Dr. Maccoby participates in a Weekly Forum on Washington Post.com called "On Leadership". I am compiling all of his responses to the weekly questions here.
|
DATE: August 25, 2009 The Afghanistan Challenge Things in Afghanistan are not going well. Is that because the situation requires a different kind of military leadership, as suggested by the Pentagon's decision to install a new commanding general? Or is it because political leaders have been unable to articulate credible goals and a credible strategy? What would you do? |
Mission Creep
When President Obama inherited the eight-year-old war in Afghanistan, its purpose was no longer clear. Originally, we sent troops to Afghanistan after 9/11 to destroy al-Qaeda. The war has now shifted to fighting the Taliban, and we are becoming bogged down in what is essentially a complex of tribal wars.
Obama campaigned on strengthening our forces in Afghanistan, and he still describes the purpose of the war as stopping al-Qaeda from ever attacking us again. We have weakened al-Qaeda, driving them into the mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan, but there are al-Qaeda cells in other countries. We will not defeat all the terrorists who mean to harm us by sending armies to all these countries.
There is now a disconnect between the stated purpose of the war in Afghanistan and what it has become. Like many Americans, I do not believe this war serves our national interest. Obama should ask the military for a strategy to leave with the least possible damage to our troops, civilian personnel and those of our allies.
| TMG Home | PTWC | Articles | Books | Contact Info | Comments |
This web site is being maintained by Maria