After 9-11 there was a famous “Axis of Evil” speech clearly identifying Iranian, Iraq, and N. Korea as the “Axis.” Those three countries would be largely mud and thatch hut backwaters on the third world map except for two things. China and Russia. We’ve spent more blood and money trying to capture a couple of pawns…
I was all for cleaning out the snake pit in Afghanistan after 9-11 but what happened with the “Axis of Evil list”?
Today North Korea is being taken off the “terrorist state” watch list without making and keeping the first concession. Thank you China.
Iranian is closer to nuclear weapons than ever. Thank you Russia.
And Iraq? They want us out. A convoy of Russia vehicles left Iraq ahead of U.S. forces invading Bagdad, and I’m certain a convoy of Russia vehicles will enter Bagdad following our departure.
Afghanistan? Well, the terrorists moved next door to our “ally” Pakistan’s tribal territory and our “ally” has threatened to shoot us if we try to come in after them.
Just what have we accomplished?
It’s like ol’ Joe used to say, “Everyone imposes his own system as far as his army can reach” (Joseph Stalin). I have to strain to believe that a foreign form of government can be imposed on a people and it will succeed as we wish it to.
The only trouble with a “military” foreign policy is you either have to create enemies or invent them. History should have taught us by now there has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited. Sun Tzu said it best, “For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.”
Because empires are inherently dependent on military foreign policies, with occasional bloodletting to rally the masses, they must fall prey to the old axiom – he who lives by the sword must die by the sword.
The war on drugs has been a failure in America, Afghanistan, Mexico, Columbia, and on and on. One can only conclude the powers that be don’t want it won or there would have been a success somewhere after all this time. I don’t beleive Afghanistan will be that initial success.
So how are things measuring up in Afghanistan?
First, where are we at today? Iran is at odds with us and still working towards nukes. The new Pakistani government is struggling with pro-Taliban elements in their army and intelligence service and has threatened to shoot any U.S. troops and aircraft crossing their border. The tribal areas are still the wild west, NATO has struggled to meet their commitments in Afghanistan so more U.S. troops are being transferred in. To top it off the Taliban is more active in Afghanistan than it has been in years.
Secondly, the future. How long are we willing to invest in a country like Afghanistan where the fighters go to the highest bidders? A superfical democracy will never suceed in a warlord culture. NATO is on their way out of there. We’re at a crossroads. Do we continue with a futile effort “to fight them over there, instead of over here.” (I hate slogans – especially the incomprehensible ones) or do we establish some realistic alternatives and pull out of there.
I believe its time to draw down and come home.
