Nearly twelve years after the war in Afghanistan and about a year away from
the scheduled troop drawdown from the country, some have decided it is finally
time to look back at the international community’s performance. Steve Walt has
gone so far to call the U.S. engagement in Afghanistan a “failure.” He blames the light footprint for the failure. Vali Nasr sees Obama and his
small circle of advisors as the main culprits in his upcoming book, the Dispensable Nation. The Europeans are being even more daring in their analysis by drawing
parallels between the current situation and the failed Soviet invasion about
three decades ago. And again to their credit, they show some humility by insisting that they
have always thought the situation in Afghanistan is “unwinnable” by military
means alone.
So who is really to be blamed for the failure in Afghanistan? Well, it depends how far back one wants to look into history and the unfolding of events. Was it the British for their drawing the infamous Durand line more than a century ago dividing Pashtuns on two sides of the border? Or was it the Soviet invasion, which further led to the American creation and support of the Mujahideen, then called “the freedom fighters”? Or was it Bush for not handling the situation diplomatically when the Taliban leader asked for evidence before they could hand over Osama Bin Laden after the tragic events of 9/11? Or was it the collective of the international community for not doing enough to either build Afghanistan or even win hearts and minds despite billions of dollars being wasted in the country in the last twelve years? Maybe it is all of the above!
What is needed most importantly is to learn from history and not repeat past mistakes, which unfortunately happens all the time. Had the international community exhibited more humility at the start of the invasion, they wouldn’t be in such desperate situation that they are now in Afghanistan that they can’t turn their back and leave without leaving another legacy of failure, and even worse, an Afghanistan even more fragile, divided and vulnerable than before.
So who is really to be blamed for the failure in Afghanistan? Well, it depends how far back one wants to look into history and the unfolding of events. Was it the British for their drawing the infamous Durand line more than a century ago dividing Pashtuns on two sides of the border? Or was it the Soviet invasion, which further led to the American creation and support of the Mujahideen, then called “the freedom fighters”? Or was it Bush for not handling the situation diplomatically when the Taliban leader asked for evidence before they could hand over Osama Bin Laden after the tragic events of 9/11? Or was it the collective of the international community for not doing enough to either build Afghanistan or even win hearts and minds despite billions of dollars being wasted in the country in the last twelve years? Maybe it is all of the above!
What is needed most importantly is to learn from history and not repeat past mistakes, which unfortunately happens all the time. Had the international community exhibited more humility at the start of the invasion, they wouldn’t be in such desperate situation that they are now in Afghanistan that they can’t turn their back and leave without leaving another legacy of failure, and even worse, an Afghanistan even more fragile, divided and vulnerable than before.
Posts
