OUR AFGHAN ERROR: STOP TRYING TO REMAKE SOCIETY

NYPost ^ | July 2, 2009 | Ralph Peters

[Scanian]

MISCALCULATING blindly, al Qaeda suf fered a catastrophic defeat in Iraq. Now our approach to Afghanistan bears an uncanny resemblance to the terrorists' failed strategy.

Certainly, there's a vast difference between our humane agenda and al Qaeda's monstrous appetite for blood. There's no moral equivalence.

Yet our ambition to convince local populations to change their culture to suit us turns us into al Qaeda's kindly twin.

In Iraq, al Qaeda was an alien presence enforcing values at odds with local traditions. And that, for all our protestations to the contrary, is what we're up to in Afghanistan.

We claim we're "only" trying to change the Afghan political system and economy, advancing the rule of law while introducing enlightened values. What on earth is that about, if not deep cultural change?

In its brief Iraqi heyday, al Qaeda also sought to reorder politics, commerce, law and human behavior. The terrorists believed their program was for the good of all. So do we.

But al Qaeda didn't bother to consult the Iraqis -- and, for all the glasses of tea shared with tribal elders, we believe we know what's best for Afghans.

In Iraq, al Qaeda's leaders were cocksure that the people would rally to them. We, too, believe that the locals will eventually see our light.

(We can't bring ourselves to accept that al Qaeda's core members believe they're acting for humankind's good; imposing Sharia law isn't just ward politics. We're more benign, but equally naive and headstrong.)

[MissDairyGoodnessVT]

did ya’ find Osama bin Laden yet?

[melsec]

Where’s the BARF Alert!