Larry Cable wrote:
seldom_seen
Typed in Message-ID:
Does anyone else recognize this language, and get a bit of a chill
from it?
"We provided advisors, in particular fire control and forward air
controllers, to the Northern Alliance. The US did not command the
unit nor have control over the action of its troops."
Pete, we have provided arms and advisors to many an ally that we didn't control
thier political or command structure, that's why they are called advisors. Some
that get supported are strictly politically expediate, think Stalin, and some
are long term relationships. Should we take responsiblity for the slaughter of
Polish Army Officers by Stalin because we supported him when he entered the war
with Hitler?
The Advisors are often in a pretty hairy position. They are often supporting
groups that don't particularly like the US, but want the technical and tactical
support that we can provide. Afganistan is a perfect example of this type of
situation.
Of course you're right, Larry, but they don't want to hear it. You're
not going to convince these guys that what we're doing is justified or
even tactically correct. They just want to whine and complain, and
they're going to do that whether there's any reason to or not. Logical
argument isn't going to sway them, since facts are irrelevant to them.
Irrational statements, conspiracy theories and wildly fantastic
correlations to unrelated historical events are their stock in trade.
They'll go to any length to try to prove their point, even if it makes
them look ridiculous. They're just trying to forward their wrong-headed
agenda, nothing more, and it will go on ad-nauseum.
Oh well, at least we live in a country where everyone gets to speak
their piece.