OTHER OPINIONS : Afghanistan hopeless
Posted: October 5, 2009 at 6:38 a.m.
OSLO, Norway — It would be wrong to imagine that peace and good fortune will rain down on Afghanistan the minute the U.S. and NATO withdraw. On the contrary, things will get a lot worse. The Taliban will step up its efforts to win control of the entire country, and the regime in Kabul will dissolve.
This process will involve no less bloodshed and no fewer civilian casualties than what we've seen before. Withdrawal means that we openly hand over Afghanistan to the seemingly endless hell of civil war.
Nevertheless, it's clear that withdrawal is inevitable. Not because the U.S. and NATO have broken international law. Notbecause the war's amoral, even though indefensible acts have been committed. Not because international forces aren't trying to secure a safe and better life for Afghans.
The argument is much more disheartening: the whole thing is hopeless. Not in the sense that individual humanitarian efforts haven't improved the situation. Not because the soldiers have fought poorly. Not because hundreds of NATO soldiers have given their lives in order to secure the country. It's hopeless because Afghanistan won't let itself be secured. This is the problem President Obama now has to solve.
Opinion, Pages 5 on 10/05/2009
(Advertisement)
« Previous Story
OTHER OPINIONS : Health-care pork
Health-care reform is likely to be expensive, both for the federal government and the states, but not so much for Nevada, thanks to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Read »
Next Story »
OTHER OPINIONS : Let real-estate credit expir...
When Congress approved tax credits of up to $8,000 for firsttime homebuyers earlier this year, it was billed as an emergency measure - a temporary stimulus to keep an ice-c... Read »
Comments
To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Please read our comment policy.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Registration is required to make comments. Click here to LOGIN.
You can register for FREE to post comments and receive alerts.