Armchair Warriors

As the US designated Afghanistan “pull out” date approaches, news reports are shockingly blunt about the future of Afghanistan.  Over half the country is said to lie under Taliban control as a result of Taliban military action.  Today reports say Kabul, the capital, is poised to fall. And all this in a week’s time.  Hmmm.

Just as shocking and just as predictable has been Republican Congressional members who can’t wait to inform the 7/24 news media of President Biden bungled withdrawal.  “I told you so” does not seem strong enough.  But memory of this 20 year war that never needed to be fought seems even more illusive.

In 2001, the Taliban ruled Afghanistan and were distinguishing themselves daily with antics celebrating life as it was 1200 years previously.  Women had no rights, education was discouraged, and the outside world was unwelcome.  But the Taliban had unwittingly made a deal with a larger devil, Osama bin Laden, and the exploits of al Qaeda was bringing the US might to the Taliban’s front door.

Following a short conflict, the Taliban was over thrown and George W Bush’s Administration (a Republican President) was faced with what to do next.  For reasons not quite clear, Bush’s republican administration decided to make Afghanistan a long term venture, nation building.

The argument went: a democratic Afghanistan will insure that al Qaeda or any al Qaeda-like organization would never be allowed to form in Afghanistan. and while accomplishing that, Afghan women would be given personal freedom and the chance to become educated.  Both objectives had value but were they sustainable?  While the US was justified in invading Afghanistan and rooting out al Qaeda, on what basis did the US have to believe it could remake Afghan culture?

So when Mitch McConnell or Lindsey Graham sanctimoniously speak out now about the “bungled” US withdrawal, one must ask, “where have you been?”  The US “Afghan occupation” has never been in a position to claim success in “nation building” regardless of whether the President was a Democrat or a Republican.  While some Afghans welcomed change, most did not or could not understand the modern world.

Americans will now have another chance to “relearn” the fact that in foreign policy, it is easier to conceive the invasion of another country than developing a policy to exit that country.

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Tags: Afghanistan, George W Bush, lindsey graham, mitch mcconnell, Taliban

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