By Ahmad Majidyar, Special to CNN
Ahmad Majidyar is a senior research associate at the American Enterprise Institute. The views expressed are his own.
The U.S. mission in Afghanistan has suffered serious setbacks recently. The Taliban’s audacious September 14 attack on a major coalition base in Helmand Province suggested that the security gains in the south remain fragile and reversible, and that the insurgents are trying to make a comeback as foreign troops are withdrawing. Moreover, the alarming rise in insider attacks forced the U.S. and its allies to restrict joint operations with Afghan troops. These developments should alarm Washington as they undermine the security transition to the Afghan lead and the U.S. exit strategy. But on really placating war weary voters, both presidential candidates remain silent on America’s longest war. Mitt Romney made no mention of Afghanistan in his nomination speech, while President Obama only talks about his exit plan.
Yet there is much at stake in Afghanistan. A precipitous U.S. disengagement would allow the Taliban and al-Qaeda to reconstitute in southern and eastern provinces and plot against America and its allies. The United States can succeed in Afghanistan, but it needs to pursue a strategy that focuses more on success than just the endgame and withdrawal. There are five things the next president should do to sustain the gains of the past decade and ensure that Afghanistan will not become a safe haven for global terrorism once again:
Avoid a precipitous withdrawal: The surge of 33,000 troops has now ended, with mixed results. The reinforcements expelled the insurgents from their strongholds in the south; allowed the Kabul government to expand its writ in the strategic provinces of Kandahar and Helmand; and strengthened the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). Conversely, the arbitrary withdrawal timelines attached to the surge emboldened the insurgents and gave them an incentive to continue fighting rather than seeking a political settlement. The deadlines also weakened the coalition as other allies followed suit: the Netherlands and Canada have already pulled out troops; France will exit by this year’s end; and Britain is also mulling a quicker withdrawal than previously planned. Moreover, the troop drawdown did not allow the military to replicate the same success in eastern Afghanistan, home to the al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani Network. It is, therefore, imperative that the next administration avoid further reductions to the 68,000 remaining troops precipitously. This will help the coalition to sustain gains in the south and weaken the Haqqanis in the east. In addition, Washington needs to keep a residual force of several thousands in Afghanistan beyond 2014 to continue assisting the ANSF, and to keep a check on al-Qaeda and its affiliates along the Afghan-Pakistani border. A significant U.S. military presence will also send a strong message to friends and enemies in the region that the United States is not abandoning Afghanistan.
Support Afghan security forces beyond 2014: Since the establishment of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTMA) in November 2009, the ANSF has developed from 190,000 poorly trained and inadequately equipped personnel into a more effective counterinsurgency force of 350,000 soldiers and policemen. The ANSF is now reportedly leading more than 80 percent of military operations, and will assume security responsibility for 75 percent of the country’s population by year’s end. Despite these achievements, however, the ANSF remains reliant on the coalition for support roles, such as intelligence, surveillance, logistics, and air power. It is essential that the United States and its allies continue support for the ANSF prior to and after 2014, and commit to providing the estimated $6 billion required to sustain the 350,000 ANSF personnel. The White House’s plan to cut the ANSF number to 230,000 due to budgetary restrictions is a mistake. The reduction of 120,000 personnel will not allow the ANSF to fill the vacuum created by the departing foreign troops, and a sizable number of those laid off might join the insurgency or resort to other criminal activity.
Get tough with Pakistan: Ostensibly a U.S. ally, Pakistan has been supporting insurgents fighting in Afghanistan over the past decade. The Haqqani Network and the Mullah Omar-led Quetta Shura Taliban operate with impunity from Pakistan. So far, Washington has done little to dismantle these safe havens or force Pakistan to take action against them. The CIA-led drone strikes have largely targeted al-Qaeda leaders. This needs to change. Washington must present Islamabad with a clear choice: dismantle the Afghan Taliban safe havens in exchange for increased U.S. aid, or face serious consequences. Barring a Pakistani action, the U.S. needs to go after the sanctuaries unilaterally, by increasing drone strikes and conducting Special Forces operations. Blacklisting pro-militant elements within Pakistan’s army and intelligence must also be on the table. These measures would not come without costs, and the Pakistani military might take retaliatory actions, such as closing down NATO’s supply routes. But the cost of inaction will be much higher.
Hold off peace talks with the Taliban: Several years of diplomacy with the Taliban have produced no results. Now that foreign troops are withdrawing, the Taliban has little incentive to accept a political settlement. The insurgents’ policy is to wait out the foreign forces and attempt to topple the Kabul government after 2014. The assassination of Burhanuddin Rabbani, the head of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council, was a clear indication the Taliban had no inclination for peace. Moreover, ethnic minority leaders have begun rearming their militias as they fear President Karzai might reach a backstage deal with the Taliban to remain in power. This does not bode well for Afghanistan’s stability and risks a repeat of the 1990s civil war. It is possible to integrate large numbers of Taliban foot soldiers and field commanders by offering them financial and political incentives. But this is unlikely now as the insurgents have the upper hand in the conflict. The U.S. State Department’s long-overdue designation of the Haqqani Network as a terrorist organization was an encouraging step, but the U.S. and its allies need to take more aggressive diplomatic and military measures to weaken the Taliban ahead of the 2014 withdrawal.
Focus on political transition: The past 34 years of conflict in Afghanistan have shown that military efforts in the absence of a comprehensive political strategy cannot guarantee long-term stability. The pro-communist government in Kabul survived the Mujahedeen’s military offensives for three years after the 1989 Soviet withdrawal. But the growing political divide within the regime coupled with the 1991 suspension of aid from Moscow resulted in the regime’s collapse. At present, too, the state institutions are weak and the political system lacks broad-based legitimacy. Corruption and incompetence in the government are alienating the population and aiding the insurgency. Above all, concurrent with the foreign troops’ withdrawal in 2014, Afghanistan will face a daunting political challenge: the transfer of power from President Karzai to a new administration. Karzai is barred by the constitution to run for a third term. Suggestions that Washington should pick a replacement for Karzai are misguided. It should be left to the Afghans to elect their next leader. But the U.S. and its allies can help to ensure that the election happens in a fair, transparent and secure atmosphere. A repeat of the fraudulent 2009 election could destabilize Afghanistan – and set the stage for another civil war.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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We need to eliminate sanctuaries in Pakistan. Osama was there, and so are other terrorist leaders. Pakistani military is an enemy not an "ally". Obama is failing us everywhere.
Gee whiz Patrick, don't you think we've done enough harm to these people already? We ought to just pull out of there like the Russians did since like them, we have no right at all even to be there. Let these people rebuild their countries just like we finally did the Vietnamese after 1975!
Indeed, the only difference was the Vietcong were angels compared to the Al Qaeda or the Haqqani network.
1) This is the problem with Afghanistan. When the security forces are downsized, there's a risk that these soldiers and policemen would join the insurgents. Lacking education they know no other means to make a living. 2) Pakistan is no reliable ally in the region and Islamabad wants to show that it doesn't dance to Washington's tune. 3) It's highly doubtful if the Taliban want to be part of the modern Afghanistan. They get their revenues from opium trade and aren't interested to open the country up for developmet. 4) Karzai steps down in 2014, but he will pull the strings from behind, as it would suit his interests well to have his stooges taking over the country.
The Soviets destabilized Afghanistan, and we supported the group that fought them, we are paying our dues now.
Someone help me out, why did we invade? Al Qaeda is all over the world and they actually trained in the US for 9/11. The 9/11 terrorists came from Saudi Arabia. Let the corrupt leaders in Kabul fall and let the Afghan's figure it out. You cannot bring democracy for 100 billion a year and we cannot afford this anymore.
That there's been no other 9/11 should tell you why the Afghan mission was worth it. The Taliban regime there harbored the core al Qaeda leadership. Yes, al Qaeda is in many countries, but they don't enjoy freedom as they did in Afghanistan before 2001. They held organized training camps. It's different from scattered presence the organization has around the world.
they are not actually all over the world but rather have pockets in different locations around the world
I would hope that every nation on earth knows that, if a terrorist attacks the US and kills thousands of people, and if you openly host that terrorist (and are busily killing your own people if they dare disagree with you), then we're going to come and kick your door in. That alone was worth going into Afghanistan (unless we were going to nuke it).
The more reasonable question is whether STAYING in Afghanistan after we took down the Taliban regime was worth it. The current realpolitick suggests that, "If you break it, you have to fix it" - i.e. that once we took down the Taliban or Sadaam, we had to build some kind of stable government in its place. That's what we've tried in vain to do. We could instead have gone in, wreaked havoc and then left, with a clear warning, "Screw up again and this destruction will look like a walk in the park." Which do you prefer?
Jim....you are spot on. We should have gone in, blown anyone involved in 9/11 to heII and then left. Anyone else does it.....rinse and repeat. With drones, we don't even need to invade. Nobody can fix Afghanistan except the Afghan people
PAKISTAN.....The New Gateway to Central Asia and Europe.
With a population of over 180 million most of whom are well educated, English speaking, entrepreneurial and a cultural and social fit with Central Asians...Pakistan will now become the new face and gateway to Central Asia and Europe. Pakistan will thus span this region and provide the impetus for growth, prosperity and unity among these countries. These are new and exciting times for Pakistanis who should now look forward to their new leadership role aligned with Central Asia and Europe rather than the Subcontinent. We wish them much success as they have sacrificed the most during the past 30 + years creating a new world order.
Before Pakistan can become anything like what you said Patrick, it would first need a Communist Revolution similar to that of China in 1949. The Pakistanis will first of all, rid themselves of all these foreign devils like the "Boxers" tried to do in China back in 1900 and then make peace with the Taliban. And finally, introduce agrarian reforms to stimulate food production. As along as the West has a stranglehold there, these things are unlikely to take place!
Besides emerging as a regional power, the time has come for Pakistan to take the leadership role in the Islamic World and lead them to the path of progress, prosperity and glory. The only nuclear nation in the Islamic World, Pakistan has shown the world that it can stand up to the nuances of world politics on principles and partake in global affairs. Also, that it can equally contribute to the progress of this planet called Earth. The sacrifices of the Pakistani nation in making this world safe are unmatched and deserves a seat at the table of the permanent members of The UN Security Council.
Pakistan is not a gateway to Middle Asia, never been for centuries, and will never be. Because of geographical and ethnic, and cultural barriers. It is much easier to imagine Iran assuming this role, if we are talking about maritime access from the Indian Ocean.
Right on Patty
Patrick, everything you said may be true but the first earthquake, flood or avalanche that hits pakistan and who has to send millions of dollors to "fix" their problems? The U.S. thats who. I dont doubt that Pakistan has some great people but until they cure cancer I will hold judgment on how they are the answer to anything.
Patrick.......half the country is referred to as "Tribal Area" where they really do not recognize the central governmental authority. Every time the army goes into that region they come under attack. I think you are giving them too much credit.....
No other country has shed blood for Americans and Europeans as has Pakistan. In Pakistan we trust. They are our allies and we will win together.
You can't fool anyone here by hiding your Paki name and using an American one. We all know you're a cheater like your army and intelligence.
Amen to that.
Pakistan is our partner and that is that. Love ya partner !! Thanks for all you have done.
You lying or uniformed. Pakistan has been play both sides of the fence fore 15 years. We should not send them another dime. The Pak's spy agency had equipped and hid the Taliban for our 10 year in Afghanistan.
I whole heartedly agree with you Francis. God bless Pakistan.
@Patrick:
You are 1,000 percent correct. This was largely the point of Lara Logan's excellent report last night on 60 Minutes - well worth watching if missed.
True!
Another failed GOP policy this President followed.....
And I suppose your hero GW Bush did everything just right. Obama has not failed us in any way but continues to struggle to get the USA back on track inspite of the GOP who wants him to suceed at nothing.
USMC Forever
Ever hear of 9/11? The country that gave safe haven to al queda to plot 9/11. If your saying we should have nuked them off the map and we shouldent be there, i would agree. Otherwise BAM's such as yourself dont fight anyway, do they?
9/11 is irrelevant at this point and was irrelevant back in 2001. Technically Osama Bin Laden was under house arrest by Taliban back in September 2001. All US had to do at that point is to sent a team of prosecutors and present evidence to Taliban. Bin Laden then could be hanged/beheaded/whatever in Kabul's Central stadium by Oct. 15, 2001 after a speedy trial. Taliban is very good at delivering quick justice without bureaucratic delays. Instead US choose to issue an ultimatum to Taliban written in a specific language knowing that Taliban cannot accept it without being humiliated in the eyes of Afghans own population. Then start yet another useless war.
...don't get me wrong: I have no sympathy for Taliban whatsoever. But I feel that the story is very twisted and 9/11 is often used as an excuse to cover wrongs.
The people of Afghanistan feel about the U.S. soldiers in their country about the same as the French did about the German army occupying France in WW2. These brave young men who are serving their country need to be supported by bringing them back home to their families before they have a limb blown off or are killed. U.S.A. please have some common sense and love for the rest of mankind, not just your own country.
Five ways to fix Afghanistan...
1. The GOP deliberately and recklessly abandoned and prolonged the Afghan war to invade Iraq. Send them and their kids to finish waht they started.
2. The GOP deliberately and recklessly abandoned and prolonged the Afghan war to invade Iraq. Send them and their kids to finish waht they started.
3. The GOP deliberately and recklessly abandoned and prolonged the Afghan war to invade Iraq. Send them and their kids to finish what thet started.
4. The GOP deliberately and recklessly abandoned and prolonged the Afghan war to invade Iraq. Send them and their kids to finish what thet started.
5. The GOP deliberately and recklessly abandoned and prolonged the Afghan war to invade Iraq. Send them and their kids to finish what they started.
Like Obama, you have nothing to offer but to blame failures on someone else.
Like Romney, you're in denial. So didn't the GOP abandoned and prolonged the Afghan war to invade Iraq? What part of my comment is untrue? Can you please explain?
Four more years bucko!
Why is it so hard for you to face the truth? Bush started the war in Iraq with lies. He planned to attack that country from the beginning of his term and was just searching for a reason. "Hussein tried to kill my daddy." Take off the blinders and see the real picture. Obama was handed the biggest mess ever for the USA started by Bush and Cheney, allowing Halliburton to enriched themselves – we won't forget ever.
Here's a few things wrong with your "logic"
1) Political parties do not control foreign policy
2) The decision to get involved in Iraq was made by the President with Congressional assent
3) It might be argued (though dubiously accurate) that getting involved in Iraq impacted the war in Afghanistan, but that's not what your statement claims.
4) Since we've basically been done with Iraq for some time now, your assertion would suggest that Afghanistan should have been quickly resolved - strangely it doesn't look all that "solved" to me
5) Given the above, it of course makes no sense to send a political party to a war zone
6) If #5 DID make sense, would it be reasonable to assume that you would have supported sending the Democratic Party to Vietnam? Kennedy, Johnson, etc were the key players in involvement/escalation there.
Hey Trailer Trash, did you read today about the Farmer who was eaten by his own swine???? No big deal deal if you missed it cause its just another Democrat being eaten by his own!!!!!LOLLLLLLL
That was in 2003, nine years ago. It's more useful to talk about what to do now to secure our vital interests. Blaming Bush won't fix America's problems. We need solutions.
The blunder happened 9 years ago but the ongoing war is the result of the GOP's failure. And the last time I checked, the GOP were still blaming the President for this war and GWB was still on the campaign trail, endorsing Romney and defending his war crimes. A matter of fact, the GOP have even blamed our President for setting a deadline for withdrawal from Afghanistan, the same way they've blamed him for rescuing our auto industry and for passing a stimulus bill to stabilize and grow the economy. Let's face it, two can play the blame game but the difference is when liberals come to an argument, they do so with concrete facts, not name calling.
I agree with you that we need solutions and three years ago President Obama put that solution into play when he started the transition of training Afghan forces to eventually put them back in control of their country and then he followed up by setting a sensible deadline for withdrawal. However, the GOP has presented no solutions whatsoever but criticism. For example, when President Obama set a deadline for withdrawal from Iraq, the GOP accused the President of sending the wrong message to the enemy. But I believe before we invaded and destabilized Iraq, no such enemy existed. Or to put it simple, withdrawing our troops from Iraq was a solution the GOP opposed.
I have no quarrel with you over Bush's mishandling of Afghanistan. Yes, he did a bad job there. But that doesn't obscure the fact that Obama is losing the war as well and the president doesn't have a sound strategy there. You can continue the blame game like Obama, but again that won't fix our problems.
The on-going war is the fault of congress not rowing a set and telling the president that he does not act unilaterally and that there are NO VITAL INTERESTS in Afghanistan. More US troops are killed by Afghan security forces than supposed terrorists (oops, the security forces are now terrorists!).
How about this idea – if you've never spent a day in combat boots, you don't get to have an opinion on who we fight. I was actually in Afghanistan. I'm tired of Republican chicken-hawks making decisions. Especially if they were gallivanting around France while the poor slobs their age were knee deep in the Mekong delta.
Yes, the GOP are whimps. In 2003, OBL and his al Qaeda forces were cornered in Toro Bora and had no where to escape. And as the U.S. and allied forces closed in for the kill, GWB summoned Gen. Tommy Franks and ordered him to withdraw our troops and let the Muhajardeen take the lead. What's the reasoning behing GWB's order? Well, GWB said to Gen. Tommy Franks that "the terrain was too tough and the mission too risky." So just imagine that instead of sending in the world's best trained and equipped forces to execute such a tactical and significan undertaking, GWB wavered and gave the lead to a bunch of hungry and tired peasant farmers. And sadly, the end result was OBL's escape into nuclear-based Pakistan where he terrorized the civilized world for another decade. let's face it, the most effective way to deal with teapublicans is to vote them all out of office. And by the way, thanks for serving our country Sir.
It was Obama who tripled the number of troops!
Bill, how about this, if you haven't been the victim of a domestic terrorist attack, then you have no voice in it. All this scare mongering has only ONE purpose: to justify the erosion of our civil rights, the same ones YOU as a troop, vowed to uphold and defend.
Bill,
you think the military should be setting our foreign policy ?
your last name isn't really Pinochet, is it ?
WHAT vital interests? All this talk about terrorists under every bush is a load of hooey. Our troops over there are easy targets by the same people we profess to help. Almost half of the US troops killed are killed by Afghan security forces! I have ONE step to end this:
1. GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE AND LET THE REST OF THEIR NEIGHBORS DEAL WITH IT!
You're clueless, aren't you? Let Afghanistan's neighbors solve the problem? Are you serious? Do you know Afghanistan's neighbors? They're Pakistan and Iran. So you'd rely on those to secure America's interests? Let me tell you what will happen if we leave now:
1. Al Qaeda and Taliban will return – we'll be back to pre 9/11 time; all sacrifices undone.
2. We'll risk destabilization of Pakistan; risk of nukes falling into hands of terrorists
3. Will be seen as a triumph by al Qaeda and world jihadists movements – victory over super power
4. And as you're suggesting, Afghanistan will fall into the hands of Pakistan and Iran
And the list goes on....
Al QAeda were started, funded and armed by the USA to fight the Russians. They continue to be funded and armed by US interests in Syria. The new leaders of Libya are former detainees at GITMO. The CIA said they were the best suited to lead. The Taliban had nearly eradicated the opium fields before we invaded. Since then, under the guard of the US Marines, Karzai's brother has increased opium production by over 1000%. Before Russia invaded, Afghanistan was little more than a pimple on the butt of problems. If left alone, it would return to that status. If you are so worried about terrorist training camps, we now have drones to take care of that, no need for thousands of troops on the ground. The only reason Pakistan has such a problem now with terrorists is because the US drove them over the border. Since Pakistan will not take care of the problem, why haven't we inveded them and secured the nukes? That is a FAR bigger threat to the USA than a few old men with AK-47s.
Point is, we keep sticking our noses in where it doesn't belong and end up spending $trillions and thousands of lives for NOTHING. Go back and review history of that area. The only times there were problems is when the west went in there and tried for force their will on those people.
@ Romney2012 –
about the Taliban "returning" -
they never left. They live there. They are like the "neighborhood watch"" for the Pushtuns.
The purported "success" in Helmand was all Potemkin smoke and mirrors.
Having a "vital interest" in another country does not give you the right to send troops there. If Russia had a vital interest in Alaska, would that give them the right to invade?
I have eight much, MUCH BETTER and more effective ideas –
1. Get out NOW !
2. Get out NOW !
3. Get out NOW !
5. Get out NOW !
5. Get out NOW !,
6. STAY OUT ! ! and
7.Send ALL of our overseas troops HOME ! ! !
As a bonus,in respect to Item 7 –
8. Send ALL Oil-Business Executives and their Lobbyists to Gitmo for ten years ! ! !
(If the government needs charges to do this, get the GoP to exercise their skills - Dream up appropriate lies !)
YES!
Sounds like a plan. Count my vote
5 ways – why all the fuss – 1 way – pull all US and coalition troops out – plant videos and literature offending islam on one half and let them duke it out with Taliban – kinda similar to what Syria is doing to itself now
Go back to your own blog world; this is of serious discussion on serious topics. Tnx.
The author of this article is amazingly ignorant. I doubt that he has ever been in afghanistan or anywhere around it and is yet giving his expert advise. I also notice his muslim name.... which makes me wonder if he is really that ignorant to the facts or is he one of those that will write anything for personal gains.
He is nothing but a traitor. he is only serving for the DOLLAR!!!!
The intolerance of the muslim religion to allow any other religion will keep this region at war until they recognize the legitamate right to freedom of religious belief. If there are no foriegn powers in the area, they will fight each other. Even this would be better than killing us. We can not solve their problem, they have to do it. If it takes internal genocide to clense this area, so be it. Only they can say when they have had enough. Bring home all troops, bring home all aid, bring home all American money, (we need it more). Some deay it will be less expensive to go in and mop up whats left.
The muslim religion is NOT intolerant of other religions. That is a big lie being spread by intolerant Christians. I have lived in several parts of the world where Muslims, Seikhs, Christians and Jews have lived peacfully together for decades. It is ONLY where the US and the West stick their noses in and force "democracy" into their world that the trouble starts. BTW, I challenge ANYONE here to name ONE fully democratic country!
Wrong approach, some of those have applied and no results.
In fact they do not fall in a grassroots level. There are much higher understandings that one could imagine as how to define the exact symptoms.
For example, Taliban will never come in a negotiation table, even if they do that is not going to end the war.
Why not just get out of there and leave those people to run their own country the way that they want to? Russia gave it ten years. We are 11 years plus. Maybe those folks just don't want to be conquered. Yeah, the large pipeline, lithium and all those poppy fields.
There is only one way to fix the "Afghan problem" and that is to somehow get the Karzai regime and the Taliban together at the negotiating table in order to work out a peace plan. Failing that, we need to just pull out just like the Russians did back in 1989 as we have no right to be there in the first place! Only an ignorant fool would think that we should remain there.
What was designed as a "punishment" mission was upgraded to a "nation building" mission with military in charge. No wonder it colapsed into a black hole sucking up money, putting wellbeing of this country at grave risk.
While most of Mr. Majidyar’s “facts” presented here are plainly false, there are a couple of nuggets of truth worth pointing out:
“… the … withdrawal timelines … gave [the insurgents] an incentive to continue fighting rather than seeking a political settlement.”
“The insurgents’ policy is to wait out the foreign forces and attempt to topple the Kabul government after 2014.”
“… military efforts in the absence of a comprehensive political strategy cannot guarantee long-term stability.”
“… in 2014, Afghanistan will face a daunting political challenge: the transfer of [simulated] power from President Karzai to a new administration.”
What Mr. Majidyar seems to not comprehend is that warfighting does not achieve our national goals on it’s own, and is not an end in itself. Our ultimate goal is a POLITICAL settlement, not a military victory. The war effort is intended to make a settlement beneficial to us more likely, so that we don’t end up surrendering as we did in Iraq in November 2008.
This situation will only be resolved when the US steps back and allows the people of Afghanistan to govern themselves, in whatever manner they choose. Prez Obama set a deadline for turning over sovereignty in 2014; I wish he would move that up to next month.
Every bullet we fire there, every home we destroy, every head of a family we kidnap in a night raid makes the USA less safe. We are propping up a “government” of Northern Alliance partisans to take over the brutal occupation of Pushtuns, their adversaries in the ongoing civil war. The US military is fighting against the principles Americans hold dear, such as freedom and self-determination. Our leaders would be ashamed of what we are doing to Afghanistan, if only they were capable of feeling shame.
I’m going out on a limb and speculating that Mr. Majidyar belongs to one of the ethnic groups that make up the Northern Alliance, including the Tadjiks, the Hazara and the Uzbeks. That would explain why he wants the US to impose a settlement to the civil war on terms favorable to the Northern Alliance.
There is no cure for what ails the mideast,never has been one and there will never be one.With all the aid we send over there,why would they allow peace to occur and shut off our money pipeline to them and the crooks who rob us to give it to them ?
Arab intolerance to religious freedoms will fuel wars long after we are gone. If we were not there, they would be killing each other over sect differences. We won't change them, and we can't afford them. It is out we should get and bring our troops and money home where it is truly needed.
one way – get out.
The best way to fix Afghanistan and Pakistan is with a few thermo nuclear devices
Nothing nuclear, but we do have a lot of napalm stored somewhere. Need a place to dispose of it. Seems like the right place. Then pull all troops out, no aid, and let them take care of themselves
Five ways to fix Afghanistan.
1. Let Afghans figure it out.
2. Let Afghans figure it out.
3. Let Afghans figure it out.
4. Let Afghans figure it out.
5. Let Afghans figure it out.
Lets see, why are we there in the first place? The 9/11 terrorists mostly came from Saudi Arabia and trained in Spain and the US.
#6:Nuclear Atmospheric Blast..... Turn it into a Glass Parking Lot
BOMB,BOMB,BOMB,BOMB,AND BOMB!
Why help those who want to kill us in a heartbeat?
It's our fault we are in this position. Why does America feel the need to police the world? Get the F out of there, and take our aid money as well. Let's worry about fixing our country first.
1. Get Out.
2. Get All The Way Out.
3. Stay Out!
4. Let Tribal Primitives Rot.
Well, Great suggestions, Five very important points for a real big and effective turn over... But that need someone to implement it. I mean the united states of America... they always wanted to have a weaker government in Afghanistan to reach to thier goals very easily... but they had igonored Taliban and they were considering Pakistan as ally and paying them billions in Aid... though they know that ISI is helping the militants fighting in Afghanistan against both Afghans and Nato... Do u know why they were ignoring this because they thaught since we are over 40 countries and we are strong enough to fight any insurrgency in the region... and they took every threat very lightly. But they didn't know the outcome. and they really forgot that Afghanistan is the grave of super powers. It is all written clearly. Do you know when did i say that Nato are loosing this war???? when i saw them and meet them and I find out that they are exactly thinking like russians, Russian were thinking that we have the government support, and afew so called Mujahideen supports in Afghanistan so no one can confront us and we can easily reach to our goals, think about the might of Russians and a very stronge government in south Asia. When Afghans hated them so nothing stopped them from breakings. If Americans are serious to win this war... First of All they have to equip the Afghan security forces, Because they know thier terrains and they know how to fight with very low tech equipments. Second cut the Aid to Pakistan and make them to eliminate the safe havens for the militants in Pakistan. if they didn't do this so they have to wait for defeat with Billions dollar and thousands lives wasted.
Fida, you seems to be a Afghan traitor and wants foreign players in this country while you do nothing for your country but watch movies on tv all day at home and do nothing bcz. American aid will feed you and your line of kids or you supply the entire world narcotics of their 95% demand. If you have little shame then ask Americans to leave your country and learn to live with respect and dignity and give due to respect to your nieghbor Pakistan which have your only link with rest of world rather black mailing them with Indian induction in your country which will let you to take refuge again in Pakistan if the civil war is started again.
1. Leave
2. Leave Now
3. No, seriously, LEAVE
4. Why is no one listening? LEAVE NOW!!!
5 Okay, fine, BOMB.
1. Leave
2. Bomb
3. Bomb again
4. Bomb one more time.
5. Bomb one last time just to be sure they are all dead.
So do it. What is stopping you? Do it. Ya couldn't fight the Vietnamese.....ya think ya could fight thes breed that is ten times more potent!!! Gimme a break !!!
Learn a little more about the topic you are referencing before speaking again. You'll look a lot less stupid.
We now need to focus on India. The American invasion of Afghanistan brought to the forefront the irrelevance of India as a nation. With a population of over 1.2 billion people there was no value that this nation could bring to the table. Their soldiers (ragtag) 1.2 million continue hiding in the trenches scared from Talibans. A few teenage Talibans invaded the country and held it hostage for days on end showing how useless India is. It was embarrasing for the world to observe this humiliation of a nation that was being touted as a regional power.
With such "Dark Age" culture still in existence in India how can the world be healthy and the neighbors prosperous. India poses a grave danger to the world and its deities and leaders set a bad example. Mahatma Gandhi, a pedophile, needs to be exposed and tried posthumously for his child molestation crimes just like the Penn State crowd Sandusky et al. Gandhi's statutes need to be knocked down everywhere they have been put in USA. The hindu deities need to be shattered and trashed. Disgusting figurines of ugly and scary looking characters with demonic personalities. How can hindu children grow up mentally stable looking at such atrocious representations of evil in its most heinous form.
I continue to read with interest the thesis presented on CNN that "less is more" in a political context as applied to India. Although Mies Van Der Rohe adopted this in an architectural context, its economic and political connotations are indeed powerful. Empowering subjugated minorities in India by splitting it into smaller states would trigger uber economic demand for western nations who have given so much financial and technology aid to India with no return to show for the investment. I concur with this approach and with an economic background find the premise to be on solid footing. Central Asian States (CAS) are a case in point on this successful approach. We need to understand that India has an unmanageable large population mired in poverty and we are spinning our wheels trying to feed it. It is also too big of a geographical unit to govern. Again, we saw how a few teenage talibans were able to invade it with a few BB guns. And that says a lot... in a negative way not only for a large unmanageable country like India but also for USA which is trying to prop it up against China. Besides, Americans cannot afford to look like losers in the midst of a terror war which has lasted for over ten years now.
Break 'em up @krm1007. Your philosophy is catching on and people are beginning to see your wisdom.
PAKISTAN !!!!
THANK YOU …. THANK YOU…. THANK YOU!!!!
FOR MAKING USA SAFE FOR MAKING THE WORLD SAFE>>>>>>>>>>>>
Since Sep 11, 2001, over 200,000 Pakistani civilians, armed forces personnel have either sacrificed their lives or wounded; more than 3.5 million have been displaced while the country has lost over
US $ 1 Trillion due to terrorism.
Despite sacrifices, Pakistan was still engaged in 'the war for world peace”.
No other country has even come close to selflessly sacrificing so much.
Pakistan, no one can ever repay you enough for your contributions.
You deserve a permanent seat in the UN Security Council for your contributions to world peace and emergence of a new world order. We welcome your rise as the new regional military power. God Speed.
Much obliged, Pakistanis. you are our partners and together we will prevail in Afghanistan. Salaam.
All Pakistan does is take our money, that is why they hid Bin Laden.. he was a major cash cow. They refuse to bring law and order to the Peshwar region, and kill dissenters like Bhutto.
Who is "our"? Let me be very blunt with ya'll. You can't pay Pakistanis enough for all the sacrifices they have made. The lives they have lost. The agony they have gone through. Shattered Dreams....broken promises.....pcokets emptied!!!! So take your pennies and shove it up where the sun don't shine. Now git !
You are a friggin hindu indian hiding behind caucasian names tring to be a white man. Now gIt in line or I will kiick your @ss so hard you will be wearing it for a hat.
From the bottom of my heart thank you. Same from my family. Thank you, sir.
#6
Carpet bomb the country.
Let's not kid ourselves. We had to invade Afghanistan to save our pride and to show the world that we had the financing and forbearance to fight this war on ground chasing the shadows. But ego aside, we all know that winning the endeavors in Afghanistan is not possible without Pakistan. Yes, we have cajoled Pakistan over the years, threatened them, poor boyed them, played the neighbor against them, let the congressional dogs lose doing the god guy – bad guy routine and done the carrot – stick dance. All to no avail. We tried partnering with India in Afghanistan and that has been a disaster. We may have won a battle or two but are on the verge of losing the war. We have hit a wall.
The time has now come to do the tango with Pakistan. That takes boldness and a desire to commit one self. And that is what we need to do. We need to form a strategic partnership with Pakistan...a long term alliance...and a commitment. We need to lay the cards on the table and not pull the rug from under them. At the same time we need to make them understand the consequences of going wayward on us. We need to evolve a common vision...and common grounds for constructive engagement. We then need to support them and then let them implement the common vision in the region under our supervision. After all, they can do it more productively, efficiently and economically than we can. That is for sure... a lesson we have learned the hard way.
Bombing Pakistan back to the Stone Age is the solution!
Pakistan is the future of the region and we all need to accept it.There can be no solution to Afghanistan without Pakistan. Indian Occupied Kashmir issue needs to be resolved to. Hold elections and be done with. Just like US is doing with Puerto Rico.
Excellent analysis and right in your face conclusions. That is the way I like it. Pakistan is the keystone to the solution in the region. Let's face it and embrace it. No other country could have survived what Pakistan has gone through since 1980s.
In comparison, recall, how a few days of teenage taliban invasion of India brought a country of 1.2billion people to its knees. History will remember it as the downfall of India.
Bravo....@krm1007...Why don't we make you our next Secretary of State. You seem to have what it will take to solve world's problems. Have you considered running for a public office? I mean it.
Howsabout leave it & let it fix itself... or not...
Afghanistan can't be fixed...not with 5 steps or 100 steps. The stone age tribal society cannot be changed from the outside. Let's just get out now. Tell them if they can't keep the stink within their borders, we'll rototill their country and plant an herb garden.
You should all know that we're not in Afghanistan for the sake of Afghan people; Taliban's brutality; women's rights; poverty; and so on. We're there for our own interest, i.e. removal of terror threat. So stop saying Afghanistan is a tribal society and we can't make it Switzerland. We're not doing that and that's not our aim.
Drop an atomic bomb on the place. Problem solved.
As your name says....
All Pakistan does is take our money, that is why they hid Bin Laden.. he was a major cash cow. They refuse to bring law and order to the Peshwar region, and kill dissenters like Bhutto. Obama should have gotten us out earlier instead of listening to military hacks.
1. Use the Soviet method
2. Use chengiz kahn style
3. Bomb Pakistan to Stoneage
4. First Combine Pak-Afg, then declare entire Region as danger zone so no one gets out!
5. 24*7*365 drone attacks with no human interferced. Shoot at anything that moves..
Don't forget Pakistan won the Vietnam War for Americans. Americans owe their freedom to Pakistanis.
You forgot option #6 – WITHDRAW AMERICAN TROOPS IMMEDIATELY! and save many lives and lots of money. I'd rather spend my taxes on Social Security and Medicare instead of Afghanistan!
Alexander the Great eventually conquered it, but couldn't fix it. The Mongols conquered it, but couldn't fix it. The British couldn't conquer it or fix it. The Russians couldn't conquer it or fix it. The Americans have had 11 years and don't have a clue as to how to fix it. Now some AEI neocon clown who, I'm guessing here, has never served in anyone's army, is telling us how to fix it. C'mon boys and girls, time to end this part of the "Great Game," pick up our toys and go home. Oh and as we are leaving, we might have the decency to say we're genuinely sorry for slaughtering Afghanistan's people and destroying large portions of their country. 2,000 dead American is 2,000 too many for con man Karzai.
let us now focus on India. The American invasion of Afghanistan brought to the forefront the irrelevance of India as a nation. With a population of over 1.2 billion people there was no value that this nation could bring to the table. Their soldiers (ragtag) 1.2 million continue hiding in the trenches scared from Talibans. A few teenage Talibans invaded the country and held it hostage for days on end showing how useless India is. It was embarrasing for the world to observe this humiliation of a nation that was being touted as a regional power.
The Doctor that helped the USA get OBL, is still in Pakistani jail. How's that for an ally?
sounds good to me...hombre'
6) STOP THE STUPID ROEs that are weakening our position, killing our troops, demoralizng the men 7) STAND BEHIND YOUR MEN
I say we dust off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
One very simple way to fix the mess in Afghanistan. Round up the sons and daughters of every member of Congress, anyone from say 12 years old (hey, they can cook, wash dishes, work as medics, and would make fine cannon fodder) to 45 years old; give them an M16 filled with that Chinese made ammunition our troops get, stick them in that discount "body armor", and put them out on patrol. Repeat this with those worthless Senators and Congressmen and women, the armchair generals and Admirals and their aides from the Pentagon. For good measure, draft the spoiled darlings of Wall Street and those corporate military contractors. We'd be out of Afghanistan by the following morning. Repeat this with every other hare brained scheme our "leaders" come up with and, in the future, the only wars we will be involved in will be really necessary ones. I'm sick of our cowboys and girls in Washington.
Lets go with the one that will preserve the most American lives. Get the heck out of there and let them kill each other. They have been doing it for hundreds of years. It long past time for us to bring our troops home. Just do it!!
#1. Let them fix their own messes.
#2. Keep our noses out of their country's affairs.
#3. Stop thinking it's our job to push our beliefs, practices and governments on nations that just don't think the same way we do, and never will.
#4. Let them fix their own messes.
#5. Let them fix their own messes.
Al Qaeda is a problem. We should deal with the problem now instead of allowing them to fester in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
@Liz
Learn a little history. If it weren’t for superior nations ‘pushing’ their beliefs, practices and governments on nations you wouldn’t have the civil rights you so enjoy.
This coming from the mouth of a person who runs a company whose vital interests are to stay in Afghanistan as long as possible for $$$ reasons. Why do we fall for this garbage...
nuke, nuke, nuke'em til they glo!!!!
You owe them your freedom, amigo. Be thankful. Say buenos dias !!! Now repeat after me.....
finally a real plan. im with you. should have happened on 9/12/01.
F
F is for fing id i ot?
5 ways to fix Afghanistan? Excuse me??? How about 5 ways to get over thinking its America's job to fix anything about Afghanistan and instead Bring Our Soldiers home and work on fixing America?? How about that for a novel idea? Or 5 ways to get out of Afghanistan. North way .... south way... east way .. west way Or take em out by air! 5 ways to figure out why we are there since Osama Bin Laden is dead? Give me 5 good reason to be there and 5 reasons why its America's place to fix the it?
Terrorist safe havens need to be destroyed despite Pakistani protests.
U can't "fix" it, only goal you can achieve is to have semi-loyal regieme in Afghanistan, who will at least consider US interests in the region and will be able to rule Afghanistan without US help.1 Pull out of the country. 2 Let the most powerful SOB win in the following struggle for power there. 3 Make him a hard to refuse proposition: we kill u, bomb your country again or you'll have full economical, political and military support of the US
Stop trying to fix it. It's beyond repair. Let it collapse in on itself.
Only one real way to help Afghanistan: kick Islam to the curb
I have a great idea! How about we leave and stop occupying that crap hole country?
Tactical.nukes are the ONLY way to fix A-stan and the rest of the ME.
let's just get the hell out of there already!
Help fix Afghanistan, why?
Afghanistan is like a dead cat in the road, drive around it and move on.
Five ways to help fix Afghanistan? How about five ways to help fix the U.S.? We need all the help we can get at this point.
It's obvious from this article that Zakaria has no idea about the conditions in Afghanistan. If he spent a year there, maybe he could see the best thing we could do is just abandon Afghanistan. They don't want to have anything to do with us, so we don't owe them anything. All they want to do is smoke marijuana and opium, and live their crappy life with no electricity or amenities. They don't have nuclear weapons, let alone any weapons made since 1975, so who gives a crap if they're fringe fundamentalist Islamists living in a desert wasteland? Noone. We need to worry about Pakistan.
We dont need to worry about any country, leave alone and they will leave us alone, that model of non-intervention dreamed up by Washington and Jefferson worked in the past and it will work now!
This article isn't by Zakaria. Educate yourself a bit about how journalism works. Zakaria may be all for a withdrawal but that doesn't mean he'd rule out publishing a piece here which contradicts his view.
How shocking that the main stream media would suggest that the best plan in Afghanistan is to "Stay the course" – wasn't that GWB and Cheneys mantra ? There is a better plan, withdraw, now, today, leave the country and dont worry about the Taliban. If we as the leading super power on the planet live in mortal fear of some backwards tribesman living under sharia law on the other side of the planet then we really are not that powerful.
5 ways to help fix Afghanistan
-------------
1. Leave Afghanistan.
2.3.4.5 Read Number 1
Why can't we just bring our troops home and let these people continue to kill each other as they have done for hundreds of years. One pinkie finger of our troops is worth more then the entire country.
all of you looking to revise history should go back look at the news on 9/12/01 to refresh your memory of exactly why we are there.
The only way to make that cess pool a better place is to kill everyone and everything and start over with humans this time.
First story on Afghanistan in months once again to tell the US what we are doing wrong. CNN is the voice of the Taliban.
I have another idea: opium planting! Yes, really. Worldwide, we have a shortage of morphine and other opium based painkillers and even in developed countries with state healthcare, the prices are high. In many countries, the state then has to pay prices while in others the sick people themselves if they can. They will be planting opium poppy anyways so why not use it for medicine purposes instead of drugs? It could give many Afghanis a secure income. After a while, maybe also pharmy industry can go there aswell. Even if western manufacturer's don't want to use Afghan poppy, I'm sure Indian and Iranian firms would welcome it.
Last I heard, the brother of KARZAI controlled the collection and distribution of opium in all of Afghanistan, with KARZAI himself receiving literally millions of dollars per annum, from those operations. Do you really think those two would just knuckle under? You got another think coming, friend.
i dont know the answer but the posts here dont indicate any amount of thinking other than pull out or stay longer.
This is a complex situation and, unfortunately, i dont think either the administration or the republican candidate have the capability of handling it.
A totally out of the box solution – let their neighbors have Afghanistan. Not the Taliban, but break the country up into pieces and give the South to Pakistan, the West to Iran, the North to Russia, and the East to China. Let them have all rights to the country – mine the Lithium and take all the resources they want. Let them take it all. Then they can mop up the Taliban ruthlessly as they want. The US will never get anything out of Afghanistan except problems so let "them" get it. Not our problem anymore. A totally whacked idea, but it just may work. And I have no symphathy for Iran.
Pakistan's behavior is typical of Muslim nations and peoples. If they know that you are much stronger than they are, militarily speaking, they will act as if they are your friend and then stab you in the back with a huge dagger figuratively or literally. Pakistan has done this to us countless times by hiding bin Laden for years while claiming to help us find him and allowing the Taliban safe harbor and denying just to name two. What we need to do is to just hit them so hard that they will not recover as they are now... ever. They're populated by a wicked and deceitful generation that needs to be utterly destroyed. We need to first, take out their nuclear weapons and then all of their leaders and anyone over 20 years of age and any male over 10. When their leaders are gone, we then need to reeducate their population to de-Islamize them and make them either athiest, hindu or Christian because anything is better than the death religion of Islam.
SHTFU you friggin hindu trash
Sometime back there was an interesting blog on India "The bubble of India has burst: Humpty Dumpty has Fallen”. We here in Haiti continue to monitor the political and cultural turmoil in India as a large percentage of our population are sugar cane slaves from India. As of now, we reiterate our view that Hindu State of India is in a precarious situation and that a geo-political implosion is imminent (if not already in process) and the need of the hour. As you will recall, India was initially broken into pieces by Arabs, Afghanis, Persians, Pakistanis, and lately by Chinese and so on. And rest assured that is not the end. India is mired in poverty and has a suppressive regime with respect to minorities. Substantial aid by the world over the years to India has failed to reverse the downward trends. We can now confirm that India has become unmanageable. If it is not imploded in a controlled manner we are afraid China will chew it up and spit it out. Therefore, we urge the UN general assembly to put this high on their agenda and vote “YES” to further breaking up India. We further propose the following areas be amalgamated with Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and China. In God We Trust.
Kashmir
Bihar
Punjab
Himachal Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
West Bengal
Uttarakhand
Rajasthan
We wish our friends in India God Speed and may the courage of Maoists bless its soul.
Angry and sick of our troops being murdered by the same people they are trying to help. Kharzi's government is corrupt and packing american dollars into Swiss accounts. War lords all over the country get bribes; and trust me in 10 more years it will be the same. Afghanistan is a bust. Pakistan is a bust . Wasted bucks on a people who just want to be left alone and follow their tribal lifestyle.
Peter, you are SO RIGHT about Afghanistan being the same ten years from now as it was before we became militarily involved. Refer to the Biblical book of Genesis. Abraham impregnated his wife's hand-maiden, who gave birth to a boy they named Ishmail. Eventually, Abraham's wife Sarah developed hatred toward that hand-maiden and caused Abraham to send the womn and Ismael away. An angel of the Lord came to the hand-maiden and assured her that the Lord would make Ismael a great leader, but he would never be able to get along with ANYONE. Ismael eventually settled in what is now the troubled areas of the Middle East; thus, those nations can't get along with their neighbors or anyone else. Thankfully, there is so much tension between those nations that they will never agree to come together under ONE CENTRAL LEADER; thus we see all the national and international strife in the Middle East.
Obama's war worth winning, What a joke.
These are Balkanized hillbillies and agrarians that don't trust any form of government.
Kill all the poppies.
Kill all the poppies.
Kill all the poppies.
Kill all the poppies.
Kill all the poppies.
Too many fronts....let's get our own house in order before preaching ideals.
"It is no secret that Hitler and his Nazi cronies sought inspiration from Indian extremist groups including the branding of his Nazi Party by adopting the Swastika, a traditionally Hindu symbol and representation of Hindu god Ganesha, as its marketing tool. The thesis being that like the Norwegian massacre the Jewish holocaust orchestrated by Hitler was inspired by the inherently violent cult of Indian Hindus and the manifesto of its then extremist/terrorist groups still in existence today. These groups are now the successors to and carrying out the vision of Al Qaeda all over the world albeit in a clandestine manner."
Let me quote another instance of this disgraceful disposition:
It is no secret that Mahatma Gandhi (Hindu leader) was a pedophile. What is very disturbing is his relationship (!) and friendship with Hitler. He is known to have offered advice and encouragement to Hitler and his Nazi Party to undertake the Jewish Holocaust."
A few months ago an auction was being arranged in Europe of Gandhi's letters and other artifacts corroborating the foregoing. Apparently, the Indian government with assistance from expatriate Indian businessmen muscled the auctioneers and put a stop to this auction.
Gandhi was a boy banger
he was both...a bangee and a bangor
thought their were only three way to help NBC
The first and only way to fix Afghanastan is for the United States to leave there as soon as possible.
There is no way to help them, they don't WANT help. We should start by never having gone there in the first place, now we are mired in trying to shore up infighting and corruption in a nation that does not want to change.
Pakistan is the root of almost every security problems in Asia and the rest of the world. I don't know why in the world is NATO ignoring Pakistan's involvement with almost every Terrorist group in the region. There are tons of evidence that Pakistan support Al Qaeda, Taliban, Kashmiri Mujaheddin or any other extremist group in the region you could think off. I say, instead of invading Afghanistan or Iraq, If Pakistan (The Headquarter of Terrorism) was invaded by the NATO troops after the 9/11, i am 100% sure there would have not been a single terrorist today in that part of the world.
The Russians had the right idea, but as usual, we had to interfere. We should have let them continue slaughtering everything that moved in A-stan. Instead, we sent them stingers. Stupid politicians.
FAREED – WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP LOOKING FOR 'SECULAR SOLUTIONS' FOR 'SPIRITUAL PROBLEMS'? THERE ARE NO 'SECULAR SOLUTIONS' FOR 'SPIRITUAL PROBLEMS'!!!!
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