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Nabi and I arrived in Kabul last Friday, just
as President Karzai announced he might "join the Taliban". As if we don't
have enough problems. So, I stopped shaving, threw my books away, buried
my ipod and other implements of modernity in a time capsule, and purchased
donkeys for Nabi and I. We are donkeying our way through the villages
proposing that the girls attending TIE's classes marry one of us. That
way they will be able to continue their education, should the Taliban
prevail. I'm in the lead with 100 acceptances to Nabi's 4. I've persuaded 100 fathers to allow their daughters to marry Nabi . Nabi doesn't have
Snickers bars.Nabi frightens his new mode of transportation. Too much Kabob!
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It is time, is it not, for leaders in both countries to announce a
verbal attack cease fire? The ramp up followed by the wind down strategy has begun. Publicly assessing fault and levying blame accomplishes
nothing, except to develop a sense of self righteousness in each country
that is potentially very damaging. The Afghan people can ill afford to lose the support of Americans.
Our soldiers will suffer the consequences of the Afghans believing
President Karzai may align himself with the Taliban. The war in Afghanistan is
fundamentally a war for hearts
and minds. If President Karzai may be "joining the Taliban", how can villagers be reasonably expected to align themselves with our troops.
Take the blame game behind closed doors,.talk publicly about
how difficult the challenges are, and acknowledge the limitations of
both governments to solve the multitude of problems overnight.
It's more important than ever that our leaders work together on an exit strategy
that doesn't play into the hands of our enemies. |
