For John, BLUF: Does Colin Powell's Pottery Barn rule (you broke it, you own it) apply in Afghanistan? Nothing to see here; just move along.
Here is a report on one hospital in Afghanistan. The source is Vice News. It talks to increasing casualties are not just with the ANSF, but also with civilians as well. "'There Is Nowhere We Can Live in Peace': Visiting an Afghan Hospital Overwhelmed by War", by Ben Anderson.
From the article:
As Britain and America withdraw from Afghanistan, civilian casualties are increasing. Giannakopoulou said the hospital had 2,100 admissions in 2013, a 70 percent increase on the previous year. They are on pace for another 50 percent increase in civilian casualties in 2014.Is there just correlation here, or is there some form of causation? What changed?This trend is reflected across the entire country, where civilian casualties have already risen at least 24 percent on last year, according to the UN.
There seems to be resignation in the air in Afghanistan. Here is the last paragraph:
I asked [Dr Shah Wali] if he and his family were tempted to leave. "There is nowhere we can go to live in peace. All of Afghanistan is the same, so we'll stay here." I asked if the situation was now the worst that it had ever been and he said it was, adding, "And getting worse. They are coming every day: bullet to the chest, to the skull. The situation is getting worse and we don't know what will happen. There is no hope for the future."OK, so enough of the analysis. Is action rehired? Is there some American responsibility? Or, do we leave it all to Pakistan (or Russia).
If you thought we should be helping out, how would you do it?
Regards — Cliff
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Please be forthright, but please consider that this is not a barracks.