[cantfindagoodscreenname]

Wonderful post! Thank you!

I've been wanting to ask a question and now seems like a good time based on this comment from the article:

All locals loudly greeted us and thanked all Americans. Much waving, cheering and clapping even from the women. ... USN/USAF did a great job.

I've been wondering if what we're doing over there will change the way Arabs think of Americans. Will this help us in any way or will hatred for the U.S. continue? I do not know much at all about the different countries in that area, so please forgive my ignorance.

Candi

[Apollo]

The Kuwaiti's love us, and now the Afghan's. As long as we keep saving them from themselves....

[onehipdad]

Candi- Strongly suggest you read Taliban by Ahmed Rashid, available in ppbk from B&N for 14.95. Author is Pakistani reporter who has covered Afghanistan for over twenty years. Not a long book but enlightening in its portrayal of not only the tribes but ethnic roots (Persian, Arab, Indian, Mongol). Fascinating read..

[bjcintennessee]

Unfortunately, we will probably only receive accolades for the short term. There are too many dictatorships in the area, and these dictators have historically used us to give their people a common enemy, which unites their people to a common cause. This keeps the sheeples too busy hating us, so that they blame us instead of their government when their economy is bad or they are starving.

As I have said before, dictators fear us because we represent freedom, and freedom is contagious, and therefore threatens their power.