I appreciate your response to the quandry I find myself in. I am a Vietnam veteran, and the more I learn about your situation, the more fearful I become. In my personal opinion, the United States supported Diem’s and Thieu’s regimes in the ’50’s and ’60’s, and I consider both of those governments to have been full of corruption. Have we learned nothing from our failures? Are we doomed to make similar mistakes in Afghanistan?

Your suggestion to bring about a totally uncorrupt government is noble indeed, but to do it is a far more difficult. Corruption thrives in environments in which more and more people become involved. The more people, the more extended palms. I believe we need to reduce Afghan dependency and hence the number of extended palms.

Do we know who these warlords are who need to be arrested? If we do, why hasn’t this already been done? Who are “WE?” Are we the Afghans? Americans? Both?

I believe your third point — bringing the tribes on board — has garnered the most attention and can claim the most positive results, but like many situations, all four areas need to be successfully addressed. Success in one area does not equate to success in the others, hence the complexity of the situation.

Your fourth point strikes very close to home. Even in the United States, we struggle with devastating unemployment. How can we solve the unemployment situation in Afghanistan if we can’t even solve it within our own borders?

I sincerely appreciate your response, but I remain perplexed and very concerned with the state of affairs in your country. I do believe in the power of prayer and in divine guidance, and I do believe it will come for the benefit of Afghanistan, her neighbors and the United States.

Gene

Some of you recall the Battle of Wanat on 13 July 2008 whereas nine Sky Soldiers from the 173rd were killed in a large ground assault by anti-coalition forces to include foreign fighters.

The son of a retired COL was killed…the father was a close friend of the BDE commander, Chip Presyler who some on you may recall was on the ground in Operation Anaconda 3/2002..not too far from Zormatt (make a right turn to the Shaihkot Valley)..and just down the road from Gardez. COL (R) Brostrom wrote to his senator asking for a full investigation of the action at Wanat-the letter was posted in the Washington Post article reference to the battle a weel or so ago-I copies this portion as the proof source that Afghanistan was essentially abandoned in lieu of the invasion of Iraq.
_____________

“The Vice Chief of Staff of the Army General Dick Cody shortly after the battle of Wanat
stated that Afghanistan was deliberately being fought a Holding Action or
Economy of Force Mission for many years to ensure that Iraq received the
required assets and forces. Gen Cody said that the Army would not support a
quick deployment of additional assets to Afghanistan so as not to upset the
DWELL TIME of Army Brigades returning from Iraq even though the
increasing threat mandated immediate action.”

From David P. Brostrom letter to Senator Daniel Inouye, September 22, 2008
__________________________________________________________

So, for some 7 years or so, we have been in a holding action..all the while allowing the bad guys to refit and come at us again.

Now into the 8th year..almost twice the time we fought in Europe and the Pacific in World War II, most in the coalition are beginning to really doubt the ability of the Karzai government to make the changes necessary.

Are we going to be in Afghanistan for another 8 years? And, here’s the answer:

The German government has sponsored about 20 Afghans to obtain their public administration degrees at the University of Erfurt..north east of Frankfurt. I spoke there last June and had an opportunity to speak with most….and most, if not all are doing everything they can to stay in Germany. Why, because they are Afghan nationals have lost faith in the ability of the international community, their “government” and their tribes to bring some sustained peace to the country. In short, they do not wish to go home after completing their degrees.

This includes the advisor to the provincial governor in Gardez.

1) Bring about a totaly uncorupted government which will be brought into power with a will of the Afghan people. The Afghans support a strong man not a brutal and a corrupt man, the histroy of Afghanistan is a witness to this.

2) The immediate arrest of those War lords whose hands are still covered with the blood of innocent Afghans and they are part of Mr Karzai’s government, some should be sent to Hauge immediately to face open Media trials and the small ones should face justice at home.

3) Bring tribes on board to contribute towards security by providing security to their villages, towns, districts and provinces and by denying shelter, food and safe passages to insurgents.

4) An immediate attention on the unemployment issue and providing job oppertunities for many young unemployed Afghans in their home provinces.

I believe by taking just a few immediate and serious steps, we can kool off the heat a bit and give a chance for US & NATO to breath at least too & rather focus on Nation building Programme.

Afghanistan is winable, the majority of the Afghans wants a long term Partnership with The United States of America, its just a handful people who are backed by the regional powers to carry these evil acts against the Afghan Nation & Coalition and ISAF forces, this is part of the Great Game and to Win this Game, we have to be much smarter than the Regional guys!

Chief Zazai