadam Hussein had succeded a million more Iraqis (the children your friend bin Laden mentioned, dead because Sadam wouldn't negotiate for the easing of sanctions) might be alive today.
That perhaps there was motivation beyond "they hate us because we are so noble and good and have such good fast food restaurants" that most Americans seem to feel so smug and snug believing
Yes, we do, thank you. We are in fact (quite markedly, if again on average) a force for stability, freedom, prosperity and moderation in the world. I'm not just smug, I'm proud of that. I hope you have as much reason to be proud of your country's contributions to human civilization. Where are you writing from?