Hey carl, what's up? Sorry for the late reply. Most (if not all) Afghans were for the invasion, and still believe we can salvage a brighter future if we reform certain policies (i.e. air strikes, house searches, detention facilities). My personal opinion is mixed. I was part of a negotiation team which spoke with Taliban delegates about the closing of al-Qaeda camps and handing Osama bin Laden to a "neutral" country. I believed the Taliban were very receptive and sought to avoid tarnishing their reputation by creating a smokescreen through their "fatwas", extolling the faith of Osama and calling him a "mujahid." Most people will disagree with me.Originally Posted by carl
Most of these colleagues have been dismayed by the way this war has regressed to, citing the US' focus on Iraq as being pivotal for Taliban resurgence. Others, particularly native Afghans from the Pashtun south, have been dismayed by the loss of civilian life. Others like Hazara Afghans from the west obviously don't prioritize this the same way but are worried about the so-called "Pashtunification" of Afghanistan.
The American soldiers were generally professional and courteous towards me, although I do speak english and have lived in both Canada and the States, which may have been a factor. I feel there is a sense of frustration, particularly those troops who have experienced combat for so long, and with a great deal spent in areas like Kunar and Khost were violence is rampant. I've noticed that American soldiers involved in some cultural and developmental projects (i.e. opening of a school, enjoying Muslim celebrations with the locals) have a better understanding of their mission and are generally more understanding. I think these activities, which are seemingly unimportant, actually help boost morale. They also improve relations with the locals, which is a HUGE asset in deterring Taliban activity. Even if locals weren't inclined to support us, they wouldn't support Taliban fighters searching for places to launch attacks from.
The US commanders were surprisingly astute and knowledgeable about local terrain, customs, error of their policies, etc. One commander confessed that his hands are tied behind his back when it comes to detention of Afghans; in his mind, half of them were innocent and had no involvement with the Taliban. I have only met one member of Delta force and he was quite an intelligent man, speaking Farsi, Arabic and Pashtu. He was extremely observant about local conditions and the changes in Afghan domestic affairs, and quite receptive to many of the ideas I proposed.
I think the latest pictures released reveal the need for us to step back and reassess our overall strategy in Afghanistan. If we don't, American soldiers will have to pull out.
Bookmarks