http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/asia/14afghan.html
Sunday the President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, flew to Kandahar and told local leaders there to prepare for operations to rid the city and surrounding area of the Taliban. You may want to read the full story, see above NYC Times’ link, but I believe a few lines in the piece provide stark details as to why continued military operations will not work.
Haji Mahmood, a tribal leader from west of Kandahar, told a typical story: Three months ago, he bought a plot of land near his home and invested several thousand dollars to build shops on it. He bought the land from the local government.
A few weeks ago, he said, government agents bulldozed his shops and reclaimed the land.
Finishing his story, Mr. Mahmood shook his head.
“Not many people support the Taliban, because they don’t really have a program,” Mr. Mahmood said. “But believe me, if they did, many people would.”
Can you imagine how mad you would be if that happened to you? Mr. Mahmood has very good reason to help the Taliban or sit on the sidelines to see who emerges the winner. If we are lucky, he may support the current government because he has a vision of a better future than that offered by the Taliban. But that kind of disrespect against the people by the government screams out for resistance.
His last sentence about not many people supporting the Taliban because they do not have a program but if they did people would follow says it all. The people of Afghanistan must find their own political solutions. The U.S. cannot manufacture good government in Afghanistan. That must be left to Afghans. U. S. military operations will lead to more civilian deaths and anger towards the U.S. and the incredibly corrupt Afghan government. That will strengthen the hand of the Taliban, who we must always remember are indigenous Afghans. Military defeat of the Taliban his highly unlikely in the current political climate.
A June 14 NY Times article reports the release of a report detailing Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Agency continuing to influence and at times direct Taliban operations. The report has some weaknesses, but its claims have validity. The basic premise is that Pakistan continues to cause problems in Afghanistan to ensure Indian does not gain influence there. Old habits die hard and old enemies do not change easily. The U.S. is entangled in regional conflicts and depending on actors who ignore our interest but exploit our presence to forward their goals. We simply do not understand what is going on and do not know what we are doing.
Another June 14 NY Times article reports the new found mineral wealth of Afghanistan and how it could change everything. Eventually the nation will have the means to take care of itself. But will these resources create more vying for power in the current government structure and give the Taliban another recruiting tool? I say yes on both counts. If I were an insurgent I would use it for propaganda and I have no reason to think this news gives the current government reason to reform.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/asia/14minerals.html
A June 15 NY Times article reports doubts within the Obama Administration about whether or not current policy efforts will work or if the timeline to begin withdrawal in July 2011 is still feasible and as a result some want to rethink the policy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/15/world/asia/15military.html
It makes no sense for more people to die in pursuit of a policy that is destined to fail. We need new direction and we need it very quickly before more die pursuing a policy that relies on having good government but in reality is partnered with a corrupt gangster government. Afghans need room to workout their problem. Let us get out of the way.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/asia/14afghan.html
Sunday the President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, flew to Kandahar and told local leaders there to prepare for operations to rid the city and surrounding area of the Taliban. You may want to read the full story, see above NYC Times’ link, but I believe a few lines in the piece provide stark details as to why continued military operations will not work.
Haji Mahmood, a tribal leader from west of Kandahar, told a typical story: Three months ago, he bought a plot of land near his home and invested several thousand dollars to build shops on it. He bought the land from the local government.
A few weeks ago, he said, government agents bulldozed his shops and reclaimed the land.
Finishing his story, Mr. Mahmood shook his head.
“Not many people support the Taliban, because they don’t really have a program,” Mr. Mahmood said. “But believe me, if they did, many people would.”
Can you imagine how mad you would be if that happened to you? Mr. Mahmood has very good reason to help the Taliban or sit on the sidelines to see who emerges the winner. If we are lucky, he may support the current government because he has a vision of a better future than that offered by the Taliban. But that kind of disrespect against the people by the government screams out for resistance.
His last sentence about not many people supporting the Taliban because they do not have a program but if they did people would follow says it all. The people of Afghanistan must find their own political solutions. The U.S. cannot manufacture good government in Afghanistan. That must be left to Afghans. U. S. military operations will lead to more civilian deaths and anger towards the U.S. and the incredibly corrupt Afghan government. That will strengthen the hand of the Taliban, who we must always remember are indigenous Afghans. Military defeat of the Taliban his highly unlikely in the current political climate.
A June 14 NY Times article reports the release of a report detailing Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Agency continuing to influence and at times direct Taliban operations. The report has some weaknesses, but its claims have validity. The basic premise is that Pakistan continues to cause problems in Afghanistan to ensure Indian does not gain influence there. Old habits die hard and old enemies do not change easily. The U.S. is entangled in regional conflicts and depending on actors who ignore our interest but exploit our presence to forward their goals. We simply do not understand what is going on and do not know what we are doing.
Another June 14 NY Times article reports the new found mineral wealth of Afghanistan and how it could change everything. Eventually the nation will have the means to take care of itself. But will these resources create more vying for power in the current government structure and give the Taliban another recruiting tool? I say yes on both counts. If I were an insurgent I would use it for propaganda and I have no reason to think this news gives the current government reason to reform. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/asia/14minerals.html
A June 15 NY Times article reports doubts within the Obama Administration about whether or not current policy efforts will work or if the timeline to begin withdrawal in July 2011 is still feasible and as a result some want to rethink the policy. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/15/world/asia/15military.html
It makes no sense for more people to die in pursuit of a policy that is destined to fail. We need new direction and we need it very quickly before more die pursuing a policy that relies on having good government but in reality is partnered with a corrupt gangster government. Afghans need room to workout their problem. Let us get out of the way.
