‘Look forward, not backward’
No op-ed can come close to addressing the heartwrenching events of the last week in Afghanistan. The questions raised make me wonder if the ironic stability of the Cold War trumps the blatant instability we find impacting our lives in today’s world.
Americans seem incapable of understanding other cultures, and assume the world wants democratic institutions, even when those institutions are dysfunctional and corrupt. When you don’t know and understand other cultures, it is difficult to create an environment where nation-building will succeed, especially when you are the occupier, attempting to impose your views, your logic, your ideology on people who do not understand you.
We do not know them, and they do not know us, and likely never will. And 20 years of occupation cannot change that fact, nor could five, 10, 15 or more years make much of a difference. We needed to get out of Afghanistan, but not in the way it is happening.
We have deserted those in Afghanistan who put their faith in us, without involving them in the decisions. We have disrespected our allies, by ignoring their concerns and input, leaving Afghanistan without developing consensus among all the parties that shared in this 20-year endeavor. We have spent hundreds of billions of dollars, lost precious American lives, as have other nations, and are caring for countless brutally injured Americans, who have every reason to wonder for what cause did they make such a sacrifice.
It is true Afghanistan was a haven for Al Qaeda, but the attack on 9/11 was not launched by that backward country. Afghanistan was a haven, not an instigator. Go in, get Al Qaeda out, and leave. We got them out, but foolishly stayed. Ultimately, all we succeeded in doing was to push Al Qaeda and the harshest elements of the Taliban into the Northern Territory of Pakistan. Like Afghanistan before it, that area has provided terrorists a safe haven and destabilized Pakistan, a country with nuclear arms, an inclination to use them, and little affection for Americans.
Staying in Afghanistan to prevent it from being a haven for future terrorist activities was always a weak — if not false — claim. Al Qaeda is in Pakistan, and we are certainly not going to occupy Pakistan. Terrorists, by whatever name, don’t need to be in Afghanistan; there are plenty of places in the world where they reside, wreak havoc and plan for future attacks ... in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, South America and even in the United States.
Our political leaders in the Administration and Congress need to look forward, not backward. There is more than enough blame to go around. They need to stop, absolutely stop, blaming each other, and begin to learn what needs to be done in a world gone amok, and help Americans, who put their trust in them, understand what needs to be done.
A good place to begin is for our leaders to involve the American people in a constructive process of listening, learning, helping, and leading, and then listening again. I am one citizen hungry for the day when issues will once again be more important than personality. And when love of country motivates us to find thoughtful solutions, and be kind to one another.
Christopher Shays served 34 years in public office, 13 years as a state representative from Stamford, and 21 years as a congressman for the Fourth District of Connecticut. In Congress he ultimately served as vice chairman of both the Budget and Government Reform committees and chairman of the Government Reform Committees’ National Security Committee, with oversight of both the Department of State and Department of Defense for programs.