President Carter's National Security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski spoke at RAND in October where he called American public opinion unimportant to the president's decision-making process. Brzezinski stated, "I don't think the fact that there is a significant public view that we ought to disengage needs to be decisive in any decision. One has to look beyond the immediate reactions. The public fatigue with the war is understandable" While this is a relevant consideration, it is not a decisive one in shaping what we ought to be doing." http://www.rand.org/pubs/conf_proceedings/CF274/#keynote_speaker
For Zbigniew Brzezinski, Afghanistan was never about helping the Afghan people or getting the approval of the American people. American policy towards Afghanistan was always about fulfilling Brzezinski's dream of controlling Eurasia and destroying the Soviet Union and selling Washington's eager beltway crowd on the merits. He initiated the plan to lure the Soviets into the "Afghan trap" back in 1978 and now comes stage two of the grand plan under Obama. The sad fact is that Brzezinski's policies not only fostered the destabilization of Central Asia but also empowered radical elements in Islam to fight the Soviet Union.
Brzezinski's disastrous foreign policy advise to President Carter in 1979 has yet to catch up with him. The man most responsible for activating the policy that unleashed Islamic fundamentalism that engulfs South Central Asia is now advising a new president with the same old formulas.
Let's pause here. When we return, Paul and Liz will discuss their recommendations as to a more sane policy regarding Afghanistan. I hope you'll join us.
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Part Two of my interview with Paul and Liz
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