Afghanistan War

You may have noted that I have some concern about the Afghan War.  I support the war for a couple of reasons.  One is that we don't wish to have a refuge for al Qaeda.♠  Another is a concern about what moving out of Afghanistan will do to stability in Pakistan.  Another is that abandoning Afghanistan (and that is how it will be seen) will give a boost to Wahhabism as an approach to Islam.  Wahhabism is a more extreme branch of Islam and is the approach that guides, amongst others, al Qaeda.

But, here is a quotation from a Middle East expert:♥

Last week at a symposium on Helmand Province, Rep Duncan Hunter R-San Diego (not exactly a bleeding heart liberal) cautioned the audience that 12 Republicans - some very conservative - voted against the war funding bill.  He cautioned that although Afghanistan was not a burning issue on the Hill, it was becoming one.  Number one question he got from other Congressmen and his   constituents was why our men and women can't have massive firepower to support them.  He was genuinely concerned about the ability to maintain political support for the war.  This has to be a key part of any strategy for Afghanistan.

The "firepower" issue is about what COIN (Counter-Insurgency) is about.  COIN is about winning hearts and minds and just using firepower and not doing the political maneuvering needed will just kill people and extend the war, meaning more killing.  It is a losing strategy.

The 12 Republicans is about losing support across the fruited plain.  It is a sign that the People are not buying the commitment.  That is most unfortunate.  The political support of the People is fundamental to the way the US fights wars.  With the all volunteer force we can fight a little longer than we could with a draft, but in the end, when the American People quit, it is over except for arranging the details—or perhaps more poetically, "all over but the shouting".

Well, actually it will just mean we are moving to a new phase.  It may be a phase of long quiet, but it may also be a phase of increased terrorist activity and the fall of governments.  It may mean a panic over what happens to the nuclear weapons of Pakistan.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  That said, we should not believe that al Qaeda is only in Afghanistan.  It has branch offices in several locations and it has a refuge in Pakistan, aided, perhaps, by the ISI, the Pakistan version of our Central Intelligence Agency, only more so.
♥  Sorry, but I don't have a citation.  Obtained from a source with a non-attribution policy.