While most of America has been worrying about the election, the economy and the holidays, those of us in the profession of arms marked our eight straight year of armed conflict in Afghanistan. And while the progress in Iraq got most peoples attention, few have marked the decline in that "other" war.
So where are we in Afghanistan? A world of hurt thats where. 2008 marked the 5th straight year of increased causalities for both the US and coalition. It would be the eighth straight year but in 2003 there was a decrease - from 49 to 48. Thats what passes for progress in this administration. Of course that had more to do with the virtual suspension of operations during the run up to and first year of the Iraq war. And how did that work out? Well it gave those opposed to our presence badly needed time and space to regroup, rearm and recruit. And not just there. Few people realize that in 2003 the government in Saudi Arabia was nearly toppled by "Al Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula" and while the House of Saud may not be everyones idea of a model government, Riyadh has done far more than they get (or want for that matter) credit for in the fight against radical Islam. Beyond that, the idea of Al Qaeda with access to a $50-200 million dollar a DAY revenue stream is about as scary as it gets.
Afghanistan has to be addressed. Because of not finishing the job in the first place - and by that I mean in 1989 when the Soviets left - we have a mess that has to be fixed and fixed NOW. Because of the wholesale incompetence of the current administration, only the military has the means to do the initial fix. Just as in Iraq, Maslow needs to be our guide.
Physical - Food, shelter and sanitation
Security - Free the people from the fear of death
Both must be done simultaneously. Establish security, bring in food, medicine and sanitation. Right now, only the military can do that. Once the security situation is established, NGOs and other governmental agencies can follow behind with jobs, education and governance.
All this has to be done in a non-judgmental way that respects the local ways and customs. The concept of child brides and tribal leaders may be evil to us but until it is evil to them, they wont change. We forget that almost everything we see as horrible in may parts of the world we saw as normal at one point. We can teach and show by example but at some point, free will - their free will - has to rule.
For the incoming administration it means looking Progressives in the eye and saying "More troops, more money, more war." That sucks. But the alternative is worse. Iran would like nothing more than Afghanistan to return to being an ungoverned space. Same with the radicals in Pakistan and the leadership of Al Qaeda. Even if it takes us 10 MORE years, it is better than giving evil a safe haven. And I say that as someone with "skin in the fight" - MINE! As my Marine boss in Baghdad said in 2003, this is about doing the job right so your kids dont have to clean up after you. My daughter, my oldest child, is 15, almost 16. My son is 11. I took them to the Pentagon while it was still smoking in September of 2001. I owe it to them to not hand them my war.
Some references:
Timeline of terrorism in the Kingdom
Political Violence in Saudi Arabia: The Rise and Fall of 'al-Qaida on the Arabian Peninsula
Al Qaeda's Third Front: Saudi Arabia
OEF casualties