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Hear me now and believe me later!

Posted by DAVID ADESNIK in International, Politics, War.
Oct 21st, 2009 | Comments

This evening (Wed) at 6:30pm, I’ll be part of a panel discussion on the topic of “Afghanistan: Should We Stay Or Should We Go?” Details here. I assure you, if you live in Washington, there is nothing more intellectually enriching you can do tomorrow night other than listen to me. (Assuming you have a DVR and don’t have to miss a brand new episode of So You Think You Can Dance.)

So, I have ten minutes to say something useful tomorrow night. My plan is to identify five critical questions about Afghanistan as a way to help organize people’s thinking (including my own). In other words, what are the five most important questions you would want answered about Afghanistan before deciding on what policy to implement. Moreover, I’d like to provide competing answers to each question from people on opposite sides of the debate. Then people can answer the individual questions and see if those answers add up to a policy prescription.

So what should those five questions be? Off the top of my head, here goes:

Why is the Taliban resurgent after being defeated so decisively in 2001?
Is Afghanistan the graveyard of empires?
What is the difference between counterterrorism and counterinsurgency? Which one will work better?
What is the relationship between the Taliban and Al Qaeda?
What is the right balance between focusing on Pakistan and focusing on Afghanistan?

All right. So I’m going to try and do a post now on each of those issues that includes an opinion from at least two sides.

PS How can you not attend an event that uses Clash lyrics to frame a debate about foreign policy? Advertised in a post with a title borrowed from Hans and Franz?

Cross-posted at Conventional Folly

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dduck12

1. Like punching jello. It keeps bouncing back. ps: this is their country
2.. Yes, we shouldn't be building anything but a strong Afghan government. We (U.S.) are not empire builders.
3. Duh, these are military terms and need translation for me.
4. Internal Afghan threats and threats to the rest of the innocents in the world.
5. 50-50.

shannonlee

1. They lost the battles, but never lost the war. They simply melted into the population or the mountains...regrouped and counter attacked. This is why it will take an Afghan army to finally defeat them. It is just like Iraq, train a national army and police and let them handle it while providing support and security in places they are not ready to police.

2. Not anymore, the world has changed. The only real empires these days are corporations that own politicians...this would include the MIC.

3. I think the definitions are clear enough. Counter-insurgency is my choice. Secure the people and train the country to police itself.

4. A relationship of mutual benefit. Had, I forgot his name, the Taliban leader had it to do all over again...had he known that Osama was responsible for 911 (Osama lied to him and never told him of his plans)...they would have turned him over.

5. I don't know enough to have an opinion on that one.

Another question that should be addressed is...
If we leave or stay, what are the consequences and are they acceptable?

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