Let’s Get Out of Afghanistan

October 8, 2009

The Afghanistan War started just over eight years ago after we were attacked by Al Qaeda on 9/11 from Afghanistan. Though our response was righteous, Bush quickly tired of the war because he wanted to invade Iraq. This lack of interest left Afghanistan to the Taliban and Al Qaeda which are now more powerful than ever.

The country is more solidly a tribal Islamic narco-state. It is no place for Americans but our leaders are trying to rationalize our presence there and even increase the numbers of soldiers. This is foolish because:

The Afghans are not asking for help or protection. They want to be left alone with their tribal balances of power and strict adherence to Muslim law. They have always distrusted outsiders and want no part of our world. Like the Russians before us, we are faced with a people increasingly resentful of our presence.

They do not see the Taliban as a threat because they are a part of their society and culture plus they fight Westerners. So, when the Taliban or Al Qaeda blow up a column of soldiers, they are publicly silent but rejoice in private. We will never win over hearts and minds.

There is no way to physically and culturally make Afghanistan like Iraq. They are so very different. Also they do not have similar infrastructures, educational systems or even the will to change. Most Afghans are fine with the present.

What are our purposes and military goals in Afghanistan? Is it to make its citizens secure when they don’t feel insecure? To build up the Afghan army when they hardly had one before we attacked in 2001? How long will that take and are the Afghans “on board” with that? Why would they be?
 

Afghans fight well without an army and that is a significant military problem for the United States. Our soldiers have characterized them as tough, fearless and driven and they have no reason to support our presence in their country. They can wait us out, pick us off one by one, wear us down no matter how many soldiers we have. And every civilian killed will be another reason for more resentment and hatred.

Certainly a troop surge will kill more people, hopefully it will be terrorists, the Taliban and Al Qaeda, but it won’t fix Afghanistan because they do not see their country as broken.

United States must get out of Afghanistan…. now. The treasure of American lives must not be wasted in this futile war.