US leaders didn’t seem to study
The “we” are all those who study and publish about such things and those of us who listen to and read them.
“We” know that “nation building” is all but impossible unless certain conditions are met — think Western Europe and South Korea and Japan after conclusive wars. In Afghanistan, the war never could end and Afghan society and culture has never shown any readiness for or interest in democracy.
“We” know that the Afghan men are among the best fighters in the world; that they don’t cave and run from a foreign invader.
“We” know that kinship and tribal loyalties in Afghanistan have survived centuries of conflict through a continuous process of shifting deals — for peace and profit. When the risks of a conflict in country are too high, they make deals and melt away.
“We” know that, on balance, Pakistan is a respite for and supporter of the Taliban, and that added to determination means our war against them would never end.
Why didn’t we leave after chasing Bin Laden out of Afghanistan? Why did we think that Afghan men fiercely opposed to invaders (British and Russian) would fight their own for us? Why did we think we could announce our withdrawal date and not see a flurry of deals and a government collapse?
It annoys and angers me no end that our supposed best and brightest leaders, including our dearly beloved President Joe Biden, do not know what “we” know and act on it.
Maybe now. Yes, don’t get in. Yes, get out ASAP. But also, yes, plan to get out with knowledge and patience and determination to protect those who believed and followed us who will be left behind.
Randal Morrison, Columbus