Sunday, November 22, 2009

Can The U.S. Buy Peace In Afghanistan?

Afghanistan has been a fractured nation since the late 1970's. Successive governments, even with Soviet intervention all failed to create a stable nation. Withdrawal of Soviet forces meant that various factions within Afghanistan would now compete for power. Two groups emerged out of the ensuing grab for control the Northern Alliance and the Taliban which was nurtured by Pakistan's ISI yet neither managed to control the whole of Afghanistan. Given that and the simple history of siding with ones tribe and region how will an attempt to buy off fighters from these militias change the political landscape thus leading to a stable country? Unlike say Iraq which at least had a working government before the U.S. invasion. What did Afghanistan have civil war and instability and what does it have now? War, instability, corrupt government and NATO forces following the U.S. invasion.

So what is the brilliant policy thought up by the U.S. Military? Why to buy off fighters from the armed factions and inter-grading them into the Afghan military.

US pours millions into anti-Taliban militias in Afghanistan
US special forces are supporting anti-Taliban militias in at least 14 areas of Afghanistan as part of a secretive programme that experts warn could fuel long-term instability in the country.

The Community Defence Initiative (CDI) is enthusiastically backed by Stanley McChrystal, the US general commanding Nato forces in Afghanistan, but details about the programme have been held back from non-US alliance members who are likely to strongly protest.

The attempt to create what one official described as "pockets of tribal resistance" to the Taliban involves US special forces embedding themselves with armed groups and even disgruntled insurgents who are then given training and support.

No comments:

Translate