The Trouble in Afghanistan

As late as 1978 Afghanistan was a fairly typical and sedate third world country. While the predominant religion was Muslim the population on the streets looked secular and modern. The Afghanis traded their pistachios, pomegranates, textiles and opium to the world. Many small businessmen and shop keepers prospered and the remote tribal areas remained relatively calm. The Afghani political history is filled with assassination, coup, intrigue and corruption. After the King Zahir was deposed the new prime minister approached the U.S. for aid, (mostly weaponry) and was turned away, so they then approached the Soviets for help and the socialist leaning government morphed into a full fledged communist state called The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.

The Islamic revolution in Iran inspired Afghani religious fundamentalists to open rebellion. The civil war was very disrupting and by 1979 the rebels had control of 24 of 28 provinces and began to take hold in the cities.

The ruling government invited the Russian army to intervene in order to restore order. Such began the soviet occupation and so called Russo/Afghan war. The soviet presence was unwelcome, disruptive and cruel. Everyone suffered.

The mujahideen rebels proved to be a dogged insurgency and fought the mighty Russian army to a standstill. Around 1985 the United States became covertly involved in this war. CIA trainers taught the rebels how to use RPG's,Stinger missiles, assault rifles, assassination tactics, car bombing and other elements of terror and the Americans provided money and arms. Unfortunately, the U.S. involvement was all about deviling the Russians and nothing about helping the Afghani people. When the Russians retreated we went back home.

Gradually the rebel forces took control of the country and the government and set up a crude Islamic Republic with the notorious Taliban as enforcers exerting direct control over the everyday lives of the population. Unlike Iran the theocracy of Afghanistan was draconian. It was a religious reign of terror. Islamic radicals from around the world found purchase on the soil of Afghanistan. Wealthy extremists like Osama Ben Laden found a welcoming and fertile training ground for his extremist plans in the nether border regions of Afghanistan/Pakistan. Here, the infamous al qaeda was born, harbored and nurtured. From here a jihad of terror was launched upon the infidel world.

After 9/11 America took exception with this terrorist safe haven and launched a military action intent on disrupting al queda and wrestling control of the population from the cruel grasps of the Taliban enforcers. Initially we were successful but soon took our eye off the ball and diverted our attentions to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. The al qaeda organization scurried across the border into hiding in Pakistan, the Taliban hid in plain sight and slowly regrouped and exerted their influence in the remote regions of the country, once again gaining control of province after province.

The American incursion and occupation was one of disruption. We sought only to crush an enemy rather than to help a suffering country. The Russians, at least were invited by the beleaguered Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. The greatest commonality of the two (wars) incursions are their futility and the unnecessary loss of civilian and military life.

All these recent wars are mirror images of Vietnam. Grossly stupid undertakings that alienate the occupied, waste vast amounts of energy and money, unduly burden the military and accomplish absolutely nothing.

In all his weeks of deliberation President Obama forgot to contemplate the futility of war.