The Afghan Miracle
“Miracle begets yawn” has been the American reaction to the inauguration of Hamid Karzai as president of Afghanistan. Before our astonishing success in Afghanistan goes completely down the memory hole, let’s recall some very recent history.
For almost a decade before Sept. 11, we did absolutely nothing about Afghanistan. A few cruise missiles hurled into empty tents, followed by expressions of satisfaction about the “message” we had sent. It was, in fact, a message of utter passivity and unseriousness.
Then comes our Pearl Harbor, and the sleeping giant awakens. Within 100 days, al Qaeda is routed and the Taliban overthrown. Then the first election in Afghanistan’s history. Now the inauguration of a deeply respected democrat who, upon being sworn in as the legitimate president of his country, thanks America for its liberation.
This in Afghanistan, which only three years ago was not just hostile but untouchable. What do liberals have to say about this singular achievement by the Bush administration? That Afghanistan is growing poppies.
Good grief. This is news? “Afghanistan grows poppies” is the sun rising in the east. “Afghanistan inaugurates democratically elected president” is the sun rising in the west. Afghanistan has always grown poppies. What is President Bush supposed to do? Send 100,000 GIs to eradicate the crop and incite a popular rebellion?
It was not a “miracle;” it was the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and others who liberated Afghanistan — and the Afghanis and peacekeepers who are doing the rest. Aside from that, this is recommended reading; it goes on to point out some differences between Iraq and Afghanistan. I’d add one more difference that he doesn’t note. That is that we had the Northern Alliance as allies in Afghanistan. They were already fighting the Taliban, even before we came in.
Muchos Gracias for the link.
Comment by kat-missouri — 19 Dec, 2005 @ 21:47