Matthew Hoh: U.S. Has Lost Track of Why It Is in Afghanistan

Matthew Hoh, the first U.S. government official to formally resign his post because of objections to America's course in Afghanistan, makes a compelling case that America has lost its strategic sensibilities in this war which President Obama has adopted as "the good war".

In this Al Jazeera/Riz Kahn Show interview above, the former military and foreign service officer articulates what some of us on the outside have been saying about America's engagement in Afghanistan -- there is confusion about mission, a lack of focus on al Qaeda, a muddled picture of the contours and motivations of the Taliban, and embrace of a government that is not liked in many parts of the country. Hoh argues, along similar but more informed lines that I have, that we are embedded in the middle of a civil war.

Read more about Matthew Hoh in this fascinating piece by the Washington Post's Karen DeYoung.

-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note

 

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Comments

[SparkyDash]

Excellent post, thank you Mr. Clemons.

OT: Mr. Clemons, I just stumbled on your most excellent "The Washington Note." (A Skunk We Should Want? Live-Blogging a Joe Biden Discussion on Challenges Facing US Middle Class). I assure you I will be returning to it, and highly recommend it to others. You are an asset to HP.

[Horst]

Mr. Hoh gives a very impressive argument.

That said it is unlikely that the American foreign policy establishment will listen.

[mamacat]

During the Presidential campaign, I was disappointed and worried by Obama's seeming lack of understanding of our problem in Afghanistan. Claiming that it is America's "just" war does not adequately describe the reality, or lay the groundwork for a better policy than offering up our troops as targets for the indigenous people.
I am encouraged that Obama is seeking to come up with a better plan than just staying the 8-year old occupation course, but so far we have not heard anything out of the White House as to what that plan might be.

The only thing that I can think of is to rely more heavily on the local clans and warlords. We orchestrated the downfall of the Taliban government by providing aerial support to an alliance of the warlords, and we might be able to restore peace and keep the Taliban from reclaiming power by supporting the appropriate warlords.

[Kaviraj]

You still seem to misunderstand the situation. No appeasement of any warlord is going to get you what you propose - it will only increase what is already a civil war. Those "warlords" are exactly that - warlords - and interest in war only - not against their countrymen, but against the NATO occupier. Your idea is like wacking a cake with a poker - if you get my drift. There is but one option - as you would do in any business thta operates at a loss - cut your losses and get out.

[basenji]

I saw Matthew Hoh interviewed by Zakaria on GPS, worth watching. I'm very disappointed in Obama. He is yet to explain what we get out of spending trillions in these wars. We will never change them and we can't afford it. Those who follow their ideology are spread throughout the world, they don't need a base in a particular country. Each time we go in, the leaders will move out. All we are doing is wasting blood and treasure and creating more enemies when innocents die.

[Kaviraj]

The soldier stood and faced God, Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining, Just as brightly as his brass.

'Step forward now, you soldier, How shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?'

The soldier squared his shoulders and said, 'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns, Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays, And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent, Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny, That wasn't mine to keep....
Though I worked a lot of overtime, When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place, Among the people here.
They never wanted me around, Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much, But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne, Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly, For the judgment of his God.

'Step forward now, you soldier, You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets, You've done your time in Hell.'

[vippy]

This war is clearly, like Vietnam, fought for the rich to get richer. As Joe Scarborough said we are fighting EVIL. What a lame excuse, are we dumb yet to believe that? How about the future oil pipeline?
The USA always needs a war somewhere to keep going, sad that is.

[Scarborian]

To many of the little countries of the world, the US is evil. The CIA routinely interferes with elections to get Wall St friendly governments in place and when they fail to do that they stage a coup to put their puppet in charge. They did that to Iran and it paid off really well until the people gathered enough muscle to stage a revolution and kick the CIA's man out. That's why the USA hates Iran so much, they took back what was rightfully theirs.

We are not fighting evil, we are fomenting it.

[marignymitch]

I disagree, Mr Clemons. I think most people know we're in Afghanistan to enrich the war industry. The strategy is working.

[StephenKMack]

Mr. Hoh is most certainly a believer and practitioner of American Exceptionalism, as the Washington Post profile makes abundantly clear. Mr. Hoh’s rhetorical frame of “I’m no peacenik” etc. makes plain he is part of, indeed an operative, of that destructive ruling idea and the institutions that fulfill its implementation. The conflict and difference between the Scowcroft/Brezinski i.e. “ Adult Supervision” and the Neo-Conservative “War on Terror” is one of degree not of kind. President Obama would most certainly be close to the Scowcroft/Brezinski model. But what is really needed is a radical change of thinking in all sectors, both governmental and educational: relating to our self appointed leadership of the world, and our cavalier imposition of our national will upon others, without consent. The destructive consequences of unexamined ideas, that have an active life in our politics, are a threat to the very life of the republic. The British and the Soviets came before us, how many more object lessons in defeat do we need? The world Hegemon is not invincible and we face other problems of more immediate concern. When do we stop asking our children to do something we are not willing and capable to do ourselves?

[hgovernick]

Matthew Hoh, for your peace of mind, here is the reason the U.S. is in Afghanistan [HINT: has nothing to do with Al Qaeda]:

http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/intlrel/hfa48119.000/hfa48119_0f.htm

[Scarborian]

If the US spent half as much on developing new energy technology that it wastes on fighting wars we wouldn't need to build pipelines through other people's countries.

Spend taxpayers money on killing foreigners to help corporations get their hands on foreign assets, that's fighting for every American's freedom.

Spend taxpayers money on improving the lives of Americans at home, that's socialist dictatorship.

Long live the US Empire!

[hgovernick]

Your observations are right on target!

[nirek]

Absolutely right!
It needs to stop now . We need solar, wind , and biotech . Forget oil and coal. Renewable energy can replace all other dangerous sources . Put solar on the roofs of schools and public buildings, along the right of way along the interstate highways , and on homes.
Develop batteries that are easily replaced and recharged. put a recharging station on some corners like gas stations are. Pull into a station replace the quick change battery and pay a small fee, and you are good to go.

Nirek

[Dredd]

Fair enough.

But most of us are very clear about why we are STILL THERE, which is another subject I suppose.

We are still there because the powers that be do not realize any more that war is our worst enemy, even though the people do.

http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/10/he-said-she-said-stupid-wars.html

[Fez]

Matthew Hoh has more credibility on Afghanistan than any of the chuckleheads opining from their DC armchairs. Hell, he has more credibility than Stanley "Death Squad" McChrystal who wants another 40,000 troops to....???... kick somebody's ass as soon as he can figure out who that might be. Hoh correctly notes that Afghanistan is made up of hundreds of tribes and that each valley in each isolated village is its own Private Idaho. There has never been a national government in Afghanistan. Never, that is, until recently when we have seen that Karzai does not even control Kabul, let alone some random village in Helmand province. Al Qaeda is a hundred guys living in Yemen and Somalia, not Afghanistan. The enemy is holed up in caves in Pakistan, not Afghanistan. The Taliban will reclaim power as soon as we leave, whether it is now or ten years from now. I would like to see the US government figure out that when they meddled here in the 1970s and created the Northern Alliance, they sowed the seeds of their own destruction. But our government is deluded, fearful, and incapable of making the right decision: declare victory, bring the troops home, and eat some humble pie.

[Harry M]

Why does Matthew Ho have so much credibiltiy?

[LizM]

Because he has been there and done that; because he is knowledgeable about these matters and he has a curiosity about life beyond his own familiar boundaries; most importantly, what he says makes perfect sense and is, essentially, irrefutable.

[LizM]

I know that Matthew Hoh has received a lot of attention already by the Obama administration but I haven't heard anything about his meeting with Vice President Biden's foreign policy advisor.

Can you shed any light? It would seem to me that Biden and Hoh would be natural allies, on a number of issues.