As it stands now, most Western troops are leaving Afghanistan in 2014. With only two years left, the question begs to be asked: has the mission in Afghanistan failed on an epic scale? Is there any possible way that Afghanistan can have a government that does not somehow involve the Taliban? Without discussing the financial losses and the many lost lives involved in the mission in Afghanistan, these are important questions that need an answer.
The make-up of Afghanistan
Afghanistan consists of several, oftentimes competing, tribes. Most Afghans do not consider themselves "Afghan" but rather associate with their tribe. While the pro-Taliban supporters were previously limited to the Pashtuns, they have spread since the western mission. The Taliban is no longer exclusive to Afghanistan; the Taliban is gaining force in Pakistan. In fact, it is generally accepted that the Afghan Taliban exists solely because of Pakistani fundamentalists that are providing support.
What do we know so far?
When we look at the 'state of affairs' as published by several intelligence agencies, it paints a rather gloomy picture. Recent NATO reports state that the Taliban is convinced that they are once again going to seize power when the foreign troops leave Afghanistan. Afghan territories that the NATO already abandoned are falling back into the hands of the Taliban regime. While intelligence agencies are certain that the Pakistan secret service is aiding the Taliban, Pakistan remains a country whose support the United States and their allies cannot do without in the battle against terror. And thus, nothing gets done.
But what about the people of Afghanistan?
Perhaps we should file this under the saying "the grass is always greener" but even though most Afghan people do not have fond memories of the oppressive Taliban reign (from 1996 to 2001), when asked most Afghans would prefer the Taliban to the current government. They believe that the current government is removed from local and tribal leaders, inefficient, and corrupt. The Taliban are believed to have a deal in place with the Afghan army and police force when the western troops finally leave. In fact, the Taliban is already using western weapons, the same weapons that the Afghan soldiers have been provided with by the western forces. There has been a massive increase in the last several months in an attempt to cause as much fear and panic to those who would oppose the Taliban including assassinations and bombings.
Premature
Though President Barack Obama undoubtedly had his heart in the right place when he said all the United States armed forces would leave Afghanistan by 2013, it was premature to say the least. The moment he said that, NATO support for an additional mission was instantly cut off. Obama also confirmed what the Taliban had said before: the western mission in Afghanistan had not produced the desired results.
The future is bleak
Once the rest of the NATO troops leave Afghanistan as planned in 2014, the United State troops that are left behind are going to be alone against the Taliban. However, the United States forces will not be able to deal with the Taliban by themselves; they are already losing ground while they have the help of the NATO forces. Obama is open to making a deal with the Taliban; Obama understands that he is involved in a fight that he cannot win without the support of others. That is exactly why the United States supported the idea of the Taliban opening an office in Qatar.
So what is next?
It would be easy to blame everything on Obama or even on George W. Bush. However, now is the time for the Afghans themselves to let their voice be heard. It is THEIR time to fight for their freedom, if they are unwilling to do so it will not be long before they are back under the Taliban's oppressive reign.
While you cannot blame them, Afghanistan has become 'addicted' to the help of other nations. Since 2001 Afghanistan has had to do very little, other countries would provide them with safety, shelter, food, and water. The western world is directly influenced because the Taliban is no longer content with having influence in just Afghanistan. The Taliban's influence will likely spread to other parts of Asia and what used to be the U.S.S.R. The mission is Afghanistan appears to be turning out as a failure, and the Taliban, while on the verge of defeat, appears to come out the victor in the end. How do we explain that those parents that lost their child, and those children who lost their mother or father for something that appears to have no impact?
Blogger: Joost Doevelaar |
