Zbigniew Brzezinski also cautioned that it would be hypocritical and counterproductive for America to stress that Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s government be purged of corruption.
“Who are we to seriously be preaching [such] a crusade?” he asked. “We have a financial sector that is voraciously greedy and exploitative, to put it mildly. We have a Congress which is not immune to special interests. And we have an electoral system that is based largely on private donations which precipitate expectations of rewards. The notion of us going to the Afghans and preaching purity is comical… I think we should just quit that stuff.”
Amen.
We have a government run by the banking industry (i.e. banksters). Afghanistan’s is run by drug lords (i.e. gangsters). What’s the big difference?
Oh come on, Dierkes. That’s a lazy comparison.Report
This may or may not re-enforce Will’s point but I’d just like to say “come on in, the water’s fine”.Report
I know it’s lazy. It’s my off day. Also I meant it a little tongue-in-cheek. But I completely agree that this whole imposition of an anti-corruption campaign on Afghanistan is another Western dream (nightmare?), probably colonial(ish) in nature and is an absolute farce.Report
I heard that quote while on the treadmill at the gym this morning. I have to say amen as well. Corruption in Afghanistan is only a problem in so far as it prevents them from controlling their territory and keeping AQ out.Report