17th April 2021 AFGHANISTAN
George W., Bush the “decider” as he loved to call
himself, and his side-kick, Dick Cheney, made a monumental blunder invading Afghanistan in 2001. Both
were “green” to the horrors of war, Cheney received 5 deferments and escaped
the Vietnam draft and George W was MIA in the National Guard, protected by Papa Bush.
The War in Afghanistan has killed or wounded tens of thousands of Afghan
civilians excluding the large numbers of victims killed in errant drone strikes
launched during the Obama administration. Over 2,300 U.S. service members and
hundreds of NATO soldiers have perished
costing the U.S. trillions of dollars. Taliban said it would boycott the talks
because Biden is going back on a deal made by President Trump to have all U.S.
troops out by May 1. Doesn’t America ever keep its promises or does the US
regard treaties worthless pieces of paper?
The Biden admiration is dealing with a weak hand. The Taliban have dealt
America another humiliating defeat. Postponing the withdrawal date will only
put more soldiers and Afghans lives at risk. Afghan American scholar Zaher
Wahab says “The United States and its allies should never have attacked and
occupied Afghanistan. “It was wrong. It and totally illegal and immoral. Much
like former Soviet invading force, the US violated the sanctity of a sovereign
country.” Wahab’s view is shared by Matthew Hoh, senior fellow with the Center
for International Policy, who in 2009 resigned from the State Department in
protest of the escalation of the war in Afghanistan.
“The invasion and occupation and the
bloodshed have destroyed the country, its economy, its institutions, its
infrastructure, its education, its way of life, relationships among the
different ethnic groups. This occupation has been nothing short of a
catastrophe”.
The cruel irony is Osama bin Laden was no friend of the
moderate Taliban and they were willing to hand him over their unwanted guest to the Americans without a shot being
fired.
British prime minister, Tony Blair willingly joined
forces hoping to bring back memories of the “glorious British empire.”
Following a backlash back home, the nimble Blair retreated to became a high
priced consultant. More tragic
misadventures followed in Iraq and Libya. No American politicians has paid the
price for the appalling loss of human life. America and its allies continue to
use the same strategy fighting wars expecting different outcomes – the
definition of insanity! Even as the Biden administration has committed to
ending the “forever war” in Afghanistan he has promised to increase the
Pentagon budget! More insanity!
