A good friend of mine is a journalist in Afghanistan who was in the Hotel Serna in Kabul this morning when it was hit by mortar. You can read her account at: http://www.globalpost.com/notebook/afghanistan/091028/the-unexpected-hazards-life-war-zone.
The New York Times reported that attack and the deadly attack that same morning by the Taliban at a UN guest house in Kabul that killed ten (including the attackers). You can read about that at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/world/asia/29afghan.html?_r=1&ref=world
The second round of Afghanistan’s elections will be in two weeks. This follows the deeply flawed and corrupt first round. Violence seems to be increasing as election-day approaches. It is ironic that what should be a primary form of non-violent dispute resolution instead seems to incite violence. One question I am left with after reading the increasingly grim reports out of Afghanistan is what can we do about the conflict there? A U.S. diplomat recently resigned from his position in Afghanistan stating that it is the presence of Western troops that is the problem. I don’t know if a quick and immediate withdrawal is feasible or if it would solve anything in the absence of a more meaningful approach.
I agree with another friend who has worked in Afghanistan. We need to change the way we talk about what is happening there. It is not an action against insurgents. And fighting the Taliban is not a “counter-insurgency.” It is a war. One time-honored way to end wars is through negotiation. Perhaps it is time to do what many consider unthinkable: open real negotiations with the Taliban and include tribal leaders, warlords, and what passes for the elected government in the country (all the stakeholders). Perhaps it is time to understand their true interests and to accept that our great desire to establish democracy in Afghanistan does not make it a first priority for most in this war torn poverty stricken country.
In the meantime I continue to hope that my friends remain safe and out of harms way.
