The Afghan Dilemma

Public opinion in the countries involved in the Afghan conflict is at the point of questioning the legitimacy of their presence in this foreign land, where the initial goal was to eradicate one of the most intense regions of Islamist terrorism. Now, doubt creeps in about the effectiveness of this war and about the risk of eventual stalemate. In terms of human lives, it has been a costly operation for Western forces; likewise for Afghan civilians, so often caught in the crossfire: on Aug. 5th, President Karzai ordered an investigation after the death of twelve civilians killed during a NATO strike. The death of civilians is a terrible thing in itself, but even worse in that it ruins all efforts of gaining support from the Afghan population. General Petraeus, new commander of international forces, had to redefine the rules of engagement in order to “reduce the loss of innocent civilian life to an absolute minimum.”

In the United States, the Afghan War remains a burning issue for the Obama administration, especially after General McChrystal’s criticism of the American strategy, which resulted in his immediate removal as commanding general. Soon after, there was the leak of secret military documents, revealing certain strategic blunders on the battlefield. Even if the debate remains rather muffled in France, it has led the Netherlands to pull out of Afghanistan, against the wishes of NATO, who requested they stay one more year. The Dutch exit was well-received by the Taliban, who released a message on the matter, later made public. The Taliban leaders congratulate themselves for the Netherlands’ volition to “reject American insistence that they prolong the mandate of their troops,” and they wish that other countries “like Germany” would follow the Dutch example. The enemy is clearly defined: “The American troops alone should stay in Afghanistan to pay the consequences of their invasion!”

By this publicly demonstrated satisfaction, the Taliban leaders themselves offer the argument likely to justify the Afghan combat. At least they force the Allied forces to watch for the moment when it becomes possible to withdraw troops without abandoning the Afghan people. So long as the last word does not go to the Taliban.