Filed under: Pakistan, Politics | Tags: afghanistan, nato, Pakistan, taliban, usa, waronterror
The recent statement making the rounds came from the British military commander in Helmand. Discussing the future of the taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, he stated that:
“It’s about reducing it to a manageable level of insurgency that’s not a strategic threat and can be managed by the Afghan army.”
Brig Carleton-Smith said the goal was to change how debates were resolved in the country so that violence was not the first option considered.
He said: “If the Taleban were prepared to sit on the other side of the table and talk about a political settlement, then that’s precisely the sort of progress that concludes insurgencies like this.
“That shouldn’t make people uncomfortable.” [#]
An honest statement. The insurgency in Afghanistand and Pakistan cannot be crushed by western forces. That is a basic fact of this conflict and a fact that the West refues to acknowledge. Therefore, this is a welcome statement.
But this brings us to the question: how can this conflict end? This insurgency can only be defeated through indigenous opposition – when the local people themselves decide to lead the fight against the militants and the role of foreign forces is eliminated or at least curtailed. For that matter, it is pertinent to ask what is the curtain scene for the global war on terror? What is the ultimate objective for the American agenda in the region?
The war on terror was proclaimed with two objectives: to catch and kill Osama Bin Laden and his associates and to destroy the infrastructure of Islamic extremism threatening the US. To achieve these two objective a military approach was adopted and a “war” was declated. Now, it is possible to achieve the first objective through this approach – yes, OBL and his close associates can be killed. But will that solve the problem? Will that mean that the war has been won?
In all honesty, the American administration is not even serious about the second objective. So the focus is on killing a few men and that is supposed to miraculously solve all the problems. Here is a newsflash: it won’t. Today, its Osama Bin Landen – tomorrow, it will be someone else. There is no end possible to this war. And that is a fact missed by most.
Just musing.
1 Comment so far
Leave a comment
Red, White and Black 
Sadly so! The state of affiars pertaining the so-called war on terror is deteriorating to worst.
Comment by salmanlatif 6 October, 2008 @ 6:55 pm