Comments on: Send The Peace Corps, Not More Troops, To Afghanistan http://themoderatevoice.com/45540/send-the-peace-corps-not-more-troops-to-afghanistan/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Wed, 30 May 2012 22:13:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Jim_Satterfield http://themoderatevoice.com/45540/send-the-peace-corps-not-more-troops-to-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-212059 Jim_Satterfield Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:40:50 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=45540#comment-212059 BTW, they are sending over National Guardsmen with expertise in agriculture and have been for a while. NPR interviewed some of the people from the Kansas National Guard that were being sent over. BTW, they are sending over National Guardsmen with expertise in agriculture and have been for a while. NPR interviewed some of the people from the Kansas National Guard that were being sent over.

]]> By: vey9 http://themoderatevoice.com/45540/send-the-peace-corps-not-more-troops-to-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-212025 vey9 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:56:34 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=45540#comment-212025 I'm not sure if people know this, but the Taliban was successful because they kicked out the corrupt -- they go by various names in the Western Press, War Lords, Chiefs, whatever. Those war lords became the Northern Alliance (an alliance of ex-war lords).<br><br>When the US went in, it supported the Northern Alliance against that Taliban and put the corrupt War Lords back into power. The War Lords, by definition, are corrupt and unelected. They levy a "tax" on every transaction.<br><br>Looking at things from his side, I can't see any advantage to a War Lord to allow any sort of elections or democracy. Why would he want to risk his position to a local election? And why would he want a strong Federal government telling him what to do? So he did what anyone would do, he pledged to support Karzai and the elections knowing that Karzai couldn't oppose the War Lords and paid the US lip service.<br><br>If the Peace Corp people went into an area free of Taliban, then they would have to pay the War Lords. Unlike other countries, where there is a Federal Government to swoop down on the Chief as in Africa, the Karzai government is not so moved.<br><br>So, before we can make the place safe for civilians, and work from the bottom up, first we have to eradicate the Taliban, then we have to topple all the War Lords. Then we have local elections who elect a new federal Government.<br><br>If the US doesn't want to sign on to this project, then we need to get out. Now. There is no point in staying. I'm not sure if people know this, but the Taliban was successful because they kicked out the corrupt — they go by various names in the Western Press, War Lords, Chiefs, whatever. Those war lords became the Northern Alliance (an alliance of ex-war lords).

When the US went in, it supported the Northern Alliance against that Taliban and put the corrupt War Lords back into power. The War Lords, by definition, are corrupt and unelected. They levy a “tax” on every transaction.

Looking at things from his side, I can't see any advantage to a War Lord to allow any sort of elections or democracy. Why would he want to risk his position to a local election? And why would he want a strong Federal government telling him what to do? So he did what anyone would do, he pledged to support Karzai and the elections knowing that Karzai couldn't oppose the War Lords and paid the US lip service.

If the Peace Corp people went into an area free of Taliban, then they would have to pay the War Lords. Unlike other countries, where there is a Federal Government to swoop down on the Chief as in Africa, the Karzai government is not so moved.

So, before we can make the place safe for civilians, and work from the bottom up, first we have to eradicate the Taliban, then we have to topple all the War Lords. Then we have local elections who elect a new federal Government.

If the US doesn't want to sign on to this project, then we need to get out. Now. There is no point in staying.

]]> By: Tweets that mention Send The Peace Corps, Not More Troops, To Afghanistan | The Moderate Voice -- Topsy.com http://themoderatevoice.com/45540/send-the-peace-corps-not-more-troops-to-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-211985 Tweets that mention Send The Peace Corps, Not More Troops, To Afghanistan | The Moderate Voice -- Topsy.com Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:24:25 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=45540#comment-211985 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by American Taliban and D Runner. American Taliban said: Send The Peace Corps, Not More Troops, To Afghanistan - The Moderate Voice http://bit.ly/Co7vp [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by American Taliban and D Runner. American Taliban said: Send The Peace Corps, Not More Troops, To Afghanistan – The Moderate Voice http://bit.ly/Co7vp [...]

]]> By: archangel http://themoderatevoice.com/45540/send-the-peace-corps-not-more-troops-to-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-211954 archangel Mon, 07 Sep 2009 07:10:57 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=45540#comment-211954 "The thrust of my thinking is that repairing the Afghan infrastructure must start at the bottom up, not top down as has been tried and failed."<br><br>I think that is a wise position, and maybe top, bottom and middle? “The thrust of my thinking is that repairing the Afghan infrastructure must start at the bottom up, not top down as has been tried and failed.”

I think that is a wise position, and maybe top, bottom and middle?

]]> By: Frith_Ra http://themoderatevoice.com/45540/send-the-peace-corps-not-more-troops-to-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-211940 Frith_Ra Mon, 07 Sep 2009 05:01:25 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=45540#comment-211940 Perhaps the UN should go in there before the Peace Corp? Perhaps the UN should go in there before the Peace Corp?

]]> By: Frith_Ra http://themoderatevoice.com/45540/send-the-peace-corps-not-more-troops-to-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-211939 Frith_Ra Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:59:58 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=45540#comment-211939 I volunteered to go to Afghanistan right after we first entered the country. Until the drumbeat for Iraq started I figured this to be a simple one, two, step aside military action. Then it became a forgotten war as we distracted ourselves needlessly elsewhere & the US Govt. told me to stay home.<br><br>I'm still here. I hear from a Dutch friend that the entire Netherlands presence there is civilian. I volunteered to go to Afghanistan right after we first entered the country. Until the drumbeat for Iraq started I figured this to be a simple one, two, step aside military action. Then it became a forgotten war as we distracted ourselves needlessly elsewhere & the US Govt. told me to stay home.

I'm still here. I hear from a Dutch friend that the entire Netherlands presence there is civilian.

]]> By: elrod http://themoderatevoice.com/45540/send-the-peace-corps-not-more-troops-to-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-211926 elrod Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:40:27 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=45540#comment-211926 Well, my parents were Peace Corps volunteers in Qandahar, Afghanistan from 1966 to 1968. So, yes, the Peace Corps does - and has done - wonderful things in Afghanistan - even in the Pashtun hotbed. I still marvel at the fact that my parents lived for two years in what is now the epicenter of the Taliban - and expressed more fear of wild dogs chasing them on bicycles than religious or political extremists. Times really have changed.<br><br>As for today, the Peace Corps could continue to do wonderful work there. But the Peace Corps cannot work in an un-secure environment. Perhaps soldiers could begin the work that the Peace Corps does. And if and when things come down, the actual Peace Corps could come in and replace them. Well, my parents were Peace Corps volunteers in Qandahar, Afghanistan from 1966 to 1968. So, yes, the Peace Corps does – and has done – wonderful things in Afghanistan – even in the Pashtun hotbed. I still marvel at the fact that my parents lived for two years in what is now the epicenter of the Taliban – and expressed more fear of wild dogs chasing them on bicycles than religious or political extremists. Times really have changed.

As for today, the Peace Corps could continue to do wonderful work there. But the Peace Corps cannot work in an un-secure environment. Perhaps soldiers could begin the work that the Peace Corps does. And if and when things come down, the actual Peace Corps could come in and replace them.

]]> By: jkremmers http://themoderatevoice.com/45540/send-the-peace-corps-not-more-troops-to-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-211918 jkremmers Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:55:17 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=45540#comment-211918 I agree there's not enough security at this point in time to bring in the Peace Corps. The thrust of my thinking is that repairing the Afghan infrastructure must start at the bottom up, not top down as has been tried and failed. I agree there's not enough security at this point in time to bring in the Peace Corps. The thrust of my thinking is that repairing the Afghan infrastructure must start at the bottom up, not top down as has been tried and failed.

]]> By: TheMagicalSkyFather http://themoderatevoice.com/45540/send-the-peace-corps-not-more-troops-to-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-211880 TheMagicalSkyFather Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:33:47 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=45540#comment-211880 Sorry you would have to surround them with special forces troops otherwise they would get their heads sawed off or something equally gruesome. The muslim world may be calming with Obama in office but the extremists know that if they can get him to flail like they did Bush they will again become legit to muslims and that would just be playing into their hands. The army engineers on the other hand is good, or Peace Corps surrounded by special forces troops may work but we would then have to fight in such a dirty way that it again may cost us more credibility on the world stage. I still think the best route is a scorched earth policy with a heavy boot for any that oppose and to help the people build an infrastructure while we get rid of all the tribal leaders or at least the ones that act like lawless goons. We made deals with these people instead and left them largely in charge which I think is some of the cause of our current situation there. Sorry you would have to surround them with special forces troops otherwise they would get their heads sawed off or something equally gruesome. The muslim world may be calming with Obama in office but the extremists know that if they can get him to flail like they did Bush they will again become legit to muslims and that would just be playing into their hands. The army engineers on the other hand is good, or Peace Corps surrounded by special forces troops may work but we would then have to fight in such a dirty way that it again may cost us more credibility on the world stage. I still think the best route is a scorched earth policy with a heavy boot for any that oppose and to help the people build an infrastructure while we get rid of all the tribal leaders or at least the ones that act like lawless goons. We made deals with these people instead and left them largely in charge which I think is some of the cause of our current situation there.

]]> By: archangel http://themoderatevoice.com/45540/send-the-peace-corps-not-more-troops-to-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-211879 archangel Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:32:58 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=45540#comment-211879 I'm with Jim S. The peace corp sign ups are often skilled in many ways, in agri, and teaching, water tech, languages, construction and many others fields, but not in military flash response or readiness in any way. Many in peace corp are not only young, but often middle aged and elders as well. <br><br>I like your idea Jerry; and wish it were stable enough there for a group of helpers to go in at the level you suggest.<br><br>It would be effective now, I think, to have a strongest student exchange program from Afghanistan to the US. <br><br>We could as average citizens, start there. Asking our local colleges and univsersities what their student exchange programs are focusing on, and support to encourage them to lean more deeply into this part of the world far away. <br><br>just my two cents worth, as I think about how to incubate the future ...<br><br>dr.e I'm with Jim S. The peace corp sign ups are often skilled in many ways, in agri, and teaching, water tech, languages, construction and many others fields, but not in military flash response or readiness in any way. Many in peace corp are not only young, but often middle aged and elders as well.

I like your idea Jerry; and wish it were stable enough there for a group of helpers to go in at the level you suggest.

It would be effective now, I think, to have a strongest student exchange program from Afghanistan to the US.

We could as average citizens, start there. Asking our local colleges and univsersities what their student exchange programs are focusing on, and support to encourage them to lean more deeply into this part of the world far away.

just my two cents worth, as I think about how to incubate the future …

dr.e

]]> By: Leonidas http://themoderatevoice.com/45540/send-the-peace-corps-not-more-troops-to-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-211878 Leonidas Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:29:16 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=45540#comment-211878 Send in ACORN. No matter which way it turns out we will be rid of one extremeist group. Send in ACORN. No matter which way it turns out we will be rid of one extremeist group.

]]> By: Jim_Satterfield http://themoderatevoice.com/45540/send-the-peace-corps-not-more-troops-to-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-211873 Jim_Satterfield Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:57:12 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=45540#comment-211873 They might have a point but I wouldn't send civilians in there until the Taliban is much weaker than it is now. There would be a lot of murders. I'm not saying that we have to be the ones to achieve that level of peace but I would be terrified for any one going there soon after an American withdrawal. They might have a point but I wouldn't send civilians in there until the Taliban is much weaker than it is now. There would be a lot of murders. I'm not saying that we have to be the ones to achieve that level of peace but I would be terrified for any one going there soon after an American withdrawal.

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