Quote:
|
The initial motivation for attacking Afghanistan could be understood, but after the first battle won, it was a victory that was given away again by focussing oin Iraq and forgetting afghanistan. Now the situation is more messed up than it was after 9/11. there was a chance, and one blew it. Simply that, and nothing more.
|
Afghanistan was botched up because we (The Americans through George Bush and his "personal" project of attacking Iraq) lost focus, withdrew troops, and diverted resources before the mission was completed.
In Afghanistan we had the perfect scenario for an otherwise useless concept- that of NATION BUILDING. We won the war- if war you can call it against the "government" of Afghanistan in short order- but that should have been viewed as the necessary BEGINNING of the mission, and not the mission itself.
Quote:
|
You seem to imply that Afghanistan could be militarily controlled against the tribes', drug barons' and warlords' will.
|
Militarily? No. But the PEOPLE could be given a choice. A real choice by seeding an economy nurturing it through till it can sustain itself. There are possibilities for success, a success that creates alternatives- creates and shares wealth. Even if that wealth, is just the means to survive without turning to "benefactors" like the barons, the taliban or al-quada. - The "ttribes" you mention were in actuality really people just banding together for mutual defense and support- these "tribes" could be the first step in healing the country if the effort were spent in a wise manner. Think in terms of "The Awakening" in Iraq.
The problem with Afghanistan is that no real economy exists- no real choice is available. People will do what they must to survive. We need to provide them with that choice. al-quada depends on hoplessness. When people have no real hope and groups like the taliban through force, or al-quada becuase of hoplessness are able to become an answer for the people then there are deeper issues than war lords and corruption.
I know that the simplified version is just that- simplified- but the "root cause" and the "solution" are both defined.
We could have spent just a portion of the resources, a portion of the military presence and a like amount of true focus in recreating an Afghanistan that could sustain itself free of groups like the taliban, or al-quada. We should have been well down the road to success by now- but no.
You and I likely agree on most of the issues related to the topic- and we certainly agree on America's failure to follow up on the opportunities to have done great good for the people of Afghanistan- where we may differ is that I believe that Afghanistan is still worth doing. Even though we have made the job harder for everybody.
The fools errand that was (is) Iraq notwithstanding.