Give the new Afghan government a chance.

AuthorGarner, Godfrey
PositionEssay

As it stands today, a full American withdrawal from Afghanistan this year is strategically unwise, but undoubtedly politically judicious. Our relationship with Afghanistan and Afghans themselves, for all practical purposes has suffered these past few years and the leaders of that country, who have been backed by America and American dollars have proven to be among the worst in terms of graft, ineptness, and corruption. Former President Karzai and his supporters additionally encouraged resentment among Afghans, for America in whom he placed the blame for all Afghanistan's ills. The 'slap', offered by Karzai, stings the face of most American taxpayers and serves as an exclamation point ending the withdrawal debate.

Hamid Karzai has publicly criticized America while his cohorts and political cronies as well as his own brother Mahmoud Karzai systematically looted assets provided by America and America's allies to assure a positive future for Afghanistan. Karzai's schizophrenic relationship with the Taliban has also left the Afghan people and worst, the lowest ranking soldier in the Afghan security forces who is charged with fighting and possibly dying in future struggles with the Taliban, completely confused as to the relationship Afghanistan will have with this insurgent group.

While America itself is responsible for much of the turmoil and confusion that exists today in Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai and the political environment he fostered has continuously hampered chances for success and unfortunately few see a bright stable future for that country. Blaming Karzai and crew while wiping our hands as did, Pontius Pilate, seems expedient and politically prudent.

An honest objective evaluation however leaves one glaring conclusion; America shares a responsibility for that country and that countries success, and it is not a responsibility that can be absolved with continued foreign aid alone. We changed the fundamental cultural structure of Afghanistan in many ways and though our presence there and our good intentions were inarguably sound and righteous, we are responsible for much of what Afghanistan and its people are today.

A simple, easily explained example is the level and pervasiveness, of corruption that exists in Afghanistan today. Prior to Operation Enduring Freedom, a short 15 years ago, asking for, or offering a bribe was an offense that was so culturally and religiously abhorrent to Afghans as to be virtually non-existent. The flush of...

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