Talk about a figure who was larger than life, Charlie Wilson died February 10 2010 and he will be missed, I first heard of the Texas congressman in December 2007 when I went to see the movie with a girl I used to date and fell in love with the story. I read the book a few months later.
While most of America hears that Ronald Reagan won the Cold War, Charlie Wilson's War sheds light on how the armed resistance in Afghanistan was funded by a Democratic House of Representatives that brought the Red Army to it's knees.
We'll miss you Charlie, and you won't be forgotten.
Charlie rejecting the invasion of Iraq.
Charlie endorsing President Obama.
Some of Charlie's campaign commercials.
Charlie discussing his calling to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan.
Sorry, but Charlie Wilson was a traitor. He lobbied Congress to put powerful, state of the art weapons like Stinger missiles into the hands of the Muslim warriors who would become the Taliban; he got our government to give weapons to Osama bib Laden--if there's a hell, I hope he is in it.
ReplyDeleteSorry, but Ronald Reagan was a traitor. He used illegal means to supply contras and the Iranians. His economic policies would destroy America's industry and widen the gaps between rich and poor.
ReplyDeleteIf there's a God, I hope he puts brains in all future leaders that way we don't end up with complete ignorant jackasses.
Oh yeah, and Charlie Wilson was a great American, we just took our eye off the ball in terms of rebuilding Afghanistan.
It's unfortunate that from your corner of the world you judge many millions dead, dislocated from their homes, or bombarded, by simply reading a book or watching a movie.
ReplyDeleteThe fighter forces like in any part of the world - like a man who choses to KILL others - are nothing but looters and opportunistic people with a gun who justify killing, rape, stealing, and ruling as dictators as their right once they get in power.
Charlie Wilson armed a group of illiterate people and poured billions of $$$ in their pockets just because he and his colleagues were stupid to not be able to forecast that a Soviet Union business model will not work for the world. They panicked or maybe just found it interesting to see what happens if the Red Army is brought to it's knees while they had no reason to do so.
So, go ahead and judge all you want but people who have lived the life in Afghanistan know that their LIFE was traded for your comfort. For you to have a nice TV in your house. Or for you to become a couch potato at the expense of other's lives.
I may sound harsh but it's the reality of the world. And this time it happened to be Afghanistan. I am sure the story would have been the same if the other side of the world was in power and USA was a weak country.
All I want to say is, don't make of idiots like Charlie Wilson big statues to pray for....