Poll: sympathy for the devil

[2012 Wont Happen]

What about the taliban thats killing innocents as well?
What paints them as such a great alternative to Americans?
Do you ignore bringing water and schools and other things that American forces have done?

I do not ignore them. However, I advocate pity for those who have lost their loved ones, and do not believe in the right of American forces to murder the innocent.

 

[shootthebandit]

the afghans hate the taliban and arent to keen on the US (and allied forces). in thier eyes both are 'devils'. my friend told me that they always know when the taliban are around because the village is empty as people are terrified of the taliban.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

the afghans hate the taliban and arent to keen on the US (and allied forces). in thier eyes both are 'devils'. my friend told me that they always know when the taliban are around because the village is empty as people are terrified of the taliban.

The Taliban certainly are an "evil" force. I believe that if the Americans had just killed my family, I would put aside my aversion and fight for them though.

Conversely, if my family had been killed by the Taliban- I would help the Americans in any way I could

 

[Mordwyl]

Either side believes they are doing the right thing, with the other considered to be "evil". This is exactly why there will never be true peace in the world. However, when it comes to picking a side I don't really blame the civilians for retaliating as just witnessing US Carriers docked in our harbour almost made the entirety of Malta go on a shitstorm.

There are no winners in war.

 

[riskroWe]

Well in an islamic country I'd be working at an impoverished highschool teaching kids algebra and discouraging them from joining military groups. I'd know the problem is also the Taliban, not just the Americans. Neither of them cares about us, and there is no escape. We all need to forgive, seeking revenge just fuels the blaze.

Or some hippy nonsense like that; I'd be an educated muslim scholar.

 

[ElephantGuts]

If my family was unjustly killed by a foreign occupying force I would dedicate my life to studying politics in the hopes of becoming a productive member of the Afghan government and over the decades gain power and support from faithfully serving my country so I could legally challenge the American occupation and convince the world that Afghanistan is capable of protecting peace and freedom by itself so I might ultimately bring independence to Afghanistan and its people.

Just kidding; I'd grab an AK and start planting explosives in the ground. Death to the American invaders! Allahu Akbar!

EDIT: Seriously, I don't know what I would do. It's difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the situation and views of an Afghani villager; I can't honestly imagine what I would end up doing. It would probably be dependent on my education on the issues and exactly how the situation has effected me.

 

[IrishBerserker]

Picture this:

You are a peaceful inhabitant of an Afghan village. You have never been any threat to anyone, particularly to the U.S., situated almost as far as physically possible from you, in your life. Now imagine that, as you are going about your perpetual struggle to survive, you hear the roar of a U.S. fighter jet flying over your village, and a bomb is dropped killing several other peaceful people that you knew and loved. The explanation- the United States of America, having no just right or reason for their continued occupation of your homeland, suspected that there may be terrorists living within your village.

Now picture this. Four days later, as the bodies still lay strewn across the streets as the people have yet to be able to properly bury their dead, a group of other Afghans come into the village with pamphlets. They claim to be fighting to drive the American murderers, who had so recently unjustly slain their families, from Afghanistan, and return Afghan tradition. These men are recruiters for the Taliban's forces. They offer you a fighting chance against the Americans- the alternative being but to wait to be the next killed by the bombs. They hate the Americans, as do you after your village's recent encounter with them. Would you not be tempted to join them?

*snip*

So, my question to the Escapist is this- if you were an Afghani citizen who's neighbors, friends and families had just been slaughtered by U.S. forces- can you honestly say that you wouldn't join the insurgency?

In this scenario i'd most likely fight.

 

[Mozared]

I love this topic - I just think you put it in the wrong place. Escapists here already know the world isn't flat. This is what you need to throw in the faces of the people (read: Americans) who believe bombs are the answer to any problem that might arise.

 

[firedfns13]

I would hope that American forces do not kill the innocent.

 

[firedfns13]

I love this topic - I just think you put it in the wrong place. Escapists here already know the world isn't flat. This is what you need to throw in the faces of the people (read: Americans) who believe bombs are the answer to any problem that might arise.

Bombs... are... the answer to any problem...
If that doesn't solve it, build more bomb.

 

[GreyWolf257]

I don't support the Taliban either, but under these circumstances I would probably fight against the enemies of my people.

 

[Mozared]

Bombs... are... the answer to any problem...
If that doesn't solve it, build more bomb.

Well yes, but only if you have a real possibility of building more bombs and doing more bombing if your initial wave of it didn't work. Which isn't the case in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

I don't think I would join the Taliban, one because they're religious extremists, and two, because I would probably be killed in the war. However I wouldn't hesitate to shoot an American soldier if I felt threatened by them.

 

[cheese_wizington]

Excellent topic. I've actually seen this question pop up a lot lately, what with the hope for a new battle plan in Afghanistan. I chose I probably would, I would just get killed in another bombing anyway.

 

[quiet_samurai]

No, because then you would be asked to kill others who are just as innocent, you may be satiating your vengeance but it will accomplish nothing.

And it's war, there is nothing fair, pretty, cut and dry about it. If war was such an easy thing to cope with and explain it wouldn't be so horrible. Horrible times beget horrible acts, there is nothing anyone can do about it .

I actually thought we were going to be talking literally about the devil, that would have been a good topic too.

 

[Medic Heavy]

I don't join forces with people who kill women for trying to learn, Even if I was blinded in anger, it would still be a flat out no. I'd hate the Americans with all my guts, but I don't think I'd want to kill them.

But then again there's alot of factors on whether or not I'd join them like:

My religious interest,my educational level..stuff like that

 

[ma55ter_fett]

I have the paper here beside me and it says that 55 US soldiers died this month, and 22 of those were killed this past week.

I do not sympathise with the Taliban or any terrorist group that wishes harm upon america.

But if I was a normal citizen of Afghanistan and my family was blown to bit by a bomb that "missed" its target, or was aimed at our house because of faulty inteligence.

Yes, I would feel that it would be my duty to my people.

damn war...

 

[Ekibiogami]

Prohaps your nebor shouldent have been harboring terrists the night before?
Never mind also that in WW2 we would have just leveled the town and moved on.
Yeah the US is totaly the bad guy. never mind we use smart bombs and go out of our way to Prevent things like this from happening.(Though it does)

 

[firedfns13]

I've asked congress to pass legislation to outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in 5 minutes...