Kudzu Redux

ATimes - 'Sow war and reap terror':

United States support for the mujahideen in the fight against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s is well documented. What is not so well understood is the US support for these same mujahideen in the struggle between Bosnian Muslims and Serbs, a move that helped globalize the jihadi movement, and that is now having ramifications in Turkey.

Yup. This is echoes what I've been saying for quite some time. We see the same pattern over and over again when we muck around in other countries' affairs: bad, unintended consequences. CIA-sponsored Iranian coup in 1953 -> Islamic revolution in 1979. Use religion to motivate fighters we support -> global terror.

All actions have consequences, of course, and we do need to act in the global community. However, violent actions always have violent consequences. We must eschew violence as a means, and our guiding principles must include non-interference. The more we tinker, the less secure we really are.

ntodd  ¶ 7:21 AM