When it was announced at West Point, U.S. Military Academy, that there was a new strategy for Afghanistan it was argued that by setting a deadline of next summer to begin drawing down troops he would create a sense of urgency for the Afghan government to take the lead in the fight, while acknowledging the limits of America¹s patience with the longest war in its history.
What a gross misunderstanding of the Afghan mind. They measure time in years not days or months. They think of the present and what’s in it for them. they think of family, clan andtribes. They do not have a country – they have tribes with the Pashtuns in control of half the country and a mix in all the rest.
Additionally, and most important, this announcement was a disappointment to our Afghan allies and a great morale builder for the Taliban.
Some months ago I wrote about this subject with the same title – non sequitur (a conclusion that does not logically follow from the premises).
It’s was getting worse.
The Taliban are encouraged by the failure of American on-again-off military leadership, civilian leadership is even worse, and military operations are not working as planned.
Is all lost – I think not.
With Gen Mattis at CENTCOM and Gen Petraeus in Afghanistan we have the right military team in the right place.
Now all we need is a new ambassador in Afghanistan and get rid of Richard Charles Allen Holbrooke.
