One of the most common defences for continuing the Afghan War that I hear on Daily Kos is that if we withdraw the troops, the Taliban will return to power again. It's a good point (but not one I agree with). So is this one by Sec of Defence Robert Gates.
Robert M. Gates said in an interview broadcast this week that the United States would not repeat the mistake of abandoning Afghanistan.
Washington Post 9th September
Now this is a view that I'm sympathetic with. Even if I disagree with it. I mean it sure sounds like a very logical, reasoned argument right? And I can understand why fellow Kossacks have this view. But this view misses or obscures some fundamental things.
Afghanistan 2007
The Internation Council on Security and Devolopment.
That 54% area in red is the area with a heavy Taliban presence. The Pink is substantial Taliban and the Grey is the area with a Light Taliban Presence.
Afghanistan 2009
Back to my point, when I hear the argument that if US/Nato troops withdraw from Afghanistan that we will just be letting the Taliban take over again, this point fails to mention this one thing. That in a lot of Afghanistan the Taliban ARE taking over again and that we cannot do all that much about it.
As Joshua Foust reported just yesterday the province of Ghanzni (population 1 million) has just fallen to the Taleban.
Ghazni Province is falling to the Taliban. There’s no two ways around it: Radio Shariat is transmitting in the area again, and security forces are having a hard time tracking it down because apparently it is being broadcast on a mobile transmitter.
Via Tim Lynch from same report.
The demonstrators moved towards Masoud Chowk area, and the demonstration turned violent. Demonstrators reportedly began throwing stones at ANSF, and ANSF opened fire. The demonstration has apparently dispersed due to the said clash. Casualties have occurred, and initial reports suggest that 4 demonstrators were killed and 8 were wounded."
So we seem to have a situation in Afghanistan where the Taliban have a heavy presence in around 80% of the country and growing, the Afghan PM, Hamid Karzai, is commonly known in Afghanistan as the Mayor of Kabul because he doesn't really control much beyond the capital Kabul. Yet Kossack's will put forward the idea that if we withdraw troops from the country the Taliban will take over?
Might be a bit late for that. Outside of Kabul and a few provinces in the North they already have.
Ghanzi Fort
Special Note You may have seen the Part One in the title. This is going to be the FIRST of 3 pieces on the war in Afghanistan. Another piece will be tomorrow and a third piece on Sunday (hopefully). Tomorrow's piece will be about the NATO alliance and how both British and German troops (faced with massive public opposition and possibly electorally doomed leaders) might not be staying much longer.