Afghanistan is, and has been for thirty years, a failed state – it’s time to leave it to its inevitable self-destruction. Intervention, for whatever reasons, by the United States, the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, and various other Arab nations have produced essentially no affect on the country that was forcibly forged out of a loosely related group of tribes and ethnic groups, so why should the efforts continue? The definition of insanity, to paraphrase an old saying, is performing the same action repeatedly and expecting different results, which most certainly applies to the Afghan region.

More recently, the United States deposed the Taliban, a rule-by-fear group that was installed and aided by the U.S. during the debacle with the USSR, and helped to create a democratic government in its place. Despite these efforts, the Afghani people are apparently ambivalent about their country, since they still look to and defend the Taliban, which often leads to the loss of coalition lives. 

Afghanistan is a nation that was forced into existence, rather than through a more natural evolution, and its internal tribal strife is more than enough evidence that it cannot realistically function as a sovereign whole. In fact, the people of Afghanistan seem to not care, through neither convincing nor coercion, about their future, and are willing to continue as-is – they are a proud people, but the level of poverty and simple corruption of their nation is nothing to be proud of. However, harboring radicalized groups of Muslims and others who are far from peaceful, while claiming an interest only in being left alone, is not an agreeable alternative.

Since all efforts to help these people help themselves, while removing the installations of radical regimes, have failed, there should be no more efforts by the United States or other nations to this end. Billions of dollars have been spent in the last decade, in addition to the cost of the 1980′s and 1990′s, and the nation is still just as corrupt, derisive, and poor as it ever was. If the people are not interested in themselves, their country, or their future, then they should be left to the whims of those who would seek to subjugate their culture and take advantage of their people – the Western World should not care for those who refuse to ensure their own safety.

Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and other organizations are a problem, true, but they can be handled in a far more utilitarian method, as is currently being used in Pakistan. If the coalition forces are not interested in the democratic stability and freedom of Afghanistan, then they will not be forced to spend substantial time and effort in attempting to institute political or social reform – the Karzai government will collapse, and Afghanistan will be overrun by either Pakistan or extremist Islam groups, or perhaps it will instead devolve into a weak group of tribal forces as it once was.

The United States may see itself as a peacemaker and protector of smaller nations, but this attitude cannot be universally applicable, and it must only be applied in situations where it’s a realistic ideal. Afghanistan has no strategic value beyond the concern of terrorist organizations, and since they have largely no interest in working with the U.S., there is no definitive explanation for the coalition nations to care about the nation’s stability, freedom, and future. For a nation that has been in the process of collapse for three decades and resisted most attempts at outside intervention, even when it’s in their best interest to accept it, there is a far better strategy for dealing with the harboring of terrorist and radical organizations within their borders – one that is already applied to countries the world over: strategic, careful, and quiet military action.

Leaving Afghanistan will please many Arab nations, even as it is overrun by those interested in Islamist regimes, and it will save many Western nations considerable money, time, and lives. Let them grow poppy plants, foster the growth of violent organizations, and be a shadow satellite of Pakistan – so long as the problems of extremism are handled remotely via military action, the results of such action/inaction will not be cause for worry to the rest of the world.

From Kyle Brady…

Kyle can be found on his blog, on Facebook, via email, or on Twitter.

The Kite Runner, based in the international bestseller by Khaled Hosseini,  tells the story of an Afghan refugee turned writer, many years removed from his struggles to arrive in the United States,  who is overcome by an eruption of memory from his days as a child in Afghanistan. At it’s core, the story is about an upper-class 12 year-old Afghan boy named Amir, who horribly betrays his childhood friend Hassan, the son of his father’s house servant. Years later, Amir takes the opportunity to atone for his actions with a tremendous act of courage. Powerful, haunting, and unforgettable, the film takes the audience  inside both a country’s history and culture, placing a very human face on the tragic tale of Afghanistan; a country that most only know from caustic headlines and brief nightly news installments. Even the the most stoic of viewers will have a hard time not being moved by RELATIVITY OnLine’s latest DVD recommendation. Skip the latest formulaic retread the next time you’re looking for a movie to watch and try something a little different. You won’t regret it.   

Reuters Photo

The Taliban’s recent assault on downtown Kabul, carried out by a timed series of explosives and suicide bombers, is yet another sign there is no use for The United States, Canada, the UK, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Australia and more to keep their troops in the country. It doesn’t matter if they leave tomorrow or of they leave in 3 years, the end result will be the same; the Taliban will remain and then fight it out with local forces.

In the worst attacks in more than a year, the insurgents did not succeed in seizing  government buildings, but showed they can still cause death, destruction and mayhem.  More than anything, they showed absolutely no fear of or respect for the occupying forces or the Afghan army.  All this at a time when President Obama is desperately trying  to rally support for his short term, but expanded military campaign.

To make matters worse, several of the Taliban were disguised as Afghan security force members, a sure sign that even the Afghan army is working with the Taliban, for fear of what will happen once the the international coalition leaves.

“As we were conducting the ceremony of swearing in, a terrorist attack in a part of Kabul close to the presidential palace is going on. This is just one of the dangers. The danger that could harm Afghanistan is sowing national discord among Afghans,” said corrupt puppet and double agent Afghan President Karzai.

Iraq stands a better chance at stability than Afghanistan, as the Taliban are all about denial. They deny their own government, they deny their own religion, and they even deny the very lives of Afghani men, women and children. Like filthy, shit-smelling cockroaches in the sewers, they will always survive. It’s time to get out, let things happen on their own, and react accordingly. Afterwards, isolation policies like that of what are applied to North Korea and the former Iraqi regime is the only remedy.

What no one seems to understand is that although the Taliban can easily be defeated, wiping them out altogether is like trying get rid of a bad case of herpes – it just ain’t gonna happen.  The best you can hope for is to get it under control, so the occasional flare up can be properly handled.

From David Anthony Hohol…