While China ups the ante on a proxy war with the U.S. over Afghanistan, Russia rejoices as America sinks even further into a repeat of its own Afghan quagmire from 1979 to 1989.
It is astounding that H.R. McMaster, with all his scathing insight into the Vietnam debacle in his book Dereliction of Duty, cannot muster the courage to call out Trump and his generals.
The war in Afghanistan will not be won on a battlefield. Hearts and minds will not be won while civilians are killed and maimed and a corrupt government feasts on the billions of American dollars.
Afghans, as they have done for centuries, will eventually rid their country of the Americans. Negotiation with the Afghan Taliban and curbing Pakistan’s support for instability in Afghanistan is the only option.
It is only a negotiated peace with Afghans that will support them in being resolute against the influx of ISIS and other international terrorist groups that are increasingly using Afghanistan as their jihadist stage.
Linda Barnes
Durango
