Comments on: Solving Afghanistan and Pakistan over a cup of tea

By: snowleopard14

snowleopard14 — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 05:57:29 +0000

‘That said, the question about why nobody clearly challenged the thinking behind Montenson’s books needs to be answered.’

The Answer is ‘scrubbing’ or rewriting history, literally and metaphorically. Erasing the old story and creating a new narrative about the motivations and effects of American intervention in the region. Three decades ago state-sponsored American education radicalized the local schoold children and created the Jihadis whose daughters Mortenson is trying to educate. See here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn /A5339-2002Mar22?language=printer

By: JustWorldBooks

JustWorldBooks — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:10:49 +0000

In my experience, people here in the U.S. loved this book because it provides a feel-good narrative that makes our country’s ghastly war in Afghanistan/Pakistan seem less bad than otherwise. The combination of generic do-gooding by a slightly random (though notably white, male, and American) individual and the whole concept of educating (and thereby, in the American narrative, liberating) brown girls in a distant Muslim land proved irresistible! Plus, he gave readers the illusion of some form of instant inter-cultural ‘understanding’. Hey, what’s not to love?

By: shoaibo

shoaibo — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:34:41 +0000

Western powers scheme?? never! lol.

By: shoaibo

shoaibo — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:28:08 +0000

Education in Pakistan is being taken up by the private charities such as zindagitrust.com because our government does very little for us. The void is also being filled by Wabahist schools funded by the Saudis. Who needs education when ministers have Mercedes and Colonels have mansions? I love Pakistan but our governance is either miserable, corrupt or non-existent.

By: nvrforgetmbai

nvrforgetmbai — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 03:55:55 +0000

The Romans had the best imperialism policy. All conquered peoples were simply granted Roman citizenship. Just imagine if the US started following the same policy. B’lve me long queue of countries would want US to invade them. )
The Americans may be misguided but you do not have enough evidence to question their intentions. They were naive rather than scheming which cannot be said of your client army.

By: netizen

netizen — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 01:02:49 +0000

the question about why nobody clearly challenged the thinking behind Montenson’s books needs to be answered.
=

You yourself have given the answer. “Ignorance is an essential part of empire”.