The time has long passed for any reason, logic, rationale, or purpose to continue to slog along in Afghanistan. So...what am I missing here?
About a year ago, I wrote a published piece with this same headline; now a year later I am reprising it, because my conviction is only greater, and Congress is currently engaged in new funding discussions for the military. The facts have not changed: this war is nuts! So, what am I missing here?
It has now been 10 years that we have been fighting in Afghanistan. Why? It makes no sense at all. What goal. What strategy. What objective. What end? Can someone kindly explain? Our leaders sure can’t. What we have gotten from them is vague promises. Obscure goals. Threats of terrible things happening to us if the Taliban should take Afghanistan. The need to chase the few remaining Al Qaeda members into the mountains of Pakistan...or else (or else what?).
Our presence in the Middle East is not only unappreciated, but counter-productive to building strong relationships in the region. Indeed, the “occupation” of these countries is abhorred. Consider how we would feel if a foreign power came to our country as “occupiers” and stayed for a decade or more. We actually did have that happen to us once, and we did get rid of the foreign military. It was called the Revolutionary War.
On the other hand, there are at least half a dozen reasons (probably more) why we should get out of Afghanistan, and stop this nonsense NOW. None of these reasons are new or even profound – and that makes it even more depressing, because our reasons for leaving seem so obvious. And polls show the American public strongly agrees.
1. The surreptitious murder of coalition soldiers by Afghan troops fighting next to them is a metaphor for the discontent of the Afghanistan people. And the continuing killing of Afghans who try to mediate of seek accomodation, bodes poorly for any possible peace in the foreseable future.
2. These regimes are notoriously inept, dictatorial, and corrupt – yet, we cannot throw enough money their way. In Iraq, after all the blood we spilled there, sectarian violence continues, and will do so as long as there are Sunnis and Shiites. In Afghanistan, the government is just plain obscene. It is no wonder the Taliban (who are absolutely no threat to our nation), even with their disgusting beliefs, have gained traction. Moreover, as we should have learned in Viet Nam (see below), the Taliban will be there centuries after American troops are withdrawn and this rotten venture has passed. What America’s legacy will be is graves and debt.
3. It is sometimes rationalized that we "must kill Al Qaeda fighters". They now have a small number in Afghanistan, then retreat over the border into Pakistan. We can be there for decades more and not kill them all. Why? Because Al Qaeda is an idea...a concept...a belief. You do not kill a "belief" by capturing small villages in a destitute Asian country. Moreover, in the recent 60 Minutes show a highly experienced retired CIA officer noted that there are far more Al Qaeda in Yemen and Somalia than Afghanistan. Are they the next we should invade?
4. For too long, America has been on the wrong side of selling true democracy to the world. Whether it be the ill advised and immoral support of the dictators of South America, or the failed and costly propping up of an unpopular regime in South Viet Nam, or turning a blind eye to the corruption of the Karzai brothers. Can we never learn the lesson of this dangerous policy?
5. Regarding Viet Nam, I have a military friend who reminds me that in Nam we lost 58,000 dead and 300,000 wounded; but in Iraq/Afghanistan we have had "only" about 4500 dead. Right. But then tell that to the 4500 families of the dead soldiers. Additionally, we have about 30,000 wounded, and an estimated 100,000 suffering some sort of damage such as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome in this ten year debacle. Add to that the hundreds of thousands civilian casualties, and the price in” blood" has not been cheap. Nor in "treasure"...
6. The war in now costing us $135 Billion annually. Its total cost for the 10 years we have been slogging it out in Iraq/Afghanistan has had estimates -- including all costs -- as high as $3 Trillion. How incongruous to hear the righteous among us: a) urge us to press on; b) complain vociferously about our nation debt and deficit financing; c) refuse to let us add any tax that might pay for the wars; d) then patriotically to their part in the war effort by pasting a little sticker on their car "support our troops". Less than ½ of 1 percent of our population has beared the brunt of this mistaken adventure; and their sacrifice has been extraordinarily painful. The rest of us go on as though there were no war at all.
So, what am I missing here? What is our government is trying to sell us? And since there is so much talk these days about our Founding Fathers, let me end with a quote from Benjamin Franklin, which seems appropriate to this discussion. Franklin wisely said: "He that lieth down with dogs shall rise up with fleas". It’s time for America to stand up, brush off the fleas, and walk away…now!