Afghanistan's people have advice for Obama and the U.S. military

[laststeamtrain]

Afghanistan's people have advice for Obama and the U.S. military

Though some welcome the presence of American and NATO troops, they say the war can never be won without a change in strategy. Among their suggestions: Negotiate with the Taliban.

By Mark Magnier

8:41 PM PDT, September 30, 2009

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan

Take advice from locals instead of trying to impose your own ideas on a tribal society. Invite the Taliban to the negotiating table. Use traditional governing structures rather than reinventing the wheel. And spend a lot more money on plowshares than swords.

Afghan shopkeepers, women in head scarves, day laborers, analysts and former mujahedin fighters are already exhausted by three decades of war. Now they worry that conditions are deteriorating again. Violence has increased and fraud allegations shadow the August presidential election. Huge sums of foreign money are being spent with few tangible results.

Meanwhile, Americans are increasingly frustrated after eight years of military involvement. President Obama has launched a reassessment of the war effort, and he met with top national security officials Wednesday.

Afghans interviewed in their shops and on the streets have plenty of advice for the U.S. president and his allies: Don't necessarily leave, but for your sake and for ours, you'd better get a lot smarter about what you do here.

Several said they welcomed the presence of U.S. and NATO troops, whom they view as far more benign than the Soviets who occupied the country in the 1980s. They fear that a rapid withdrawal of foreign forces could throw the country into another civil war. But they don't necessarily think a foreign military surge is the answer.

"I'm afraid the Taliban will only get stronger," said Obiadullah Zahir, 30, a dress merchant, standing beside a row of attired mannequins with broken noses and missing arms. "I'm afraid America will leave and war return."

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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan-voices1-2009oct01,0,696942.story

[ShortnFiery]

1. Why yes Dear INVADERS! Negotiate with the numerous factions within the Taliban ...

WHAT possibly can go wrong? :evilgrin: :nuke:

[elocs]

2. Why just Afghanistan? Why can't we impose our will and way of life on the entire world

and right every wrong?

If the Afghanis really want their own country, then they should be able to fight for it and to win with all of the support we can give them, just without our troops to fight for them. The Taliban is not backed or supported by any world superpower, so Afghanistan should have a distinct advantage over them when they are armed and supported by us.

[ShortnFiery]

3. Meanwhile, our Military Industrial Complex is in negotiations to build SEVERAL military bases ...

in Columbia.

The hits just keep on coming.

[Tutankhamun]

8. We wouldn't presume to impose our way of life on the whole world.

Not with military force anyway. Afghanistan's different, though. We want an oil pipeline, and, ummm... to spread freedom and democracy n stuff.

[elocs]

9. Certainly, because there are countries in Africa that deserve as much help

as we claim we are bringing to Afghanistan.

[Demeter]

4. Yankee Go Home! That's MY Advice.

[bemildred]

5. That was a good piece.

Of course, nobody will pay the slightest attention to it.

[Solly Mack]

6. K&R

[bertman]

7. Negotiate with the indigenous guerilla fighters!! What a novel concept. Excellent article.

America OUT OF Vietnamistan!!!