Thanks for the praise. I would love to have the time to write about these things in articles, but my day job is far too time intensive. I know my personality and if I start writing, I won't stop, and my technical work will not get done.
Many US politicians espouse the view that permanent US occupation is a desired outcome. We saw this in Iraq and most recently, with our pull out from Afghanistan.
Asa Hutchinson just did some interviews where he repeated the narrative that the "problem" is that we got out of Afghanistan and didn't leave a "stabilizing" force there to counterbalance the Taliban. Lots of important details I won't repeat here.
There are multiple problems with Hutchinson's position (IMO), starting with the premise. There was no reason to invade the entire country of Afghanistan to get Osama bin Laden. The Taliban told us if we promised that bin Laden would be tried in an Islamic country they'd deliver him to us. We rejected that proposal - IMO putting lie to the idea that this was about getting Osama bin Laden.
The US then invaded the entire country to get one guy - and failed. Tora Bora was (again IMO) botched on purpose to give us a reason to stay. We clearly didn't need the invade the country to get him. My evidence for this is how we eventually got him. We didn't invade and occupy Pakistan to get bin Laden, we sent in commando teams specifically trained to capture and/or kill individuals.
Circling back to the start: I never thought about this growing up and living in the states either. We are propagandized from birth to internalize the idea that we (the US) are a force for good and democracy around the world. So if we invade and occupy your country it is for the greater good of the world. Sorry your dad, uncles, grandfathers and older brothers are all dead as a result. Take solace in understanding that the remaining women in your family will get steady jobs in sweatshops producing cheap goods for the US.
If you live for a while outside the US propaganda bubble you see first-hand that US foreign policy is run like a mafia protection racket. And just like the mafia, we are most definitely prepared to use violence to expand and control our "turf."
