The Afghan Debate

The morning headline in the New York Times read, " NATO Ministers Endorse Wider Afghan Effort".

In consideration that these are ex military or "war" ministers,(or now the politically correct "defense" ministers), it is predictable they would endorse one of their own and in this case General Stanley McChrystal's strategy calling for more troops and an escalation of the war in Afghanistan. It is noteworthy that an unnamed Obama administration official said an endorsement by defense ministers is not the same as an endorsement by the political leadership of those member countries.

Although Obama has said no decision will be made for a few weeks on Afghanistan, there clearly is a militarist stampede pushing him to sign off on the McChrystal strategy.

What is even more noteworthy is this whole debate is that it excludes any discussion of winding down the war and determining an end date for withdrawal as that is not even on the table. It seems we are, inexorably, on the road to wider war. There appears to be collective amnesia regarding Afghanistan's historical record of resisting and successfully fending off all foreign interventions and occupations. All eventually withdrew going all the way back to Alexander the Great.

Couple this with Chief White House military advisor, ex general Jim Jones acknowledgement that according to intelligence sources, al Qeada has less than 100 jihadis left in the country (al Qaeda's presence being the principle reason for invading the country more than 8 years ago), it would seem there is no reason to remain in the country,( even with Osama bin Laden in hiding somewhere in Pakistan). Continuing to fight the Taliban, mostly Pashtun and native to the country as well as in neighboring Pakistan will only incur greater resistance to our presence. As they are indigenous to the country they will be a part of any eventual settlement of this war whether it is today, tomorrow or a hundred years from now. Besides they have no natural affinity toward al Qaeda, just an alliance of convenience brought there in the 1980's with CIA arms and assistance to fight the Soviets.

When we ignore history in some misguided attempt to nation build in a country that is proven to be immune to any foreign presence while continuing to wage war on an indigenous people who have no natural antipathy to us, then reason has been replaced by our misguided false pride and hubris.

This is the height of folly, resulting in an unnecessary quagmire with unpredictable calamity, yet with a predictable end result of our failure.

Views expressed on this page are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Campaign for America's Future or Institute for America's Future