Monday, August 16, 2021

Charlie Wilson's War

 

If you want a good fairly recent story about Afghanistan you will enjoy Charlie Wilson’s War.  Charlie Wilson is a hard drinking, trouble getting into Texas congressman.   On a trip to Pakistan they fly Charlie up to an Afghan refugee camp.  The poverty, the misery, and the willingness to fight won Charlie’s heart.  Back in DC he hooks up with Gust somebody or other, old gutsy CIA agent.  Charlie produces the money; Gust turns the money into weapons and gets them to the Afghans.  Cool shots of ultra modern American surface to air missiles going into Afghanistan on mule back.  Despite being light enough to man carry, they had enough punch to take down anything the Russians were flying.

   After victory, Russians driven out, Charlie was unable to get all the Afghan factions to join a single Afghan government.  We decided the Afghans were too childish to spend time or money on and let the place go to pot.  We gave to place away to Osama Bin Ladin who used it to train up his troops to do 9-11.  That did get our attention.

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