Comments on: The failure of liberal dreams for Afghanistan http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/ dispatches from Canada's capital Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:38:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: a sibilant intake of breath » Blog Archive » Improvised explosive devices http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-40543 a sibilant intake of breath » Blog Archive » Improvised explosive devices Fri, 09 May 2008 11:07:53 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-40543 [...] Seeing how total air superiority, expensive armoured vehicles, and sophisticated electronic countermeasures can be no match for some guys with rusty old artillery shells and some wire is a humbling reminder of the limited utility of military force. Ingenuity, practicality, and humility will probably prove to be essential qualities as the US tries to find the least bad path out of Iraq, and while NATO tries to salvage the situation in Afghanistan. [...] [...] Seeing how total air superiority, expensive armoured vehicles, and sophisticated electronic countermeasures can be no match for some guys with rusty old artillery shells and some wire is a humbling reminder of the limited utility of military force. Ingenuity, practicality, and humility will probably prove to be essential qualities as the US tries to find the least bad path out of Iraq, and while NATO tries to salvage the situation in Afghanistan. [...]

]]> By: . http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-36883 . Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:57:39 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-36883 The state of NATO <a href="http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10919203" rel="nofollow">A ray of light in the dark defile</a> Indeed, a recent report overseen by General James Jones, formerly NATO's supreme military commander, declares: “Make no mistake, NATO is not winning in Afghanistan.” Failure, the report says, will “put in grave jeopardy NATO's future as a credible, cohesive and relevant military alliance”. The state of NATO
A ray of light in the dark defile

Indeed, a recent report overseen by General James Jones, formerly NATO’s supreme military commander, declares: “Make no mistake, NATO is not winning in Afghanistan.” Failure, the report says, will “put in grave jeopardy NATO’s future as a credible, cohesive and relevant military alliance”.

]]> By: . http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-35960 . Sat, 22 Mar 2008 05:04:53 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-35960 <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/talkingtothetaliban" title="globeandmail.com : Talking to the Taliban" rel="nofollow">Talking to the Taliban</a> Multimedia feature from the Globe and Mail Talking to the Taliban

Multimedia feature from the Globe and Mail

]]> By: Anon http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-35713 Anon Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:49:24 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-35713 Long and interesting article on Afghanistan: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/magazine/24afghanistan-t.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&sq=%22Elizabeth%20Rubin%22%20Afghanistan&st=nyt&scp=1" rel="nofollow">Battle Company Is Out There</a> Long and interesting article on Afghanistan:

Battle Company Is Out There

]]> By: Anon http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-35159 Anon Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:40:57 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-35159 Regarding the arguments among NATO members about troop strength in Afghanistan, I continue to be amazed that nobody ever discusses the Soviet Union's debacle there more than two decades ago. If a superpower that was immediately next door could put 100,000 troops into Afghanistan for ten years and still ultimately retreat in defeat, what are the lessons for NATO? Regarding the arguments among NATO members about troop strength in Afghanistan, I continue to be amazed that nobody ever discusses the Soviet Union’s debacle there more than two decades ago. If a superpower that was immediately next door could put 100,000 troops into Afghanistan for ten years and still ultimately retreat in defeat, what are the lessons for NATO?

]]> By: . http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-34772 . Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:30:01 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-34772 As the situation in Iraq settles down — and it appears to be doing so — more focus will be drawn to Afghanistan, the war that even opponents of Iraq have acknowledged as appropriate and important. But it is important to understand what this war consists of: It is a holding action against an enemy that cannot be defeated (absent greater force than is available) with open lines of supply into a country allied with the United States. It is a holding action waiting for certain knowledge of the status of al Qaeda, knowledge that likely will not come. Afghanistan is a war without exit and a war without victory. The politics are impenetrable, and it is even difficult to figure out whether allies like Pakistan are intending to help or are capable of helping. Thus, while it may be a better war than Iraq in some sense, it is not a war that can be won or even ended. It just goes on. As the situation in Iraq settles down — and it appears to be doing so — more focus will be drawn to Afghanistan, the war that even opponents of Iraq have acknowledged as appropriate and important. But it is important to understand what this war consists of: It is a holding action against an enemy that cannot be defeated (absent greater force than is available) with open lines of supply into a country allied with the United States. It is a holding action waiting for certain knowledge of the status of al Qaeda, knowledge that likely will not come. Afghanistan is a war without exit and a war without victory. The politics are impenetrable, and it is even difficult to figure out whether allies like Pakistan are intending to help or are capable of helping.

Thus, while it may be a better war than Iraq in some sense, it is not a war that can be won or even ended. It just goes on.

]]> By: . http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-34771 . Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:26:40 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-34771 Over time, the United States and NATO brought about 50,000 troops to Afghanistan. Their hope was that Hamid Karzai’s government would build a force that could defeat the Taliban. But the problem was that, absent U.S. and NATO forces, the Taliban had managed to defeat the forces now arrayed against them once before, in the Afghan civil war. The U.S. commitment of troops was enough to hold the major cities and conduct offensive operations that kept the Taliban off balance, but the United States could not possibly defeat them. The Soviets had deployed 300,000 troops in Afghanistan and could not defeat the mujahideen. NATO, with 50,000 troops and facing the same shifting alliance of factions and tribes that the Soviets couldn’t pull together, could not pacify Afghanistan. But vanquishing the Taliban simply was not the goal. The goal was to maintain a presence that could conduct covert operations in Pakistan looking for al Qaeda and keep al Qaeda from returning to Afghanistan. Part of this goal could be achieved by keeping a pro-American government in Kabul under Karzai. The strategy was to keep al Qaeda off balance, preserve Karzai and launch operations against the Taliban designed to prevent them from becoming too effective and aggressive. The entire U.S. military would have been insufficient to defeat the Taliban; the war in Afghanistan thus was simply a holding action. Over time, the United States and NATO brought about 50,000 troops to Afghanistan. Their hope was that Hamid Karzai’s government would build a force that could defeat the Taliban. But the problem was that, absent U.S. and NATO forces, the Taliban had managed to defeat the forces now arrayed against them once before, in the Afghan civil war. The U.S. commitment of troops was enough to hold the major cities and conduct offensive operations that kept the Taliban off balance, but the United States could not possibly defeat them. The Soviets had deployed 300,000 troops in Afghanistan and could not defeat the mujahideen. NATO, with 50,000 troops and facing the same shifting alliance of factions and tribes that the Soviets couldn’t pull together, could not pacify Afghanistan.

But vanquishing the Taliban simply was not the goal. The goal was to maintain a presence that could conduct covert operations in Pakistan looking for al Qaeda and keep al Qaeda from returning to Afghanistan. Part of this goal could be achieved by keeping a pro-American government in Kabul under Karzai. The strategy was to keep al Qaeda off balance, preserve Karzai and launch operations against the Taliban designed to prevent them from becoming too effective and aggressive. The entire U.S. military would have been insufficient to defeat the Taliban; the war in Afghanistan thus was simply a holding action.

]]> By: . http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-34770 . Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:22:03 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-34770 In the eyes of many, one of the Afghan war’s virtues has been that NATO has participated as an entity. But NATO has come under heavy criticism from U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates for its performance. Some, like the Canadians, are threatening to withdraw their troops if other alliance members do not contribute more heavily to the mission. More important, the Taliban have been fighting an effective and intensive insurgency. Further complicating the situation, the roots of many of the military and political issues in Afghanistan are found across the border in Pakistan. If the endgame in Iraq is murky, the endgame if Afghanistan is invisible. The United States, its allies and the Kabul government are fighting a holding action strategically. They do not have the force to destroy the Taliban — and in counterinsurgency, the longer the insurgents maintain their operational capability, the more likely they are to win. Further stiffening the Taliban resolve is the fact that, while insurgents have nowhere to go, foreigners can always decide to go home. In the eyes of many, one of the Afghan war’s virtues has been that NATO has participated as an entity. But NATO has come under heavy criticism from U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates for its performance. Some, like the Canadians, are threatening to withdraw their troops if other alliance members do not contribute more heavily to the mission. More important, the Taliban have been fighting an effective and intensive insurgency. Further complicating the situation, the roots of many of the military and political issues in Afghanistan are found across the border in Pakistan.

If the endgame in Iraq is murky, the endgame if Afghanistan is invisible. The United States, its allies and the Kabul government are fighting a holding action strategically. They do not have the force to destroy the Taliban — and in counterinsurgency, the longer the insurgents maintain their operational capability, the more likely they are to win. Further stiffening the Taliban resolve is the fact that, while insurgents have nowhere to go, foreigners can always decide to go home.

]]> By: . http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-34686 . Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:30:39 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-34686 <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/2/hi/south_asia/7263361.stm" rel="nofollow">Afghan reporter shocked by trial</a> In South Asia An Afghan reporter sentenced to death for blasphemy says his trial lasted just four minutes. After a month in jail Mr Kambaksh was charged in court with blasphemy and other crimes against Islam. In late January he expected the trial to start but instead was taken into the courtroom just before it was due to shut. He says the judges and prosecutor repeated some details of the case and then declared him guilty and announced the sentence was death. "The judges had made up their mind about the case without me," he told the Independent. "The way they talked to me, looked at me, was the way they look at a condemned man. "I wanted to say: 'This is wrong, please listen to me,' but I was given no chance to explain." At no point in the closed-door proceedings did Mr Kambaksh have a lawyer and he says he was not allowed to defend himself either. The Afghan Senate confirmed the sentence on 30 January, but backed down a day later after an international outcry. The jailed reporter's appeal is expected to be heard in an open court in Kabul, the Independent said. President Hamid Karzai would have to approve the death sentence for it to be carried out. Afghan reporter shocked by trial

In South Asia

An Afghan reporter sentenced to death for blasphemy says his trial lasted just four minutes.

After a month in jail Mr Kambaksh was charged in court with blasphemy and other crimes against Islam.

In late January he expected the trial to start but instead was taken into the courtroom just before it was due to shut.

He says the judges and prosecutor repeated some details of the case and then declared him guilty and announced the sentence was death.

“The judges had made up their mind about the case without me,” he told the Independent.

“The way they talked to me, looked at me, was the way they look at a condemned man.

“I wanted to say: ‘This is wrong, please listen to me,’ but I was given no chance to explain.”

At no point in the closed-door proceedings did Mr Kambaksh have a lawyer and he says he was not allowed to defend himself either.

The Afghan Senate confirmed the sentence on 30 January, but backed down a day later after an international outcry.

The jailed reporter’s appeal is expected to be heard in an open court in Kabul, the Independent said.

President Hamid Karzai would have to approve the death sentence for it to be carried out.

]]> By: . http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-33675 . Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:48:53 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-33675 <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7232018.stm" rel="nofollow">Afghans speak out on Nato and security</a> As Nato discusses the nature of its future mission in Afghanistan, people across the country discuss aspects of daily life and the impact of foreign troops. Afghans speak out on Nato and security

As Nato discusses the nature of its future mission in Afghanistan, people across the country discuss aspects of daily life and the impact of foreign troops.

]]> By: . http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-33561 . Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:33:13 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-33561 In Helmand a 20-year-old battle involves at least <a href="http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10608929" rel="nofollow">three main factions competing for control of the province's huge opium trade</a>. The dominant grouping since 2001 has been that of the Akhundzada family, who are members of the Alizai tribe, and their various allies. Sher Mohammed Akhundzada was Helmand's governor till he was ousted in December 2005 under British pressure over his links to the drugs business. President Hamid Karzai has now called his ouster a mistake, citing the Taliban's successes in the area since then. It is true that Mr Akhundzada had kept the scale of the fighting in check. But the thuggery of his regime had also provoked widespread anger, and sowed the seeds for the Taliban's return. In Helmand a 20-year-old battle involves at least three main factions competing for control of the province’s huge opium trade. The dominant grouping since 2001 has been that of the Akhundzada family, who are members of the Alizai tribe, and their various allies. Sher Mohammed Akhundzada was Helmand’s governor till he was ousted in December 2005 under British pressure over his links to the drugs business. President Hamid Karzai has now called his ouster a mistake, citing the Taliban’s successes in the area since then. It is true that Mr Akhundzada had kept the scale of the fighting in check. But the thuggery of his regime had also provoked widespread anger, and sowed the seeds for the Taliban’s return.

]]> By: . http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-33557 . Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:17:11 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/02/04/the-failure-of-liberal-dreams-for-afghanistan/#comment-33557 <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080205.wdetainees0205/BNStory/National/home" rel="nofollow">Lawyers urge co-management of Afghan prisons</a> Having Canada, NATO help run jails would protect detainees from abuse, Amnesty International, B.C. Civil Liberties Union tell court Lawyers urge co-management of Afghan prisons

Having Canada, NATO help run jails would protect detainees from abuse, Amnesty International, B.C. Civil Liberties Union tell court

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