Fuzzy Vision 081209

What’s wrong with this picture, Afghanistan version? U.S. generals are pushing to reinforce defeat in Afghanistan. In eight years of combat they have managed to resurrect the moribund Taliban and send al-Qaida to the power of ten. Now the general most responsible for the Afghan/Pakistan hole in which we are to dump more troops has been appointed Ambassador.

Another general has been appointed to investigate waste, fraud and corruption. He can’t find any, in an American program that may ultimately prove to be more corrupt than the civil war and subsequent Tammany Hall scandals.

The Ambassador is demanding 2.5 billion dollars for support of civil activities. As U.S. commander in Afghanistan he oversaw the diversion of State Department foreign aid funds to military priorities.

It is estimated that the war in Afghanistan so far has cost over 200 billion dollars with money flowing out of the country so fast that Bernie Madoff appears an amateur. Labor and supplies are incredibly cheap allowing local construction for a few thousands of dollars. Comparable American construction projects cost several million dollars.

The U.S. is now proposing an expansion of the Afghan security forces to the level the Afghan government called for in 2002, which the coalition vetoed from fear of local force. The U.S. military needs thousands more American trainers for these security forces. The U.S. has been training Afghan security forces of highly qualified and combat experienced officers and NCOs for eight years, and they are still unable to train their own personnel? The Afghans repeatedly complain that the coalition allows them only token participation in stability operations. They also complain that of coalition’s failure to consult with them on combat operations or take advantage of both their culture awareness and on the ground battle experience.

As the American buildup continues and permanent bases are built it appears that the U.S. military is intent on keeping at least one war going long enough for the increasing supply of colonels to become generals. The cost of American continued support for corruption is greater resistance. The expanded training program in all probability will be training resistance fighters. A change in American tactics is to little to late, for the Afghans are astute with long memories of broken promises, betrayal, abuse and occupations.

We can’t reverse eight years of military blundering but the path out is to return assistance to civilian control, neither condone nor contribute to corruption, allow the Afghans to manage their own affairs and treat the people with honor and respect. It should be remembered that the Taliban (students) banded together as an anti-corruption force with the support of the people. While the U.S. blames the Taliban for all resistance it has really become the umbrella for diverse resistance movements. A mobilization that opposes foreign occupation, corruption and frustration over independent, proud peoples’ sense of powerlessness is the road to great power decline.