The Deplorable Situation in Afghanistan

The United States and its allies have been in Afghanistan ten years today. The see-saw war goes on without pause. For all the money and lives thrown at the problem, it is still as unresolved as ever.

President Obama recognized the date by reiterating that America is going to get its troops out on schedule.

In France, the opposition Socialists are trying to get a new parliamentary debate set on whether to stay in Afghanistan even until 2014.

But, the real killer was Afghan President Karzai, who today announced that he sees no progress. My guess is that his remarks were code for:  “Dear America, don’t leave, please, because if you do, I’m dead and so are any hopes of keeping the Taliban under control.”

His government estimates that the Taliban now control more than half the country.

NGOs on the ground say that compared to this time last year, the incidents of Taliban attack are up more than double.

There is no good news about Afghanistan. There never was. And, announcing the date for the allied depart just made it worse, because now the Taliban are playing a waiting game combined with suicide attacks to let the Afghan people know that they are there and in control.

And, the Afghans know that in 2014, it is more than likely that they will be back under the medieval rules set by the Taliban. The rules that sequestered women, refused them health care, cut them out of the educational system, and made men vassals of an overlord system of near-serfdom.

That’s what ten years has done. Not much to show for America and its allies. And, fleeing will only make the Afghan people suffer more. There is no solution.