ORIGINAL CAPTIONED PHOTO REMOVED
The quote attributed to Reagan was in fact, true: "These Gentlemen are the moral equivalent of the founding fathers." It's just wasn't made about the Taliban.
The quote attributed to Reagan was in fact, true: "These Gentlemen are the moral equivalent of the founding fathers." It's just wasn't made about the Taliban.
Here is the best explanation I could find to bring it all together. from Business Insider:
As the public debates some of the more controversial ways the US deals with foreign policy and safety, it's prudent to remember some of the less than fruitful foreign policy items where America invested its time and money.
This photograph is from 1983, when Reagan and the CIA were dancing around the idea of arming Mujahadin fighters in order to fight back against Soviet incursion in Afghanistan. The result was a well-armed, well-trained group of jihadis who resisted (some say defeated) the onslaught of superior Soviet weaponry.
Once the Soviets retreated, the U.S. lost interest and pulled the funding. Osama bin Laden took interest, and filled the vacuum, later fathering the Taliban.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Often erroneously paired with this photo is a Reagan quote, "These gentlemen are the moral equivalent of the founding fathers."
Reagan was in fact referring to Nicaraguan fighters and another initiative to arm them, this time against the U.S.'s own treaties.
We all know how that worked out as well.
Whomever Ronnie was referring to were certainly not at all like the founding fathers of these United States.
Reagan. What a maroon.
ReplyDeleteOops! I can see more than a few wishing to gloss over that particular 'pearl of wisdom'.
ReplyDeleteAs bad as Blair describing Islam as "a gentle, peace-loving, tolerant religion".
Being someone who reads a section of the Koran every day - in 5 different translations so far (as well as reading daily a chapter of the Bible) I have yet to find evidence of ANY of these qualities in what I read, let alone all three of them. I'm obviously reading 'different' Korans. I'd so like to get hold of Blair's copy.
Wayne
ReplyDeleteYou really need to do some research before you erroneously accuse Reagan of that quote. He did say it, but he was not referring to the Taliban.
Thanks. Corrected, but you did a bit of knitpicking there. Granted photo op off by 2 years.In those days one movement blurred lines into the next. It goes on today. But thanks for catching me on this one. Cheers. and thanks for the visit.
Deletejesus h christ on a pogo stick! what an asshole; NOW look at the mess we're in!
ReplyDelete