|
To lay the fault for 9/11 solely at the feet of Bush is as ignorant as doing the same with Clinton. I can easily trace the various fuckups back into the Nixon years. Let's remember that there's been an American presence - covert or overt - in Afganistan since 1979. We, specifically the Democrats and more specifically Charlie Wilson (D-TX), funded the mujahideen and kept them in weapons for the better part of 10 years. Wilson basically created US foreign policy after the initial outrage over the Soviet invasion wore off and was the defacto leader of the hawks in Congress. He, more than any one single person, pushed the Reagan administration to arm and equip Muslim irregulars of all ilk.
Once the Soviets had beaten themselves bloody and pulled out, the US basically abandoned Afganistan in the wake of the Cold War. Thank you Messr. Reagan and Bush Sr. All foreign aid to Afganistan dried up and Afganis were left to battle out the successor state amongst themselves. Those non-Afgani mujahideen formed the framework that became Al Qaida and started agitating for regional and then world change. Clearly, Clinton allowed the situation to get worse, but it was a situation already festering by the time he took office.
If you want blame, focus on Congress c. 1982-1994. We had the opportunity to keep the friends and contacts we'd made in the region, but the funding cutbacks killed that opportunity. You can also thank the good people of Lufkin, TX who kicked out the best friend in Congress that the Afganis ever had in 1996. If you ever want a great read on the backstory of US/Afgani relations in the 80's, pick up Charlie Wilson's War by Crile. It's a fascinating read, and I know one guy who's dad shows up at one point. According to my friend (who I'll grant may or may not know), the stuff about his father is pretty accurate.
__________________
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin
"There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush
"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo
|