# Afghanistan's Dirty Little Secret **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 4, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556 "2010-09-04T00:02:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/61 "2010-09-08T02:27:11Z")
Actually no, the Taliban is a creation of the Pakistanis. The United States supported the Mujahideen. More to the point, the issue here is not the political leanings of the rapists, but the fact they are rapists. And the fact many Americans are willing to do nothing when they have the ability to do so. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/62 "2010-09-08T03:23:24Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > I propose we do all we can, where we can, as often as we can, as well as we can. That’s your idea of “specific”? > [@](#): > > Changing the world for the better is my personal mission. What is yours? I don’t have a mission. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/63 "2010-09-08T03:24:32Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > More to the point, the issue here is not the political leanings of the rapists, but the fact they are rapists. And the fact many Americans are willing to do nothing when they have the ability to do so. What makes you think we have the ability to do something. You still haven’t named on specific thing you want us to do. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/64 "2010-09-08T03:34:19Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > > [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > > > More to the point, the issue here is not the political leanings of the rapists, but the fact they are rapists. And the fact many Americans are willing to do nothing when they have the ability to do so. > > What makes you think we have the ability to do something. You still haven’t named on specific thing you want us to do. We have killed a lot of them. It is a different culture. It is so anathema to our culture that we can not relate to it. But the separation of sexes will result in sexual acting out. But we can not change their culture. We have enough trouble policing our own. As the world gets smaller and women find they do not have to accept cultural mistreatment, that they have rights, then they will make it change. We can not do it for them. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/65 "2010-09-08T03:41:11Z")
I wonder what it would be like to be a fly on the wall listening to NATO bigwigs discussing whether to play the “the Taliban are pedophiles” angle. On the one hand, it might be useful to shore up western support for Operation Enduring Freedom. We’ve got to stick in out and civilize them and all that. On the other hand, they can’t work that angle and still secure the cooperation of influential Afghan pederasts. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/66 "2010-09-08T03:47:12Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > > > Whether you’re in favor of our involvement in Afghanistan or against it, [this report](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/29/INF21F2Q9H.DTL#ixzz0yF8jc1iR) is rather interesting, not to mention bizarre. More proof that it’s a whole other world there. (As if more were needed.) > > Why can’t those Afghan pervs to go female child prostitutes like normal Thai people? 😉 That’s certainly what _I_ do on slow Tuesday afternoons. > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > However, short of recruiting and dispatching assassins (which is quite illegal, and sets a bad precedent besides) … Actually, I’m not sure it’s illegal. I remember when Reagan publicly placed a moratorium on government-sanctioned assassinations shortly after he took office, but I don’t believe that ever carried the force of law. It was more of a policy decision. Did that ever change? ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/67 "2010-09-08T03:54:04Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > > > However, short of recruiting and dispatching assassins (which is quite illegal, and sets a bad precedent besides) … > > Actually, I’m not sure it’s illegal. I remember when Reagan publicly placed a moratorium on government-sanctioned assassinations shortly after he took office, but I don’t believe that ever carried the force of law. It was more of a policy decision. Did that ever change? I thought it was president Ford. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/68 "2010-09-08T03:57:18Z")
> [@user\_hostile](#): > > > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > > > Actually, I’m not sure it’s illegal. I remember when Reagan publicly placed a moratorium on government-sanctioned assassinations shortly after he took office, but I don’t believe that ever carried the force of law. It was more of a policy decision. Did that ever change? > > I thought it was president Ford. I’m thinking Reagan, but it could have been Ford. They all get muddled together after a while. EDIT: Ah, yes, I see it was Ford, in 1976. ---
**Author:** ![komolono](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/komolono/32/532_2.png) [@komolono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/komolono)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/69 "2010-09-08T04:24:32Z")
US forces being in Afghanistan is a part of the Global War on Terror. Do you still remember that the Soviets tried it in the 70’s, too? > **[Soviet invasion of Afghanistan](http://www.guidetorussia.com/russia-afghanistan.asp)** > > Describes why USSR invaded Afghanistan, history and politics behind this Cold War incident. Well, back then it was called just a war. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/70 "2010-09-08T12:32:50Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I don’t have a mission. Still in the eating, sleeping, excreting mode? How sad. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/71 "2010-09-08T12:50:40Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > I wonder what it would be like to be a fly on the wall listening to NATO bigwigs discussing whether to play the “the Taliban are pedophiles” angle. On the one hand, it might be useful to shore up western support for Operation Enduring Freedom. We’ve got to stick in out and civilize them and all that. On the other hand, they can’t work that angle and still secure the cooperation of influential Afghan pederasts. Quite. People talk here as if it’s only or even mainly the Taliban engaging in these practices and dealing drugs. The paedophile, drug dealing kleptocrats, women-persecuting scum are also ‘our guys’ (until another side looks like winning at which point they’ll switch sides so fast our heads won’t have time to spin). ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/72 "2010-09-08T14:39:38Z")
Nothing new here. Just more anti-gay conservatives (in this case Muslim conservatives) turning out to be gay themselves and using lame excuses to justify it. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/73 "2010-09-08T14:48:12Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > > [@linked article](#): > > > > “How can you fall in love if you can’t see her face,” 29-year-old Mohammed Daud told reporters. “We can see the boys, so we can tell which are beautiful.” > > Also: How does a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer manage to confuse a declarative with an interrogative? Even the best writer needs several rounds of editing. > [@AK84](#): > > Trust a Western journalist to get a “scoop” which everyone and his uncle knew about. It ain’t a secret. And has not been one for oh about 400 years. I’m not sure I get what you’re saying. That because you know about it that it’s not worth an article? I certainly didn’t know. Assuming that “everyone and his uncle” knew about this would have left me in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/74 "2010-09-08T15:07:40Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > > [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > > > More to the point, the issue here is not the political leanings of the rapists, but the fact they are rapists. And the fact many Americans are willing to do nothing when they have the ability to do so. > > What makes you think we have the ability to do something. You still haven’t named on specific thing you want us to do. In general, the liberalization of Afghanistan already in progress should alleviate this issue – women will be more present, so men will be less inclined to diddle young boys. That said, it’s not exactly a short-term solution. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/75 "2010-09-08T15:51:15Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Nothing new here. Just more anti-gay conservatives (in this case Muslim conservatives) turning out to be gay themselves and using lame excuses to justify it. Thank you. I would never have thought of that. You might be right, give me time to reflect on it, it is worth thinking over. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/76 "2010-09-08T17:43:02Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > > [@John\_Mace](#): > > > > I don’t have a mission. > > Still in the eating, sleeping, excreting mode? How sad. You left out posting. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/77 "2010-09-08T17:49:31Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > I propose we do all we can, where we can, as often as we can, as well as we can. > > Changing the world for the better is my personal mission. What is yours? Nice sloganeering. But what does any of this actually mean? What are you proposing? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/78 "2010-09-09T01:02:44Z")
Not turning our back on people when they are raped. Crazy idea, I know, but is it crazy enough? ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/79 "2010-09-09T01:55:22Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Not turning our back on people when they are raped. Crazy idea, I know, but is it crazy enough? Can we go into pretty much most of Africa, big chunks of India and chunks of East Asia, too? Underage marriage and child prostitution are common in all these areas. A party official in my Chinese hometown decided he wanted to have sex with a child, so he got a restaurant owner to find him a twelve year old girl. He got caught and went on trial, and got off completely free because he said he had no way of knowing she wasn’t 18. This is nowhere near a rare circumstance. Can we invade? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556/80 "2010-09-09T01:58:54Z")
Don’t know, I suspect not. But since we are already in Afghanistan it would be morally wrong to do nothing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afghanistans-dirty-little-secret/552556.md?page=5)