Correspondent: Nation Building Is Going Nowhere
Nation Building Is Going Nowhere
Editor, Times-Dispatch Congratulations to President Obama for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. The president has the opportunity to show himself as a peacemaker to the eyes of the world and reap the blessings thereof by bringing the troops home now.
Afghanistan is an uncauterized wound bleeding the best of America -- young men and women of the military who volunteered for a cause in which they believed, but is not attainable. Afghanistan is a country divided into tribal, ethnic, and sectarian spheres of influence. Contrary to the widely held misconception, Afghanistan has been conquered several times in the course of its history. However, in modern times the closest it has come to being one functioning political entity was while under the control of the Taliban.
Afghanistan was conquered by Islamic Arabs in the 7th century. For nearly 1,400 years the diverse groups of that country have had one common identity: They are theocratic. Democracy is anathema to any theocracy. To think it is possible to force democracy upon a people who don't want it is absurd. Even if America were able to maintain a military presence large enough (a million troops?) to ensure free elections, as soon as the military withdrew, Afghanistan would return politically, culturally, and socially to what it has been for centuries.
Initially, we undertook military action in Afghanistan to seek out and destroy those responsible for the 9/11 attacks. This objective could have been accomplished in a relatively short period at a relatively low cost to America. It is now eight years later and there is no end in sight. The reason that there is no end in sight is that the "end" has shifted from one that is concrete and pragmatically attainable to the high sounding but illusory end of nation building."
Paul R. Sczurek.
Disputanta.
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Reader Reactions
good points!
My question is can we accept a “theocratic” state in Afghanistan.
The immediate reaction is “no”.
But if it were a PEACEFUL “theocratic” state? Then how about a PEACEFUL THEOCRATIC state that treats woman with respect?
I think the main problems in Afghanistan are accepting that if we leave those who supported us will be terrorized, those who want democracy, freedom and equality will be forced to submit to a militant Taliban.
I think these are the questions we should be asking. How can we support those who DO wish to have democracy , freedom and equality…which may turn out to be a minority of people in Afghanistan, how do we protect their rights
On the other hand, is the military to the best way to support those in favor of democracy in Afghanistan?
If the Taliban didn’t have a supplier of Arms, would they be as hard to deal with? Where are they getting their arms? Are they Russian made? French made? US made? Handmade? Can’t we cut the supply?
Why can’t we help Afghans grow something other then Poppy used in the drug trade. The drug trade keeps the Warlords in power. Can’t we cut of the drug trade?. It maybe more profitable for farmers to grow Poppy. But I really don’t think the lowly Poppy field grower is making THAT Much money.
Wouldn’t it be easier to BUY out that farmer and have him grow some other crop, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO purchase all of the crop and destroy it or give it away?
The amount of money we have spent and are planning on spending could be put to much better use then sending a large military over. Many Afghans are accidental warriors, they participate in ambushes and other insurgent activities because they have nothing better to do, and because of their heritage it would cowardly NOT to participate. We need to think and act much differently. I hear US military commanders talk about Afghanistan and they all seem very knowledgeable and understand these ideas, but there seems to be no change in policy.
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