Afghanistan's resources

Submitted by Prashant, Apr 22, 2019 at 21:45

Dear Dr Pipes,

Your reader Dave correctly pointed out that Afghanistan has no major known natural resources. I also agree with Dave that in some ways US is wasting its human and material resources in Afghanistan. But there is a very important reason why the free world should maintain a relentless pressure on Afghanistan and the other Islamic countries to mend their ways.

In the beginning of 20th century (circa 1920-1940), European Colonialism was not fully dead and fundamentalist Islam was still at bay. In those days, it was possible for drive from New Delhi to Paris by car. In fact, I know of at least one instance in which a rich, modern and enterprising Indian family --Muslim at that-- drove from India to Europe during those years. I so deeply regret that these nations have become human waste lands in the hands of Islamic fundamentalists. Not many people know that Pakistan and Afghanistan are very naturally gifted nations. If you remove Islam from these countries --I hate to say this-- they will become a tourist paradise. It is my dream that in the next few decades, the entire region between India's western border and the Atlantic coast of Morocco including the Middle East becomes democratic in governance and mind-set. It should be possible to drive east from Atlantic to Pacific, all in warm weather.
Currently this route is a huge human wasted resource.

War is the most expensive way to change Islam. We will be able to change Islam only if we promise to be brutally honest about it. Whatever is different about Islamic doctrines and living vis-a-vis how the rest of the world lives will have to be underlined and repeated over and over again. Appeasement is not going to work. Apologizing on behalf of Muslims will also not work. Murderous wars will not work. Sustained truthful, polite and repeated propaganda will work. Or I hope so.

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