Thursday, July 10, 2014, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)
We will continue with the International Affairs theme by zooming-in on Afghanistan. Skye, who was deployed there, has prepared a presentation and will lead the follow-up discussion.
Please help our group by preparing before coming to the meeting. General background information for Afghanistan can be found HERE in Wikipedia. Any other information or questions related to Afghanistan is welcome.
One of the issues I would like to discuss at the next meeting is what the US should do in its dealings with Afghan leaders in the future. I do not think Afghanistan is a core strategic concern of our country. Therefore, our steady disengagement should continue, but we should maintain some level of involvement. If the Taliban become much more powerful, I would reassess my position.
ReplyDeleteIf we can provide economic development assistance in the future that is not primarily wasted through governmental corruption, we should. Otherwise, we should limit our aid.
In part, the extent of our continued involvement in Afghanistan after 2014 should depend on how effective the new leaders who replace Karzai in running their country.
Before 2001 I doubt most Americans, including me, could locate Afghanistan on a map but I do remember that the Taliban running the country had banned poppy farming (good) but had very repressive attitudes, especially toward women (bad). It will be interesting to explore how it became a strategic concern to the US and why economic development should go there rather than elsewhere.
DeleteYes, the Taliban did ban poppy growing but, after 2001 when they were no longer in power and needed funding, they became the middle man in the poppy chain. A productive growing region is Nimruz province, near Iran, next to Helmand province which is next to Kandahar where I was, in the south.
DeleteReply to the first post above. Karzai was the most promising candidate - he is from Kandahar province, in the village of Karz (hence, his name). His father was influential in politics until he was assassinated. Karzai himself was a member of the Taliban until he 'saw the light' - he then spent time in Pakistan in a camp. His wife is an OB-GYN. He has improved the lot of women but probably not enough. His candidate of choice is Dr. Ghani who is also a Pashtun. Dr. Abdullah is a Tajik from a minority tribe up north. (Kandahar is the birthplace of the Taliban and was named after Alexander the Great. The Silk Road went through Kandahar.)
DeleteIn the first election this year. Abdullah was ahead by a million votes. In the run-off he is behind by a million. In the previous election 5 years ago, he gave up in protest so Karzai was re-elected. Abdullah has a PhD in finance, I believe.
Afghanistan is a buffer state and was the Great War between England and Russia beginning in the 1800s. It is also between Iran and Pak/India and borders on China. If the Soviets were to 'get' Afghanistan, they would be closer to a warm water port.
DeleteAfghanistan is back in history a long way - they have no concept of a central government (mail, transportation, taxes, judicial system, etc.) and it has worked for them for centuries - as has swift justice, revenge, blood money and bribes.
the Taliban outlawed the cultivation of poppies except in areas controlled by the Northern Alliance.
Deletehttp://www.peterdalescott.net/qf7.html