But back to skepticism, here are a few questions that linger
in my mind listening to the president describe his new AfPak plan:
- $1.5 billion a year to
Pakistan? I understand why we need
this and why for a while it will send the message to the Pakistanis that
it is intended to send: that Richard Holbrooke is a powerful guy and he
can deliver for them. I kid. The point is that we as a country are
there for them. But watch this
space. The money will be lost,
stolen, wasted and those to whom we want to direct it either won't get it
or alternatively, will lose power and we will end up suspending it or
paying it to an even worse group of people. The money will change the tenor of
diplomatic meetings and photo ops but the likelihood that it enduringly
wins hearts and minds is pretty close to zilch.
- Will we really be glad to
have a well-trained 200,000 person army in Afghanistan? In the near term yes, but things have a
way of changing in that part of the world. I think we have to do it, but proceed with caution.
- The commitment to civil
side support is essential...in the plan and in the foreign aid budget
overall...but it will be less productive than ideal unless we revamp our
whole approach to nation-building beginning with admitting that we hate
it, we are lousy at it and that it is the main mission we have been doing
for the past several decades...which means we need to get better at it.
This'll take new rules allowing us to force civil side officials to go to
zones like this, a civil-side Goldwater Nichols to ensure coordination and
common missions and methods, and a hard-nosed view as to what we can't do.
- I get what they're doing
re: the Taliban. But as I have said before, I wonder if there are enough
moderate Taliban to serve our purposes. Further, while I enthusiastically
support our efforts to help women and girls in Afghanistan, I am not sure
this will help us with big chunks of the populace and it may actually
empower the more extremist elements in the population at just the time we
are trying to coopt them through outreach to the moderates.
- I know we want Pakistan to
be our ally. I get it. But calling them one is a little like
calling a cloud in the sky a tiger or a racing car just because it happens
to look like one at the moment.
- Oh...and...exit strategy? While
we're pondering one, know that our enemies are counting on the irrefutable
fact that we must have one. Whenever it comes, they declare victory.
But, other than that, a pretty good policy launch by the
Obama national security team.
Read More
(1)
HIDE COMMENTS LOGIN OR REGISTER REPORT ABUSE