Spring Break
Resocialization, not war, is the answer in Afghanistan
Saad Rizvi
Issue date: 4/21/09 Section: Commentary
Can Obama's fresh 21,000 troops do what no other colonial power has been able to achieve in Afghanistan? The answer is not an easy one. Afghanistan has long been called the Graveyard of Empires and there is some truth to the claim.
Afghans have been warriors as far back as history takes us. Alexander the Great tried to invade Afghanistan, but his army barely made it through the war. Genghis Khan was able to control Afghanistan only after painful losses, while the Mughal Emperors had to bargain on Afghanistan's own terms to reach a conclusive relationship.
In 1832, when the British army went into Afghanistan for the First Afghan War, only one soldier made it to Jalalabad. According to a renowned historian of Afghanistan, Louis Dupree, there were four prevalent factors that contributed to the British disaster: "(a) the occupation of Afghan territory by foreign troops, (b) the placing of an unpopular emir on the throne, (c) the harsh acts of the British-supported Afghans against their local enemies and (d) the reduction of the subsidies paid to the tribal chiefs by British political agents."
Louis Dupree's analysis should serve as a word of caution to America and especially to Obama's new administration. Russia tried to exert power while ignoring lessons from the past and, as a result, met a humiliating defeat. America, on the other hand, has already committed all of those above mistakes. Under the Bush Administration, Afghanistan was occupied by foreign troops; Hamid Karzai, a reportedly corrupt official was placed as the head of the state; American supporting Afghans were provided with privileges; and the local warlords were either suppressed or politically isolated. However, one question remains: will these actions will lead to any good in the near future? Incontrovertibly, no!
Without proper infrastructure, education and economic opportunities, no war can be won in Afghanistan. Resocialization and modernization of the new Afghan generation needs to take place so that they can aspire to the same goals as the rest of the world. Only education can help achieve this resocialization. Yet, we have not seen any significant steps towards rebuilding the educational infrastructure of Afghanistan.
Afghans have been warriors as far back as history takes us. Alexander the Great tried to invade Afghanistan, but his army barely made it through the war. Genghis Khan was able to control Afghanistan only after painful losses, while the Mughal Emperors had to bargain on Afghanistan's own terms to reach a conclusive relationship.
In 1832, when the British army went into Afghanistan for the First Afghan War, only one soldier made it to Jalalabad. According to a renowned historian of Afghanistan, Louis Dupree, there were four prevalent factors that contributed to the British disaster: "(a) the occupation of Afghan territory by foreign troops, (b) the placing of an unpopular emir on the throne, (c) the harsh acts of the British-supported Afghans against their local enemies and (d) the reduction of the subsidies paid to the tribal chiefs by British political agents."
Louis Dupree's analysis should serve as a word of caution to America and especially to Obama's new administration. Russia tried to exert power while ignoring lessons from the past and, as a result, met a humiliating defeat. America, on the other hand, has already committed all of those above mistakes. Under the Bush Administration, Afghanistan was occupied by foreign troops; Hamid Karzai, a reportedly corrupt official was placed as the head of the state; American supporting Afghans were provided with privileges; and the local warlords were either suppressed or politically isolated. However, one question remains: will these actions will lead to any good in the near future? Incontrovertibly, no!
Without proper infrastructure, education and economic opportunities, no war can be won in Afghanistan. Resocialization and modernization of the new Afghan generation needs to take place so that they can aspire to the same goals as the rest of the world. Only education can help achieve this resocialization. Yet, we have not seen any significant steps towards rebuilding the educational infrastructure of Afghanistan.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Joshua H
posted 4/22/09 @ 4:05 AM EST
I first must applaud Saad on a cogent and intelligent piece. The establishment of infrastructure and re-socialization is critical if the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and international coalition is to meet with success. (Continued…)
Post a Comment