[Potemkin]

It's something you tell 16-year old horny teenagers to sacrifice themselves.

It seems to work too. So it's win-win all round then - the horny teenagers off themselves in a spectacular pyrotechnic display, and likely help their in-group's cause in the process. They get what they want - a glorious death in the certain belief that 24 doe-eyed virgins await them, not to mention the approval of their friends and family, without having to go through all the tiresome rigmarole of getting a job, finding a suitable bride who won't cheat on them with the milkman, and raising a handful of squalling brats for two decades while working a soul-destroying job they hate to pay for it all. They get wafted straight to Paradise, baby! And if they don't, they're not going to know about it, on account of being dead. Which would be their eventual fate anyway, after decades of gruelling struggle. They can't lose!

[Crantag]

I beg to differ. We can get carried away in discussions and lose grasp with reality. America IS a great country. America is easily the Roman Imperium of its time. It straddles and dominates the present civilisation. I recall some poster in Ireland commenting on up coming elections there that he was much more likely to be affected by decisions taken in DC than in Dublin. And there is more than a little truth to that. So I am not sure how one moves around the peripheries of pax americana and is under the illusion one has left America. Western Europe, Australia, much of South America etc is part of pax America. The formal American borders may be at California and Florida, but it's influence extend far beyond that. I will sat you may have to take up residence with the Taliban, the Kims, to truly brag that you have left America.

Empires come and go. Maybe tomorrow it is Russia, China, or India that replaces the US as the world's Imperium. I would be glad that it was my good fortune to live under the American Imperium than any of the others. Maybe centuries down the road the Russian, the Chinese, the Indian may be shining example, who knows, but I am talking of how they are today.

America a shithole? Churchill comes to mind. America is the worst country in the world except for all the others.

Australia a perfect country? Except the aborigines are all dead. Or at the feet of pale faces. Why let such nasty pieces of history disturb one's perceptions? Just stick up that aquiline nose in the air, close one's eyes, sniff of the dry Tasmanian air and sigh: O Australia, what a shithole!

America has nothing to do with the Roman Empire.

But, American politicians and 'media personalities' have certainly had a penchant for describing America in terms of the Roman Empire.

Basically, the 'founding fathers' were a bunch of Roman history nerds, and liked to speak in terms of Roman innuendo.

The two societies have very little in common.

For one, there is an enormous time gap.

Also, the Romans had heart.

Not to glorify them, but the Punic Wars did show something about Roman society, for example. Hannibal almost did besiege the city of Rome at one point, and he might have succeeded, but the Romans were never going to surrender.

Hannibal could have probably won the war if he successfully besieged the city of Rome, but he missed the opportunity. However, despite his massive defeats of Roman legions and his decimation of the Italian Peninsula, the Romans utterly refused to consider the prospect of surrender.

Rome belonged to the place in history in which it belonged, and analogies to America are fallacious.

What you are on about is really just the propagandist narratives.

America always wanted to style itself in the fashion of Rome, but there is no real analogy there.

[Patrickov]

Sounds like a nightmare to me.

I figure that the nightmare part comes from the possible sexual fatigue.

I suppose those in heaven have the abilities they would want. For one, they probably can control when they want to erect, insert and to ejaculate, unlike mortals.

[Crantag]

Another stellar video by Caspian Report.

Not to say I necessarily agree with every word, but another very well-done video (and I agree with most of it, and am no expert here, and if there are questions I have with it, well that's natural, but I mean it like, 'the opinions expressed in this video do not necessarily express those of the poster'.)

Very informative and well made.

[Crantag]

I figure that the nightmare part comes from the possible sexual fatigue.

I suppose those in heaven have the abilities they would want. For one, they probably can control when they want to erect, insert and to ejaculate, unlike mortals.

I am not an endorser of suicide, or suicide bombing, but on the former front, it is a thing, and a cause could be something to die for to people, I mean, it is understandable as a thing, especially presented with social context, and indeed pressure; social, political, religious, etc., to perform the deed.

And on the latter, suicide bombing is a tactic. And indeed, it can be an effective tactic.

But, sexual frustration probably also contributes to the urge to suicide oneself.

You could say that religious puritanism plays a role in that.

I am certainly sexually frustrated, though not to the extent I want to go suicide bomb something or anything,

Sex is actually a pretty basic and core animalistic need.

I think that if would-be suicide bombers could have some hot females infiltrate their compounds (edit: or hot men, in the case of female suicide bombers), and fuck them, it could mellow them out a bit.

I of course do not believe in the 24 virgins, but it is perceptible as a motivation for some guys, especially given religious indoctrination to its effect.

Also, it is worth reiterating, that suicide bombing is indeed a tactic of warfare, which, regrettably, can be an effective one (the recent suicide bombing outside the airport in Kabul could be described as a rather effective suicide bombing, from a tactical standpoint).

[Rugoz]

I figure that the nightmare part comes from the possible sexual fatigue.

You don't have to be "sexually fatigued" to be horrified by the thought of spending eternity with 24 teenage girls. I mean wtf.

[Beren]

But, sexual frustration probably also contributes to the urge to suicide oneself.

I doubt sexual frustration makes someone suicidal, it rather makes you masturbate a lot or end up with hookers, or as a husband or a mercenary. Lack of sexual experience (virginity) can make people more self-sacrificing, though, so I wouldn't be surprised if virgins were over-represented among suicide bombers indeed. In my opinion the 24-doe-eyed-virgin thing also doesn't have much to do with becoming a suicide bomber.

[QatzelOk]

Very informative and well made.

I like that you posted this "other narrative" movie about Afghanistan history.

But I would never call it "informative."

It doesn't mention that Jimmy Carter funded the mujahideen. This is not just a detail, it's possibly the main story.

And the narrator describes the "cancellation of landlord debt" as if is was some kind of small-minded swipe at "Afghan culture."

The narration also talks lovingly about "Western influenced middle class," while dismissing everything socialist as "ideological."

The bias of this film is important. The ignorance that this bias forms is the basis of Western foreign policy.

[Patrickov]

You don't have to be "sexually fatigued" to be horrified by the thought of spending eternity with 24 teenage girls. I mean wtf.

If you need to maintain 24 fair intimate serious relationships than maybe you are right, but we are talking about Islam, so the relationship is probably closer to master-servant.

Still, I suppose those in Heaven could live however they want. I would think having 24 friends with benefits is fanciable, practical to maintain and acceptable in my standards of morality.

[colliric]

I'm sorry to deliver the bad news to you Democrat cultists, but rumoured Pakistan air-support along with their newfound US Military Toys has helped the Taliban capture the Panjshir valley and kill the resistance leadership.

The Taliban is now in complete total control of Afganistan, and they have some pretty strong local allies.

"Don't worry, everything will be ok!"

Now what was that crap about the war not actually being over again? This has been an even more decisive victory than the 1996 one was.

They didn't even succeed holding out as long as the Jews at Masada did against the Romans.

[wat0n]

Wow, that would be big and awful news. Although I wonder then if there will be resistance not unlike the one the Americans had to face in the Pashtun areas.

[Crantag]

I like that you posted this "other narrative" movie about Afghanistan history.

But I would never call it "informative."

It doesn't mention that Jimmy Carter funded the mujahideen. This is not just a detail, it's possibly the main story.

And the narrator describes the "cancellation of landlord debt" as if is was some kind of small-minded swipe at "Afghan culture."

The narration also talks lovingly about "Western influenced middle class," while dismissing everything socialist as "ideological."

The bias of this film is important. The ignorance that this bias forms is the basis of Western foreign policy.

I had a number of qualms with the video, myself.

But, I think on the balance, Caspian Report produces good videos.

I found the video informative, but certainly imperfect.

Including in the ways you said.

[Igor Antunov]

I bet Saleh wishes he took that political deal now. He could have been a considerable part of a new government. Now he will be a head on the end of a pike.

This is the first time Afghanistan is fully unified under a single government since the 70's. And that government has full Chinese and Pakistani backing in all the ways that matter-financial and military. It's also a MAJOR boon for Xi's silk and road initiative.

It only cost American taxpayers $2.3 trillion USD.

[QatzelOk]

It only cost American taxpayers $2.3 trillion USD.

Yes, but a handful of lucky defense contractors were able to provide their entire family with yachts, beachside summer houses, and endless trips to the four corners of the earth.

What a fantastic way to fundraise for millionaires! Tax and bomb.

[JohnRawls]

I'm sorry to deliver the bad news to you Democrat cultists, but rumoured Pakistan air-support along with their newfound US Military Toys has helped the Taliban capture the Panjshir valley and kill the resistance leadership.

The Taliban is now in complete total control of Afganistan, and they have some pretty strong local allies.

"Don't worry, everything will be ok!"

Now what was that crap about the war not actually being over again? This has been an even more decisive victory than the 1996 one was.

They didn't even succeed holding out as long as the Jews at Masada did against the Romans.

Retrospective from the Afghan experience: to conquer Afghanistan you also need to conquer or destroy Pakistan.

[Beren]

and endless trips to the four corners of the earth.

Or even space!

to conquer Afghanistan you also need to conquer or destroy Pakistan.

You also better not forget about China, Russia, and Iran! Yay!

[JohnRawls]

Or even space!


You also better not forget about China, Russia, and Iran! Yay!

I mean, i get it that you are trolling but that was a serious answer. Taliban is a proxy of Pakistan and basically all the opponents of Taliban say it.

[Beren]

I mean, i get it that you are trolling but that was a serious answer. Taliban is a proxy of Pakistan and basically all the opponents of Taliban say it.

I wouldn't think the Taliban is a proxy, even though their opponents say they are , and if you want to conquer Afghanistan, which is a rather stupid idea anyway, you have to deal with all the major powers around. However, you might be right that Pakistan is a key player having the most influence on the ground in Afghanistan.

[Rugoz]

Great talk as far as I can tell:

[QatzelOk]

Or even space!

If this were the 1970s (and sometimes I think it still is the 1970s, and will continue to be so until the last Boomer is left standing).... Richard Branson could send a pet rock into space for trillions of dollars while riding elephants with Elton John in Sri Lanka and watching the entire landing on a floating giant screen, held up by 100 helicopters.

And no one would bat an eye.

This is the kind of conspicuous consumption that today's generation of *adults* grew up with. And this is also Generation Tax and Bomb welfare...

I think this is *mass media* related, as the boomers grew up with *commercial parenting* as they glared at each new generation of screens that were placed before their inquisitive little faces... And they learned that salvation would be found through consumption of the most miraculous products.

And thus, each new Franken-technology is greeted like Lady of Fatima.