In a recent White House visit King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia emphasized the special relationship his nation maintains with the United States. Meanwhile, Washington, France and other G-8 allies have agreed to support five more years of NATO operations in Afghanistan. But with France raising its retirement age to 62 and GOP leaders in Congress wanting to raise it to 70 to cover the cost of military and social programs there's not enough money in the crisis-facing economy to go around. A new diplomatic initiative emphasizing balanced relations across the Middle East and South Asia could induce Saudi Arabia and other oil nations who depend on US and NATO security to help offset the cost of operations in Afghanistan, much as they did when Saddam Hussein's Iraq invaded Kuwait.
To make this happen policymakers will need to work through the problematic issue that the opposition -- violent extremists -- were nurtured and funded by US interests, with some Saudi help thanks to a Cold War strategy crafted by president Jimmy Carter's national security adviser, Zbigniew Brezinski, designed to turn the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan into the Kremlin's Vietnam. The Soviets pulled out of Afghanistan, their command economy failed and the "evil empire" collapsed. Now, with global economic recovery hanging in the balance, it's up to General James Petraeus to end the Brezinski legacy in Afghanistan that could create another Vietnam-style experience.
By its own estimates the Pentagon this year will receive $105 billion to conduct operations in Afghanistan. The cost in years ahead is likely to escalate and neither Washington nor its allies have provided a succinct definition of the mission to their citizens. Considering the five year NATO commitment, the US cost alone will reach $500 billion. Add to that the tab for stabilizing Iraq and the aid and big bases in Colombia that are turning the Amazon into the new Rio Grande and the bottom line approaches the $1.5 trillion in Treasury bonds and other instruments held by Japan and China thanks to the huge US trade deficit.
The big jackpot at the intersection of economic warfare and shooting war totes up to $3 trillion, more wealth than the mineral finds that JP Morgan and realistic estimates by geologists claim can be extracted from Afghanistan. Add to that the funds from the lucrative drug trade and the stakes in Afghanistan become even higher.
Considering the economic factors in play president Obama has expressed concern that the American people and some in the international community are obsessed with putting a time line on Afghanistan. But time is not on the side of working and jobless Americans who are struggling to feed their families.The US Congress has authorized distribution of just $66.5 billion of the stimulus money that was part a $266 billion request made in February by the White House. In France, who provides 4500 troops and advisers to the Afghanistan coalition, citizens are fearing the loss of their 35 hour work week and retiring at age 62 instead of 60 to help finance defense costs and social programs are buzzing up the notion of a new Germinal.
To project the good side of globalism policymakers need to up their game and craft a bold new initiative that can encourage Saudi Arabia to strengthen its relationship with the United States by helping offset the cost of operations in Afghanistan and promote economic recovery. G-8 nations need to include Brazil and Turkey, who have developed a new channel of diplomacy with Iran, Lebanon and Syria, in the process. And fresh ideas from leadership in Tel Aviv are required at the negotiating table to support Obama's promise of a secure and prosperous Israel and provide economic opportunities for future generations living in a Palestinian state.
King Abdullah and President Obama agree on the importance of preventing violent extremism. If the Saudis want that to happen in Afghanistan, they ought to help offset the cost of doing so.