I suppose where i am confused on this is really how does the afghan population really feel? how is it possible they have had 20 years of american support, billions in funding etc but the second the US leaves it seems like half the country falls to the taliban in a couple weeks? where are the young afghan willing to put their lives on the line for this cause? if they are there, it doesnt look like it. if they arent willing, then how can we help them and why should we be commiting so much to help them?
The thing is, I don't believe the US has any imperative to help. I really don't know what the solution in a country like Afghanistan is. I don't know enough about Afghanistan, but I'm very familiar with the Iraqi, Syrian and Libyan situation where these extremist groups took control over large parts of the country for certain periods.
and it really isn't as simple as you're making it to be. Sure, it's an Islamic country and in areas where there are lots of poor and uneducated people. So perhaps there are some people dumb enough to support them. But usually the majority doesnt. But its not like you can do much in situations like these. The Afghan army isnt able to resist them, what do you expect of normal civilians?
These groups are organized, armed, and somehow always manage to get funding. And they have large groups of youth who are either fully indoctrinated, or motivated by money and the promise of women slaves. They are today's barbarians, make no mistake about that. But i just don;t see a way out to be honest. American airstrikes will slow them down, but wont stop them.
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Apparently corruption, bad leadership, and months without wages for police and army speed things up...
Exactly, and that kind of corruption is entrenched in their culture. That's why the only realistic solution that has proven to work in these kind of countries is a secular dictatorship. If you're lucky, you get a benevolent dictator that tries to build something like you have in some gulf state countries. Otherwise, as hard as it is for me to say, a Saddam or an Assad is 10 times better than the next alternative.