Here we are approaching the ninth anniversary of the War in Afghanistan. Does anybody have any idea why we are there, what it is costing us, or why we haven’t gotten out? Everything we have heard from the government in nine long years is bullshit and spin. Look at what’s going on right now: Our closest ally, Hamid Karzai, is threatening to make a private deal with the Taliban, the war has spread into Pakistan, our allies are preparing to bring their troops home, our top commander, the obviously frustrated and now newly unemployed Stanley McChrystal, is publicly dumping on his superiors, our late offensive in Marja has futtered out into nothing, our current planned offensive in Kandahar has produced nothing but funerals, dope is still being trafficked by our “friends”, and we are still paying off the Taliban not to attack our supply convoys. The war is profoundly fouled up The indicia of a humiliating defeat are in the air. It’s time to pull up stakes, pay everybody off so as to save face, and pull out. Right now! Not next July.
What are the consequences of staying in Afghanistan? A reality check is in order. A look at the Soviet experience in Afghanistan is sobering. The Soviets deployed the 40th Army into Afghanistan on December 24, 1979 and fought on for over nine years until February 15, 1989. The Soviet Army was a notoriously tough, hard nosed outfit. Over 620,000 of its troops served in Afghanistan with a substantial number of Soviet citizens in supporting roles. Of these, including KGB units and MVD formations, 14,453 were killed and 53,753 were wounded or injured. 415,932 men were felled by acute infections exacerbated by poor local sanitary conditions. 10,751 men were left maimed and disabled. Material losses included:
-451 aircraft (includes 333 helicopters)
-147 tanks
-1314 IFV/APCs
-433 artillery guns & mortars
-1138 radio sets & command vehicles
-510 engineering vehicles
-11,369 trucks & petrol tankers
These losses pale by comparison with the destruction wrought on Afghanistan and its people. Five millions (about a third of the population) fled to Pakistan. Another 2 millions were internally displaced. Total casualties included 1.2 million dead with nearly 3 million maimed or wounded. Millions of land mines were planted, Kandahar was carpet bombed, livestock were destroyed wholesale by Soviet and government solders, irrigation systems were bombed and bulldozed. And all for naught; the Soviets left gaining nothing.
There is a lot to learn from the Soviet experience which, although not proving the same sorry fate awaits the US, certainly should give President Obama something to think about when he weighs his options.