All Over Again

I couldn’t help but have a moment of déjà vu as I read these headlines.

U.S. Hopes to Arm Pakistani Tribes Against Al Qaeda
By Eric Schmitt, Mark Mazzetti and Carlotta Gall
The new proposal is modeled in part on a similar effort by American forces in Iraq’s Anbar Province that has been hailed as a success in fighting foreign insurgents.

That is exactly what we did in the 1980’s, supplying arms to the Taliban during the Soviet/Afghanistan War. The same weapons that were then used against us. How stupid are we? (Let me count the ways…)

I keep forgetting that we are not for peace, we’re the world’s largest arms dealer and business is what we’re all about. This is one marketplace where the Chinese don’t have a chance! And besides, peace is just plain old bad for business.