Thom Wilkerson

Winning the Peace in Afghanistan

NewsMax.com =A0
Sat. Mar. 1, 2003

Critics of U.S. plans for regime change in Iraq would do well to take
note of recent developments in the last country where America routed an
evil dictatorship - Afghanistan.

Among the details revealed this week in a little noticed report in the
Boston Globe:

"A handful of new restaurants followed close behind the swarm of
international aid workers, diplomats, and journalists that descended
upon Kabul after the Taliban were ousted in November 2001.
Diners can pick from Indian, Chinese, and Italian, or stop in for
cappuccino at the new Mustafa Cafe, housed in a guesthouse of the same
name run by an Afghan who returned from New Jersey."

The Afghan hospitality industry still falls short in one category:
western style hotels. But the Globe noted:

"The Intercontinental, a popular hub for meetings and dining, is
also getting a face lift. In October, the Dub'ai-based Al Yuqoub group
bought a 15-year lease for the hotel, pledging to invest $8 million in
improvements over 15 months to bring it to five-star level."

Other signs that civilization is suddenly blooming in the one-time
hideout of the late Osama bin Laden include "a busy internet cafe" and
one restaurant that has begun to feature live music.

"There also are plans for a big hotel opposite the US Embassy. The
prospective investors, from the United States and Turkey, are in talks
with the Hyatt about managing the hotel and are reportedly close to a
deal," the paper adds.

Another intriguing development, reports Chicago Sun-Times gossip maven
Michael Sneed, is a plan by the government of Afghanistan to sponsor a
trade and investment show in Chicago this summer.

Will handwringing Democrat ex-presidents and the anti-American
protesters they encourage admit they were wrong when the first McDonalds
opens up in Saddam Hussein's gulag on the Tigris?
Don't hold your breath.

Viktor

    >Winning the Peace in Afghanistan

Why are you posting your right-wing views in rec.travel.europe?
I realize that 'W' - your hero - is single-handedly killing off much
of the travel between Europe and the USA, not to mention the
last vestiges of a strong domestic economy, but that is a very slim
connection.

Viktor

Dave Smith

Thom Wilkerson wrote:

    > Winning the Peace in Afghanistan
    > NewsMax.com
    > Sat. Mar. 1, 2003
    > Critics of U.S. plans for regime change in Iraq would do well to take
    > note of recent developments in the last country where America routed an
    > evil dictatorship - Afghanistan.

LOL..... who was the dictator in Afghanistan? The Taliban was a movement
that came to lead the country after the civil war left a power vac cum.

Michael Kennedy

"Viktor" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > >Winning the Peace in Afghanistan
    > Why are you posting your right-wing views in rec.travel.europe?
    > I realize that 'W' - your hero - is single-handedly killing off much
    > of the travel between Europe and the USA, not to mention the
    > last vestiges of a strong domestic economy, but that is a very slim
    > connection.

The original post was inappropriate but so was your reply. US tourism in
Europe is down 19% in the past year due to Islamic terrorists attacking New
York and Washington. Anti-American comments are adding just a bit to that
trend.

Michael Kennedy
    > Viktor

Viktor

    > > Why are you posting your right-wing views in rec.travel.europe?
    > > I realize that 'W' - your hero - is single-handedly killing off much
    > > of the travel between Europe and the USA, not to mention the
    > > last vestiges of a strong domestic economy, but that is a very slim
    > > connection.
    > The original post was inappropriate but so was your reply. US tourism
    > in Europe is down 19% in the past year due to Islamic terrorists
    > attacking New York and Washington. Anti-American comments are
    > adding just a bit to that trend.

If you are implying that a reply to his inappropriate post is inappropriate,
then your reply is also inappropriate (pot calling kettle black). But if
you are referring to my sarcasm, well, he constantly posts articles
written by ignorant right-wingers (see other post on this thread for a
specific example). And if tourism is down 19% with just the fear of
increased terrorist attacks, wait until the figures are in for 2003 which
will include fear of war with Iraq. 'W' does not seem to appreciate the
financial impact of his policies. 19%, not including the Iraq war impact,
is a huge reduction in travel, not to mention the resultant loss of jobs
dependent upon tourism, both in Europe and the USA.

Viktor

Miguel Cruz

Michael Kennedy wrote:
    > "Viktor" wrote:
    >> Why are you posting your right-wing views in rec.travel.europe? I realize
    >> that 'W' - your hero - is single-handedly killing off much of the travel
    >> between Europe and the USA, not to mention the last vestiges of a strong
    >> domestic economy, but that is a very slim connection.
    > The original post was inappropriate but so was your reply. US tourism in
    > Europe is down 19% in the past year due to Islamic terrorists attacking New
    > York and Washington. Anti-American comments are adding just a bit to that
    > trend.

George Bush == America??

When did that happen? I must have missed the press conference.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

Arkadya

LOL..... who was the dictator in Afghanistan?

That dude with the black towel on his head, what was his name, Omar or
something. Think he got shanked by a marine
Never Forgive, Never Forget
9-11-01

Michael Kennedy

"Viktor" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > > > Why are you posting your right-wing views in rec.travel.europe?
    > > > I realize that 'W' - your hero - is single-handedly killing off much
    > > > of the travel between Europe and the USA, not to mention the
    > > > last vestiges of a strong domestic economy, but that is a very slim
    > > > connection.
    > >
    > > The original post was inappropriate but so was your reply. US tourism
    > > in Europe is down 19% in the past year due to Islamic terrorists
    > > attacking New York and Washington. Anti-American comments are
    > > adding just a bit to that trend.
    > If you are implying that a reply to his inappropriate post is
inappropriate,
    > then your reply is also inappropriate (pot calling kettle black).

No, the second post continued the trend of pushing political ideology on a
travel site. You obviously share that ideology.

    >But if
    > you are referring to my sarcasm, well, he constantly posts articles
    > written by ignorant right-wingers (see other post on this thread for a
    > specific example). And if tourism is down 19% with just the fear of
    > increased terrorist attacks, wait until the figures are in for 2003 which
    > will include fear of war with Iraq.

I'm sure it will be way down and if you are in favor of that trend keep
bashing Americans. I think some tourism dependent businesses in Europe will
not approve of your efforts. Europe is orders of magnitude more dependent on
foreign travel than the US. Only a few sites like Miami rely on European
tourists.

    > 'W' does not seem to appreciate the
    > financial impact of his policies.

I think he does, including the effect of a nuclear-armed Iraq in control of
Middle East oil.

    >19%, not including the Iraq war impact,
    > is a huge reduction in travel, not to mention the resultant loss of jobs
    > dependent upon tourism, both in Europe and the USA.

See above. Few US jobs rely on European travel. Some west coast jobs rely on
Asian travel but that is way down due to Japan's problems.

Michael Kennedy

    > Viktor

Viktor

    > No, the second post continued the trend of pushing political ideology
    > on a travel site. You obviously share that ideology.

Hardly. I never post political diatribes as an initial post. I only
respond
to them, just like you.

    > I'm sure it will be way down and if you are in favor of that trend keep
    > bashing Americans.

I only bash specific Americans. I am an American, so I can hardly bash
them in general.

    > I think some tourism dependent businesses in Europe will
    > not approve of your efforts.

You've obviously confused me with someone else.

    > > 'W' does not seem to appreciate the financial impact of his policies.
    > I think he does, including the effect of a nuclear-armed Iraq in control
    > of Middle East oil.

You have taken a huge leap there, assuming that because the Iraqi
tinpot has some WMD, the only option is to invade. We could also
destroy all suspected WMD sites from the air as soon as we know
of them. You're also forgetting that Saddam is fairly old. It is a safe
bet that he will either die or require an operation in the near future.
I seriously doubt if he will be allowed to wake up, by his own people.
Stalin had a stroke (some suspect it was poison), and no one dared
to enter his room until it was too late. You also ignore the post-
Saddam consequences. Turkey might very well try to take control
of the Kurdish "situation". The Kurds might respond with some
terrorism of their own. Bush the First let them die at the hands of
Saddam, and they remember it well.

Viktor

Rob McCulloch

And among the many things that Europe is pricing it's way out of is
Tourism.
Even with US$'s it's hardly worth the cost.
So many cheaper and more desirable locations.
The idea of being an American in Paris must have taken some of the shine
off also.
But there are pluses.. Go to Germany and learn the historical lessons
about invading other Countries.
When all else is ignored they were very good at it.
Or to france - to learn how to grovel when defending freedom and justice
all just seems too hard.


Michael Kennedy wrote:
    >
    > "Viktor" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > > > Why are you posting your right-wing views in rec.travel.europe?
    > > > > I realize that 'W' - your hero - is single-handedly killing off much
    > > > > of the travel between Europe and the USA, not to mention the
    > > > > last vestiges of a strong domestic economy, but that is a very slim
    > > > > connection.
    > > >
    > > > The original post was inappropriate but so was your reply. US tourism
    > > > in Europe is down 19% in the past year due to Islamic terrorists
    > > > attacking New York and Washington. Anti-American comments are
    > > > adding just a bit to that trend.
    > >
    > > If you are implying that a reply to his inappropriate post is
    > inappropriate,
    > > then your reply is also inappropriate (pot calling kettle black).
    >
    > No, the second post continued the trend of pushing political ideology on a
    > travel site. You obviously share that ideology.
    >
    > >But if
    > > you are referring to my sarcasm, well, he constantly posts articles
    > > written by ignorant right-wingers (see other post on this thread for a
    > > specific example). And if tourism is down 19% with just the fear of
    > > increased terrorist attacks, wait until the figures are in for 2003 which
    > > will include fear of war with Iraq.
    >
    > I'm sure it will be way down and if you are in favor of that trend keep
    > bashing Americans. I think some tourism dependent businesses in Europe will
    > not approve of your efforts. Europe is orders of magnitude more dependent on
    > foreign travel than the US. Only a few sites like Miami rely on European
    > tourists.
    >
    > > 'W' does not seem to appreciate the
    > > financial impact of his policies.
    >
    > I think he does, including the effect of a nuclear-armed Iraq in control of
    > Middle East oil.
    >
    > >19%, not including the Iraq war impact,
    > > is a huge reduction in travel, not to mention the resultant loss of jobs
    > > dependent upon tourism, both in Europe and the USA.
    >
    > See above. Few US jobs rely on European travel. Some west coast jobs rely on
    > Asian travel but that is way down due to Japan's problems.
    >
    > Michael Kennedy
    >
    > >
    > > Viktor
    > >
    > >

Michael Kennedy

"Viktor" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > > No, the second post continued the trend of pushing political ideology
    > > on a travel site. You obviously share that ideology.
    > Hardly. I never post political diatribes as an initial post. I only
    > respond
    > to them, just like you.
    > > I'm sure it will be way down and if you are in favor of that trend keep
    > > bashing Americans.
    > I only bash specific Americans. I am an American, so I can hardly bash
    > them in general.

It is a well-known characteristic of some residents of the USA. There is a
good deal of speculation on their motives but I am not a psychologist.

    > > I think some tourism dependent businesses in Europe will
    > > not approve of your efforts.
    > You've obviously confused me with someone else.
    > > > 'W' does not seem to appreciate the financial impact of his policies.
    > >
    > > I think he does, including the effect of a nuclear-armed Iraq in control
    > > of Middle East oil.
    > You have taken a huge leap there, assuming that because the Iraqi
    > tinpot has some WMD, the only option is to invade.

No, it is the last remaining option short of withdrawal, which has a number
of unsatisfactory results. Your other arguments are not too well informed.
The French, at least, know what they want. The success of their client state
Iraq.

Michael Kennedy

Lennart Petersen

"Michael Kennedy" skrev i meddelandet
news:[email protected]...
    > I'm sure it will be way down and if you are in favor of that trend keep
    > bashing Americans. I think some tourism dependent businesses in Europe
will
    > not approve of your efforts. Europe is orders of magnitude more dependent
on
    > foreign travel than the US. Only a few sites like Miami rely on European
    > tourists.
But don't exaggerate. Visitors from US are 3% of the total visitors to
Sweden thus a loss of 19% is a loss of 0,6% from the total. Especially
visitors from South Europe,mainly Italy and Spain ,increased much last year
and in addition Poland,the Baltic states and Russia is coming.
In addition there's a plus in the trade balance (was 100 000million SEK or
5% of GNP last year) so there's not so much to worry about for the moment.
L.P

Marie Lewis

In article , Rob McCulloch
writes
    >And among the many things that Europe is pricing it's way out of is
    >Tourism.
    >Even with US$'s it's hardly worth the cost.
Only because the dollar is so low in value.
--
Marie Lewis

Viktor

    > > I only bash specific Americans. I am an American, so I can hardly bash
    > > them in general.
    > It is a well-known characteristic of some residents of the USA. There is a
    > good deal of speculation on their motives but I am not a psychologist.

Spare me your ignorant & arrogant opinion. People of all countries
are dissatisfied with their leaders. This is normal, unlike you.

    > > You have taken a huge leap there, assuming that because the Iraqi
    > > tinpot has some WMD, the only option is to invade.
    > No, it is the last remaining option short of withdrawal, which has a
number
    > of unsatisfactory results. Your other arguments are not too well
informed.

I share views with General Wesley Clark, former NATO commander.
It is laughable that you are the sole source of well-informed views.

Viktor

Michael Kennedy

"Viktor" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > > > I only bash specific Americans. I am an American, so I can hardly
bash
    > > > them in general.
    > >
    > > It is a well-known characteristic of some residents of the USA. There is
a
    > > good deal of speculation on their motives but I am not a psychologist.
    > Spare me your ignorant & arrogant opinion. People of all countries
    > are dissatisfied with their leaders. This is normal, unlike you.

Some people are dissatisfied about almost everything. As to arrogance, I bow
to my superior.


    > > > You have taken a huge leap there, assuming that because the Iraqi
    > > > tinpot has some WMD, the only option is to invade.
    > >
    > > No, it is the last remaining option short of withdrawal, which has a
    > number
    > > of unsatisfactory results. Your other arguments are not too well
    > informed.
    > I share views with General Wesley Clark, former NATO commander.
    > It is laughable that you are the sole source of well-informed views.

General Clark, who was relieved of his command early, is trying to run for
president on the Democratic ticket. He is tailoring his views to the
well-known left-wing core of the Democrats (a recent development lamented by
many). He will not be successful. Well-informed views are easily available.
Laugh if you will. Barbra Streisand is a well-known source of opinions
similar to yours. I trust your spelling is better than hers and I presume
that you know Saddam Hussein is president of Iraq, not Iran. That
information would mark you as more informed than she.

Regards,

Michael Kennedy