You’re Fired!

This was not a normal change of command. General David McKiernan, appointed barely a year ago by then-President Bush, was just unceremoniously fired. It was apparent that people in Washington had become increasingly dissatisfied with the commander of allied forces in Afghanistan. That can come as no surprise. Eight years after the onset of hostilities, the country in the Hindu Kush has still not been pacified. On the contrary, the security situation there continues to deteriorate. Regular military battles have long since grown out of al-Qaeda suicide attacks and Taliban ambushes, intensive, region-wide skirmishes, even in northern Afghanistan where it had long been relatively peaceful and where German soldiers are stationed. And this has all transpired despite an increase in troop levels to 70,000.

In 2010, this war will have cost the Pentagon more than the war in Iraq. Instead of $47 billion this year, it will cost $65 billion. Obama will send another 21,000 soldiers to Afghanistan. Obama’s recently announced new strategy for the Hindu Kush will see only a fraction of the money promised for civilian reconstruction and economic aid.

But it makes no difference whether the commander’s name is David McKiernan or Stanley McChrystal: Widening the war won’t result in peace.