Inside the Fence

The CIA operatives died inside the fence. What were they doing inside this green space? During their successful Afghan war (the one against the Russians) they were always a field; consorting with the Mujahideen and befriending the tribal sorts. These people (Taliban types) were used as tools or weapons against the Russians. We had little sympathy for their plight, knowledge of their culture or concern for their existence. We simply had a score to settle with the Russians.

Our Afghan commander, Stanley McCrystal, seems naïve to propose a hearts and minds campaign after spending eight years bombing and murdering the civilian population. What he really is proposing is the kind of deal making Patraeus used to good effect in Iraq. The carrot of these negotiations with the tribal sorts is 'we will stop killing you if you will help us kill these other guys'. In fact we tell them, "Kill anyone you like just don't attack us" and by the way here's some guns and money to lighten your load.

It's best the army do these negotiations as the CIA are unrepentant trouble makers. It's a good thing they are sequestered in green zones. They should be smart enough to not invite the enemy into their safe havens. The CIA does their best work in quiet times; setting up death squads in Central America, supporting right wing dictators in south America, assassinating socialists and chasing down radicals like Che' Guevara.

The Afghanis want to be unoccupied and safe. For this they need a responsible government not a foreign army or a gaggle of spooks.

The CIA should return to Langley and take up the favored statistical data and electronic intercepts. They don't do well with people. The CIA instead of peopling the organization with accountants, geeks and establishment cutthroats should hire a crop of linguists, cultural historians and indigenous patriots. Put 'I Spy' in the closet and let 'I Understand' be the motto.

We get so many things wrong its hard to see how we will ever right ourselves. The immediate public reaction to the earthquake in Haiti is overwhelming and empathetic. The poor Haitians are not our enemies but so to are the poor Afghanis. Were is our sympathy for a people so long suffering at war. If we follow our best instincts, practice common sense and engage our idiot leaders, we stand a chance.

We the People. The job of a representative government is to do the bidding of the people. If we need to go outside the system to protest and set things right, we will.