The Victory Conditions of Afghanistan
Jul.29, 2010 in
barack obama
Here I just found the most concise breakdown of what needs to happen in Afghanistan for the America to claim victory and leave.
I offer these 5 points for debate. Are they achievable? If not, why? I fail to see how any of these points cannot be achieved in Afghanistan given the proper resources and time allotments.
* Defeating the insurgency not only in tactical terms, but by eliminating its control and influence over the population during the course of the next few years; and then systematically eliminating its networks, any ability to operate as a shadow government, and its remaining ability to carry out significant violence over as long a period as is necessary to succeed.
* Creating an effective and well-resourced NATO/ISAF response to defeating the insurgency and securing the population.
* Building up a much larger and more effective ANSF to first support NATO/ISAF, then take the lead, and eventually replace NATO/ISAF forces or limit the mission of the remaining forces to an advisory role.
* Giving the Afghan government the necessary legitimacy and capacity at the national, regional/provincial, district, and local levels; reducing perceived and real corruption and abuses by senior officials power brokers to levels the Afghan people can accept; and creating a level of actual governance that can ensure security and stability.
* Creating an effective civil-military effort where civilian partners – and aid efforts in governance, economics, and rule of law – directly support or complement NATO/ISAF efforts to defeat the insurgency and create effective and legitimate levels of governance in the field. At the same time, it is necessary to implement longer term development efforts to help the Afghan government and people move towards lasting security and stability.
* Dealing with a de facto “sixth center” of gravity outside NATO/ISAF’s formal mission. This is dealing with Pakistan, Iran, and other states that may be formally outside of NATO/ISAF’s area of operations, but that are critical to its success.
Now I really don't see how this is asking to much from NATO. If these few points are met in Afghanistan, then we can claim victory. Why can't these be done, and I don't want to hear a bunch of conspiracy propaganda about US imperialist lies. I want to know exactly why these 5 points can't be achieved in a reasonable enough time period for liberals.
I offer these 5 points for debate. Are they achievable? If not, why? I fail to see how any of these points cannot be achieved in Afghanistan given the proper resources and time allotments.
* Defeating the insurgency not only in tactical terms, but by eliminating its control and influence over the population during the course of the next few years; and then systematically eliminating its networks, any ability to operate as a shadow government, and its remaining ability to carry out significant violence over as long a period as is necessary to succeed.
* Creating an effective and well-resourced NATO/ISAF response to defeating the insurgency and securing the population.
* Building up a much larger and more effective ANSF to first support NATO/ISAF, then take the lead, and eventually replace NATO/ISAF forces or limit the mission of the remaining forces to an advisory role.
* Giving the Afghan government the necessary legitimacy and capacity at the national, regional/provincial, district, and local levels; reducing perceived and real corruption and abuses by senior officials power brokers to levels the Afghan people can accept; and creating a level of actual governance that can ensure security and stability.
* Creating an effective civil-military effort where civilian partners – and aid efforts in governance, economics, and rule of law – directly support or complement NATO/ISAF efforts to defeat the insurgency and create effective and legitimate levels of governance in the field. At the same time, it is necessary to implement longer term development efforts to help the Afghan government and people move towards lasting security and stability.
* Dealing with a de facto “sixth center” of gravity outside NATO/ISAF’s formal mission. This is dealing with Pakistan, Iran, and other states that may be formally outside of NATO/ISAF’s area of operations, but that are critical to its success.
Now I really don't see how this is asking to much from NATO. If these few points are met in Afghanistan, then we can claim victory. Why can't these be done, and I don't want to hear a bunch of conspiracy propaganda about US imperialist lies. I want to know exactly why these 5 points can't be achieved in a reasonable enough time period for liberals.
September 1st, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Hats off to you, talented writer. You are fantastic.