"[...] the history of US occupations in Latin America demonstrates [...]: invasion itself raises the standards of political behavior in invaded countries to stratospheric heights, thus guaranteeing failure and disillusion when the time comes for withdrawal."
In other words, blame all the failure for US world-wide meddling, kidnapping, torturing, murdering and political fumbling to improve local politics, on ... 'those ungrateful locals'!
I cannot believe my eyes! "Standards of political behaviour raised to such stratospheric heights" that after withdrawal of US trainers (were it only those from the notorious School of the Americas) there can be nothing but disaster?
Indeed, the second part of the equation is perfectly right, but the first one should read: US trainers have helped to create such ruthless dictatorships and social inequality, that even after their withdrawal, for decades to come, there can be nothing but disaster.
That equally applies to Iraq and Afghanistan.
How much time did Mr McPherson spend in those countries, what did he read about them besides official 'success propaganda', or is this maybe supposed to be subtle irony? Or rather heavyhanded, tasteless farce?
Incidentally, the rampant corruption in Afghanistan is by and large the result of 'US policy' stashing piles and piles of dollars into the pockets of local politicians and other strongmen, including paying 'the taliban' (whoever they are) for not attacking US military convoys etc etc etc.
"[...] the history of US occupations in Latin America demonstrates [...]: invasion itself raises the standards of political behavior in invaded countries to stratospheric heights, thus guaranteeing failure and disillusion when the time comes for withdrawal."
In other words, blame all the failure for US world-wide meddling, kidnapping, torturing, murdering and political fumbling to improve local politics, on ... 'those ungrateful locals'!
I cannot believe my eyes! "Standards of political behaviour raised to such stratospheric heights" that after withdrawal of US trainers (were it only those from the notorious School of the Americas) there can be nothing but disaster?
Indeed, the second part of the equation is perfectly right, but the first one should read: US trainers have helped to create such ruthless dictatorships and social inequality, that even after their withdrawal, for decades to come, there can be nothing but disaster.
That equally applies to Iraq and Afghanistan.
How much time did Mr McPherson spend in those countries, what did he read about them besides official 'success propaganda', or is this maybe supposed to be subtle irony? Or rather heavyhanded, tasteless farce?
Incidentally, the rampant corruption in Afghanistan is by and large the result of 'US policy' stashing piles and piles of dollars into the pockets of local politicians and other strongmen, including paying 'the taliban' (whoever they are) for not attacking US military convoys etc etc etc.