In light of this week's bombshell revelations about the course of the war in Afghanistan, I read an interesting commentary that grabbed my attention:
"To say that we are closer to victory today is to believe, in the face of the evidence, the optimists who have been wrong in the past. To suggest we are on the edge of defeat is to yield to unreasonable pessimism. To say that we are mired in stalemate seems the only realistic, yet unsatisfactory, conclusion. On the off chance that military and political analysts are right, in the next few months we must test the enemy's intentions, in case this is indeed his last big gasp before negotiations. But it is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy, and did the best they could."
The thing is, as persuasive as this commentary may be, it isn't about Afghanistan. Rather, those words marked the conclusion of Walter Cronkite's CBS Evening News on February 27, 1968, and Cronkite was talking about Vietnam. The trusted newsman's assessment of the war is often credited as the turning point for American public opinion, moving opposition to the U.S.'s involvement in Vietnam into the mainstream. Reportedly, upon hearing this commentary, President Lyndon Johnson said, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost middle America."
I can't help wonder if the release of the Afghan War Logs by WikiLeaks is our Cronkite moment for Afghanistan. In fact, when I consider the totality of the recent news on our efforts in Afghanistan, I can't reach any other conclusion, and if Cronkite was still alive, I think he'd agree.
I have not reached this pessimistic point easily. After the 9/11 attacks, I was a supporter of President Bush's military response in Afghanistan. And when Bush turned his focus to Iraq, even before we knew of his administration's efforts to manipulate intelligence and the non-existence of weapons of mass destruction, I was troubled that he had chosen to move our focus from a country that harbored the men who planned 9/11 to one that had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks on our country. And when President Obama made fixing this Bush blunder a center of his foreign policy proposals during the campaign, I agreed with his assessment of the situation and proposal to intensify American efforts there.
But there comes a time when you have to recognize when something isn't working (a skill that Obama has demonstrated from time to time, and one the last president did not possess at all). A time when our leaders have to demonstrate the courage and sound judgment to do what is right, regardless of how political opponents will shamelessly and disgracefully spin the decision into something that is cowardly and risky. And that time, I fear, is now.
What has brought me to this conclusion? It's not just the War Logs, but how they crystallize lessons we have been learning over the last year.
Afghanistan has a history of being unconquerable by foreign forces, something we witnessed first-hand when we helped the mujahideen repel the Soviet Union after its 1979 invasion. What was supposed to make our military action in Afghanistan different was that rather than impose our will on the country, we were there to support the wishes of the Afghan people through democratic elections. A worthy goal (especially in light of the Taliban's role in harboring Osama bin Laden), but, it turns out, maybe not one that can be accomplished (especially after years of Bush neglect).
President Obama undertook a careful analysis of what to do in Afghanistan (something the Republicans shamefully portrayed as dithering), settling on the current counterinsurgency strategy that relies on building trust in government institutions as a way of winning the loyalty of the Afghan people (at the expense of the Taliban).
It was certainly worth a try. But, when the plan was put into practice, we ran into some roadblocks, many of which are highlighted in the War Logs. Generally, we can only do so much in Afghanistan if we don't have a partner to work with, and if we don't have the support of Pakistan.
It all starts with Hamid Karzai. His 2009 election was dogged by allegations of fraud. His government has been accused of being corrupt. He cozied up to Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He even threatened to join the Taliban. It's hard to argue that it is worth risking American lives (more than 1,000 so far) and treasure (more than $300 billion) to prop up Karzai.
Similarly, the War Logs illustrate what we have long been told: The Afghan police, army and local government officials are unwilling and/or unable to provide the kind of services the Afghan people need. James Traub, in a compelling piece in the New York Times Magazine on June 15, did a great job of demonstrating the problems U.S. commanders face in trying to support Afghan institutions, from the power of tribal leaders to the ability of the Taliban to intimidate locals.
The War Logs also reveal the civilian casualties caused by U.S. military and intelligence operations. In what is emerging as a Catch-22 situation, the longer we are there, the less we are wanted there by local Afghans, and the harder it is to convince citizens that they will be safe from the Taliban if they throw in their lots with the Americans and the Karzai government.
But the most problematic obstacle raised in the War Logs just may be the evidence that Pakistani intelligence is aiding the Taliban. President Obama has frequently noted that there is no solution to the Afghan question without also addressing Pakistan, a country that receives billions of dollars in American aid. If the Pakistani government is aiding the Taliban, it seems that we have bigger problems than just trying to prop up the Karzai government until it can take over governing the country without us.
So while the mission in Afghanistan began as a necessary operation (remove the Taliban government that supported and harbored the 9/11 perpetrators), was botched by the Bush administration (who shifted resources to Iraq) and was reassessed and refocused by President Obama, our moment may have already passed. We have a corrupt and ineffectual government in Afghanistan (including the police and military), and we have an ally in Pakistan that is aiding the enemy. And the result is an Afghan population that just doesn't have an incentive to choose the government over the Taliban.
Afghanistan just may be the living embodiment of a no-win situation.
We were told if we let the Communists take over Vietnam, the repercussions would be severe. But history found those warnings to be unfounded. So it seems to me we can protect our interests in the region without surrendering American lives and hundreds of billions of dollars to prop up an odious government. After more than eight years in Afghanistan (and missed opportunities after early successes), a military solution may no longer be possible.
Which is why it is time to heed Cronkite's 42-year-old words of advice to "negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy, and did the best they could."
Time will tell if WikiLeaks' release of the War Logs turns out to be a Cronkite-like turning point, the moment that the American people stop supporting the war in Afghanistan. It seems to me it should be.
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Of course, in trying to convince the military we need to be cognizant of the BlackHawk incident in Somalia. Withdrawing troups after that incident is thought to have boosted Al Qaeda's confidence and appeared to have been the U.S. military turning tail and running.
It costs the U.S. a bundle to stay in the middle of regional politics, and I don't see that we get any pay off.
Get it?
I'll quote a man who also sought world domination through abuse of military might and human slaughter by firmly applying the same technique the U.S. government regularly uses to sell the wars it wages: "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it." ~Adolph Hitler
But they do and that fact is not going to change.
The Afghan war is meant to stop the sheltering and promoting of terrorist groups which may attack any people any where in the world and this needs to be a priority for our nation.
Unfortunately the US involvement in Afghanistan has been poorly managed by our Government because of lack of leadership.
Our representatives and our Presidents have had their own agendas for so long that they have become dysfunctional.
I encouraged by many of the things being accomplished in Washington although most is the same old game. We have a chance again this fall to vote and to try and make a difference.
We are crawling out of the darkness of the decades of cold war and the fear that was promoted of communism and nuclear war.
I think we are just about to learn who we really are and what we really stand for in this nation some will be disheartening and some we will be proud of.
We cannot have change until we change.
Forgetting that means the possibility of a hostile entity gaining control of unlimited terrorist potential.
No doubt others also have said this from personal experience (as is the case with Butler and Perkins).
These courageous individuals (Butler, Perkins, others) emerge from out of the secret back room where the dealings continue. They tell us precisely what they've discovered. They tell us for a reason - so we will know!
They tell us where our money is being spent - let us know this also means lots of lives lost from among our own and from among civilians in other countries.
Along the way others reveal to us what they somewhat desperately hope we will 'catch' and add to our wisdom. Eisenhower's "beware of military industrial complex" is such a remark.
Like those watching the emperor's "new clothes" parade, we enjoy the sunshine, share popcorn and candy, ooh and aah, bow to the display of power/wealth. And when they (those demonstrating the power and wealth) tell us "it is all for sake of democracy and freedom", we somehow believe it must be true. (Despite Butler, despite Perkins and others.) ... ???
Incredible!
Thank you for this - have found more at Wikipedia and as time allows may 'chase' this further.
Wrong....it's run by people who know far more about world politics than you do.
"I thought OBama was not going to be of the same mentality as George W. Bush but guess what? He acts just the same and this fact must disappoint a lot of people who had hope in him and voted accordingly."
On behalf of the 7 or so billion people on our planet I would like to welcome you.....How old are you or where have you been. Obama did what every other president has done in the past. Bash your opponent and tell the people you are going to do things differently so that you can get elected.
Everyone says that Obabm's first day in office will be remebered as a turning point in America. Actually it was the second or third day when he received his first security brief and suddenly realized he could accomplish so many of his lofty goals when it comes to American foreign policy, because of the dangers our country faces. he made a lot of slick promises.....people who are ignorant of the facts have that luxury....once he was informed, he realized, "uh-Oh, I'm screwed"..So much for hope and change
Bruce, the biggest dangers our country faces are from within. Terrorism? Check the records; we kill more people with our military invasions (over and over again justified by proven lies) than anyone on the planet. WE are the terrorists. Economically? As it still continues, have you already forgotten what the mortgage and banking industry, assisted by big government, has done to our and the world economy? Environmentally? We are second only to China as the worlds largest polluters, and they only recently took the lead from us after we held it for decades.
I live in Europe and will blutly say "do not bring me, nor my country, any of YOUR democracy. We are way ahead of you.
1. Ensuring conflict between Islam & Christianity.
2. Bleeding Americans & their economy with War expenses exceeding Indian GDP. 8 lac Muslims death in Iraq. American deaths 4800 in Iraq & 2000 dead in Afghanistan, double the death figure in 9/11 Bombing.Why You Americans played in hands of notorious,hidden Enemy,which ensured this Muslim & Christian War.KGB & Their Allies upbeat. Mission accomplished.'Winning a" War without fighting a War" Against America & Islamic states ."
It's the USA Citizens who get the mushroom treatment.
The world knows.
Our war crimes, will incite our destruction.
Hearts and Minds are being lost.
wake up.
Wikileaks it doing gods work,
The God who cares for all people.