Without Winning or Losing!!

It has become clear that the adoption of a strategy on Afghanistan is one of the main concerns for U.S. President Barack Obama, while talk about the importance of victory in “the war on terrorism” in this Asian nation rings hollow.

It seems that, after an unceasing review of the deteriorating situation there, he has become totally convinced that the achievement of this victory is not possible. His strongest misgiving is the fear of facing a defeat that could wipe out what remains of the Empire’s clout at the international level.

It must be that the president and his advisers, as they reviewed the situation in Afghanistan, realized that the year 2008 was the deadliest for allied forces. They also recognized that the year ended with the Taliban taking control of three-fourths of the country, and with the movement laying siege to the capital of Kabul and regulating its exits.

Thus, President Barack Obama, in his war against Afghanistan, is following in the footsteps of Genghis Khan, Tamerlane and Alexander the Great. They all invaded this country, with its difficult and rugged mountains that make up more than four-fifths the area. It is a country rich in a mosaic of races and languages that prevailed over the Russians with its geography. It is this very geography that is the bitter foe confronting the United States, Britain and their allies in their war against the Taliban.

In the context of strategies that Obama and his administration are researching, the American intellect realized the fact that the situation in Afghanistan is too complex for Washington and its NATO allies to confront single-handedly. Additionally, the Afghan and Pakistani governments have shown an inability to be of use to the extent required, which led them to the necessity of having a broader coalition that includes other countries, such as Russia, India and Iran.

Yet, this was not the result of a change in U.S. policy in terms of its approach to the problems and issues it is facing. Rather, it is a consequence of the inability to confront and resolve these difficulties without a change in U.S. goals.

There is no doubt that an exit from Afghanistan without a “gain or loss” – in Biden’s words – is of more benefit than chasing down a costly mirage that may end with defeat. But, rapid shifts between determination to achieve victory, the search for an exit strategy and reconstruction efforts serve to reveal the difficult situation in which Obama finds himself. The host of strategies indicates confusion that lacks vital thinking, and that is exactly what describes the positions of the U.S. administration these days.