I don't buy the "Christianity held civilization back" argument. The Dark Ages were not (as many anti-theists argue) the result of Europe becoming Christian, but rather the economic and political fallout of the collapse of the Roman Empire. The Dark Ages would have happened under paganism too. I'm rather surprised Dr. Cole made that argument.
I wholeheartedly agree with his thinking on the virtue of civilizations that predate Western civilizations though.
The thing that people forget about Afghanistan after the Soviet withdrawal is that the Soviet-backed regime in Kabul held on pretty decently until the USSR collapsed and the flow of money and weapons stopped. If the US and the international community can maintain a stream of finance to Afghanistan (expensive yes, but certainly less than keeping an army in-country) it may enable the government to hang on and deal with the disparate insurgent groups from a stronger position than expected.
Are there currently US bases in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Chad? I know there's a substantial presence in Djibouti, but I thought that was more or less the extent of US bases in Africa. The map is missing the US forces stationed in Cyprus as well.
I agree with Pabelmont, the color scheme could be broken out into more detail. Although simplicity probably suits the producer's purposes better.
I don't buy the "Christianity held civilization back" argument. The Dark Ages were not (as many anti-theists argue) the result of Europe becoming Christian, but rather the economic and political fallout of the collapse of the Roman Empire. The Dark Ages would have happened under paganism too. I'm rather surprised Dr. Cole made that argument.
I wholeheartedly agree with his thinking on the virtue of civilizations that predate Western civilizations though.
The thing that people forget about Afghanistan after the Soviet withdrawal is that the Soviet-backed regime in Kabul held on pretty decently until the USSR collapsed and the flow of money and weapons stopped. If the US and the international community can maintain a stream of finance to Afghanistan (expensive yes, but certainly less than keeping an army in-country) it may enable the government to hang on and deal with the disparate insurgent groups from a stronger position than expected.
Are there currently US bases in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Chad? I know there's a substantial presence in Djibouti, but I thought that was more or less the extent of US bases in Africa. The map is missing the US forces stationed in Cyprus as well.
I agree with Pabelmont, the color scheme could be broken out into more detail. Although simplicity probably suits the producer's purposes better.