There is some civil coflict, but think about it’s origin…a lack of CENTRAL government power in Afghanistan dating back to its disruption by the Soviets. The Soviet plan was to murder rural civilians and tribal elders, destroy their crops, orchards, and irrigation systems, and drive the tribal folks to the urban centers where they could be “controlled”. When the Soviets left, the Taliban punks migrated from their safe-havens, and performed their own control over local populations with force just like the Soviets did…they are no different…they seek POWER, not religious peace.
To paint the problem as a Pashtun/Tajik problem is overlooking the obvious…that people need, want, and desire a STRONG GOVERNMENT which will protect them from punks like Taliban (or foreign Al Queida-types) who disrupt their peaceful lifestyle, kill their children in front of them for not cooperating, and destroy their means of making a living.
I suggest that if you are not informed about the problems there (as the writer of the article), then spend some time in Afghanistan…in the north, in Jalalabad, in Korengal, in Kabul, in Paktiya, Paktika, Waziristan, and finally Helmund…THEN write something worth reading. And by time, I mean a loooong time…not some two-week visit to Kabul speaking to a translator.

Finally, the rural folks APPRECIATE assistance with AGRICULTURE. Why? Because most rural folks don’t usually have enough food to eat every other day, much less one meal a day. They need help learning how to farm properly, and raise cash crops such as orchards/fruit/nuts. There have been so many killed through the years that basic farming skills are lost (not that they had much to begin with). They need food, water, and the knowledge how to do these things…why build infrastructure when most of the population doesn’t have appliances, cars, or modern conveniences…get some priorities RIGHT and stop imposing WESTERN standards of living over people who don’t need all the junk we have, nor have the means to reproduce it.
If you were to ask a Pashtun what he really wanted right now (like I did today), he would say that he would like to be able to farm and sleep in the fields OUTSIDE his compound without worrying about the Taliban punks harassing him or killing/stealing his animals. Pashtun people are generally NOT nomadic, but own property just like we do, and want a peaceful life, just like we do. The nomadic peoples are the Kuchis…maybe the author of the article above didn’t know this basic info?
Bottom line…dumb article. Keep “getting rid” of Taliban until the strong Afghan government can impose security…and look forward to peace.

The problem with external powers taking offensive action in a civil war. Is that, said outside powers are almost always seen as meddling & risk becoming part of a common enemy. History shows that it’s usually more effective to enable & support the indigenous elements unto a final conclusion. But said indigenous forces must be able to carry their own momentum & ideals… for they don’t carry foreign ones very far. Even when paid to do so.

The Taliban have a home field advantage. In that they live among the populace & are seen as a permanent fixture, unlike foreign troops.

You can be a major power without major land mass. Look at Israel and European countries.

I’m wondering though if the Pashtuns would really want Karzai in power, especially if the capital was Quetta?

Do you think Pakistan would be willing to give up half of its territory? I’m sure they’d think they could handle their Pashtun problems better if we simply left Afghanistan.

Pashtunistan

http://csis.org/files/publication/burke/090803_OneWarinTwoCountries.pdf

With the election screwed up and fraud-filled, what if Holbrooke/Eikenberry could get Karzai to agree to a run-off with Abdullah Abdullah. The carrot? Offer in the second vote, a simultaneous vote on whether the nation wants a separate Pashtunistan. If the answer was yes, than it would be fairly clear that Pashtun Karzai would control one while Tajik/Pashtun Abdullah would control the other.

The basic border would be along Hwy 1 with Kabul part of Afghanistan and Kandahar part of Pashtunistan. Areas north would be Afghanistan where Tajiks, Hazaras, Aimaks, Uzbeks, etc primarily live. Areas south and east would be Pashtunistan with final border worked out between Abdullah and Karzai. Afghanistan would retain the east west corridor leading to the Khyber pass for trade with Pakistan.

Of course Pakistan would be invited to the talks about Pashtunistan boundaries to see if they were interested in giving up part of Pakistan to rectify flaws in the Durand Line of a century ago. The ANA would be split between the two countries along ethnic lines or per Soldier desires.

The U.S. would provide financial support to both nations provided Pashtunistan remained peaceful within their borders. Hwy 1 would be dual use by citizens of both countries. The Pakistan Army could withdraw east without becoming as spread out over too much area.

If Pashtunistan began to harbor al Qaeda and other terrorist activity, then all bets would be off and the U.S. could employ airpower on both sides of the Durand Line.

Problems solved?

Screwed up election and two strong leaders in search of something to lead

Balkan-like ethnic divides begging for country divides

Security of Pakistan nuclear weapons while allowing Pakistan to have its Army closer to India for its own feeling of security

Allows Pashtuns to decide which side of the border they want to live…someplace modern or someplace stuck in the past and potentially controlled by arab foreigners and drug runners

Does it sound like I favor one “country” over the other? Obviously. Nevertheless, Pashtuns should be given an opportunity to show that they can play nice with others. If not, it would be nice to bomb military targets on both sides of the Durand Line. That’s a much different proposition than bombs/artillery away just because because someone shoots at you from a village.

Lieutenant Colonel David Kilcullen, argued in a 2004 paper for the Small Wars Journal that Phoenix had been “unfairly maligned”. It was, he argued, essentially a “civilian aid and development program”, backed by largely successful operations intended to destroy the Vietcong’s infrastructure in rural areas of South Vietnam. Furthermore, he said, the War on Terror required a “global Phoenix Program”.

The story about the rescue of the reporter pushed this story out of the news but if the rumors are true then its beyond tragic, its dereliction of duty(really worse than that but I’ll keep my emotions in check).

Stay on it please.

Am looking into it, and the larger question of CAS, as well as QRF, availability as troops move into remote outposts.

Best,

Greg

Yes, I know it won’t work, but I’m making a point. Even the hard supporters here wouldnt chip in a dollar.

Its really not all that ironic. We don’t have a clearly defined objective to point to. If you had included the president on your list, then there would be some irony.

Isn’t it ironic that military enthusiast, veterans, active duty personnel, defense writers and analyst cannot point to a clearly defined objective and definition for victory in Afghanistan after more than 6 years at war?

Karzai isn’t going to help matters and we cannot rely on Afghan forces or their governments assistance.