Afghanistan: A war we can't lose

Afghanistan is a war we can’t lose, not because it’s crucial to global security or the future of democracy in the Middle East.

It’s a war we can’t lose due to the nature of the insurgency. The “enemy” is a stateless body void of any socio-political ideology and, therefore, is more akin to inner city “thugs” than an army of the people.

The best they can hope for is a stalemate with fighting forces of the international community – the tiring of western will and the resolve to finish what “we've” started.

Regardless, the fate of Afghanistan as a newly developed democratic nation state will fall directly into the lap of future political leaders, their armed forces, and, yes, the people themselves. It is, after all, the will of the people that will prevail. And neither the coalition effort nor that of the Talib and Al-Qaeda will succeed in its entirety without the backing of average Afghans.

By all accounts the Afghan National Army enjoys tremendous credibility and support from citizens, while the Afghan National Police strives to build a similar relationship. In the meantime, coalition efforts will continue to push Afghan leadership to the forefront, executing national programs based on internally developed plans. This is not an all or nothing game folks.

What it’s hoped the current effort succeeds in doing is providing Afghan leadership with the roadmap to victory – enough time and support to: 1) ensure security, the 2) economic growth, and 3) individual prosperity and freedoms. That once proven self-sufficient within all levels of government and security forces, they will continue to execute with the best interests of the people they govern in mind.

True, the international community doesn’t plan on dumping endless money, manpower and time into the effort; they will, eventually, determine the Afghans are ready to “ride” without training wheels. At that point in time, the Kabul government and people will either step up to the challenge or revert back to the days prior to the invasion.

Either way, they will be on notice that the West will not tolerate a return to the terrorist safe haven of the 90s.

(Pictured above: Afghan National Army recruits await further instruction from Afghan trainers at Kabul Military Training Center. Photo by G. A. Volb)