Monday, September 7, 2009
George F. Will's Sept. 1 op-ed column, "Time to Get out of Afghanistan," was simplistic in its analysis and recommendations.
Any discussion of Afghanistan's major democratic achievements was missing. The latest polls show overwhelming popular trust in the democratic process -- a signal to the international community that the Afghan people are optimistic about the future, support human rights and the rule of law, denounce extremist elements, and demand a future with democracy rather than militant extremism. This is despite the fact that the United States and Afghanistan's other international partners have yet to commit seriously to the nation-building task.
Indeed, seven years of the George W. Bush administration shortchanged the rebuilding of Afghanistan because of the priorities of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Obama administration has taken the appropriate steps to restore hope in Afghanistan; President Obama must be supported by Congress and the American people because, as the imminent anniversary of the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, reminds us, success in Afghanistan serves America's own national security interests.
As for securing Afghanistan, no smart-missile attacks can substitute for boots on the ground. The United States knows from present experience, as well as from the failed Operation Infinite Reach by the Bill Clinton administration in 1998, that the Taliban and al-Qaeda cannot be defeated remotely.
M. ASHRAF HAIDARI
Political Counselor
Embassy of Afghanistan
Washington
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The Sept. 3 editorial "Setback in Afghanistan" argued in favor of a strategy in Afghanistan that is unrealistic and unlikely to succeed. We need a smart strategy focused on pursuing al-Qaeda without energizing anti-American sentiment in the region. That requires a more focused mission to fight al-Qaeda and the Taliban -- more than simply an offshore presence and definitely not an adoption of the strategy of the 1990s, which lacked the focus and resolve that this mission must have.
Keeping large numbers of U.S. troops in Afghanistan won't help us go after the many militants taking sanctuary in Pakistan. Nor can we expect our military to build a legitimate Afghan government. While we should help address governance problems through long-term civilian efforts, only the Afghan people can make a legitimate government a reality.
The biggest problem with our efforts to find a military solution in Afghanistan is the very real danger of pushing extremists into Pakistan, mobilizing a whole new generation of militants and thereby further destabilizing a nuclear-armed nation. Our long-term strategy in Pakistan requires supporting the emergence of an effective, democratic civilian government that will be a strong partner in fighting extremism. Pushing militants into Pakistan does not advance that goal.
RUSS FEINGOLD
U.S. Senator (D-Wis.)
Washington
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I believe that most logical people would consider U.S. involvement in Vietnam a mistake. It cost the lives of more than 58,000 American military personnel.
There seems to be no doubt that the United States is in danger of committing the same errors in Iraq and Afghanistan that it made in Vietnam. The U.S. invasion of Iraq has already left more than 4,000 American military personnel dead and tens of thousands wounded. If U.S. casualties continue in Afghanistan at the same rate as in the past few months, the numbers may end up exceeding the Iraq figures.
The administration should seriously consider the assessments of former senator Chuck Hagel [op-ed, Sept. 3] and columnist George F. Will. After Iraq and Afghanistan, what next? Pakistan? Iran? The entire Middle East is a volcano that may make the tragedy of Vietnam and the 50,000-plus American lives lost to be of minor significance.
MELVIN R. BIELAWSKI
Alexandria
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An essential point missing from much of the current war discussion is that Afghanistan has very much to do with Pakistan, potential home to our worst nightmares -- terrorist access to nuclear weapons and a resurgent grudge match with India that could go nuclear.
Fortunately, there seems to be an increased willingness in Pakistan to cooperate in controlling extremist elements, and tempers seem to have cooled on both sides of the India-Pakistan border. We should do everything we can to support this with diplomacy and military pressure on the extremists in the Afghan border regions.
There are those who say that no one wins a war. They may be right in this case, but, for sure, people lose wars. We cannot afford to lose this one.
CHARLES TILFORD
Gaithersburg
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