The population of Afghanistan is estimated at 34 million, 385 thousand people.

[TheWraith]

That's more than the populations of New York and Pennsylvania put together. So please understand that when you say things like "I wish we could civilize them before we leave," or treating an entire country like barbarians because of the heinous actions of a handful of people, you're doing the equivalent of judging ever single one of the 310,000,000 Americans for the behavior of Fred Phelps and Randall Terry. Even though most of those 34 million people deplore that kind of behavior as much as we do, and would like nothing better than to see their country as a peaceful place where people aren't murdered at random. Some of those people are horrible human beings intent on cruelty and control. But most are just normal people.

[pscot]

1. And doubling every 30 years

[Arctic Dave]

2. Didn't realize we murdered and destroyed a country

because of people waving signs.

[julian09]

3. They are centuries behind and Taliban and clerics want to keep them that way.

They are afraid of women getting an education and clerics want to destroy free thinking.

[hobbit709]

4. And we're certainly not going to change them by shooting up everything in sight.

And there are enclaves of that kind of thinking right here in the U.S.

[Brigid]

5. Nice sentiments.

But you'll excuse me if I avoid that primitive rockpile like the plague, won't you?