Adam Smith vs. ObL

["Charles Brown" <CharlesB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Adam Smith vs. ObL
by Michael Perelman
06 November 2001

Wealth of Nations V.i.a.44, p. 708: "In modern war the great expence of
fire-arms gives an evident advantage to the nation which can best afford
that expence; and consequently, to an opulent and civilized, over a poor
and barbarous nation.  In ancient times the opulent and civilized found
it difficult to defend themselves against the poor and
barbarous nations.  In modern times the poor and barbarous find it
difficult to defend themselves against the opulent and civilized.
The invention of fire-arms, an invention which at first sight
appears to be so pernicious, is certainly favourable both to the
permanency and to the extension of civilization."

((((((((

CB: On the other hand there maybe a bit of _Stone Age Economics_ in favor of the cavemen.

________

Afghanistan caves thwart invaders

By Paul Wiseman, USA TODAY 11/6/01

PHOTO: The Taliban relies on its difficult terrain for protection, including military facilities in what appear to be tunnel entrances and craters near the city of Jalalabad. (Reuters space imaging)

By Yannis Behrakis, Reuters
Mountains on the Shomali plain, north of Kabul, Afghanistan. Caves and underground hiding places abound in Afghanistan's mountainous terrain.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan ― In Afghanistan, the landscape itself rises up against invaders, its soft limestone caverns, stunning granite mountains and subterranean streams offering Afghan fighters countless underground places from which to elude and harass foreign armies. From ancient irrigation systems to caves that go on for miles, the country's underground labyrinths have confounded would-be conquerors since the days of Genghis Khan. They helped Afghan guerrillas defeat British imperialists in the 19th century and drive out the Soviets in the 20th. Now it's America's turn. President Bush has vowed to "smoke out" Osama bin Laden and the Taliban rulers who give him shelter. Already, U.S. forces are targeting the caves and other underground complexes. Reports indicate they are attacking from the air with "bunker-busting" bombs. It's almost certain, if they haven't already, that U.S. commandos will follow once they believe they know where bin Laden is.