Joshua Kurlantzick makes a good point. If Afghanistan turns out like Vietnam, we should be grateful. Of course, Kurlantzick means the nation of Vietnam, not the war. The problem is, what are Afghanistan’s prospects? It’s not like people will be lining up to invest there if it cannot stop its civil war. If the only people with the will power to prevail are fanatics, the country is completely doomed.
About The Author
BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
Uh…. are we just supposed to ignore the 10s of 1000s of dead Americans and orders of magnitude more dead Vietnamese that preceded this wonderful Vietnam success story you’re talking about?
I’m personally not settled on what I think about Afghanistan. But keeping all parts of it in mind would seem to be important, in coming to any responsible decision.
Once upon a time — back in the early 70’s, I worked in a boutique and the owner went on buying trips to Afghanistan twice a year. He came back with hippie-chic clothes and cool handmade stuff to sell in his shop and put on slide shows for his employees/friends.
I remember wishing I could afford the airfare to go with him because the country looked beautiful! There were lush, terraced fields marching down hillsides, a stretch of desert plains below cut by a river and soaring blue mountains in the distance. He always stayed in a kind of villa provided by the clothing vendor and it was spartan — no electicity or plumbing — but it looked comfortable. And he raved about the quality of the hashish!
The workrooms where the clothing was sown were light and clean. The seamtresses looked plump and happy with their dollar a day wages — which we were told was more than enough in their agrarian culture. (With shipping costs and retail mark-up, we sold the dresses they made for $12-15.) Their children mingled among them and clowned in front of the shop owner’s camera. The marketplace was heaped with fresh fruits and veggies. Men leading mule trains grinned for a tourist, shepards waved from hillsides surrounded by their sheep. It really did look like a great place to take an exotic vacation.
This was before the war with Russian, of course… before the country was devastated by unending war. But, a young American entrepeneur felt safe and welcomed there… once upon a time.
The point of my recollection is that Afganistan is not without resources and charms. It could again be an attractive place to visit and invest.
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Geographically there is no comparison between the possible economic development of Afghanistan compared to Vietnam. The Asean ties to neighboring states (China for one) offered a full range of opportunities in the decades after the Vietnam War ended. Yes, the USA was interested in the gas fields off the coast of Vietnam. Vietnam is a country with rich natural resources and a well educated (literacy rate is over 90%), diligent population of over 85.2 million. The cultural differences between the two nations are insurmountable. Afghanistan has a medieval system and its Islamic culture offers at least half of its population little chance of education and economic participation. You could best compare Afghanistan with Cambodia, Myanmar or Laos. One cannot base policy on wishful thinking beyond the scope of reality.
US investment has given the mayor of Kabul a 5-star hotel, this is hardly seen as support for the Afghan people.
Kabul Serena Hotel attacked in 2008My previous diary in 2005 – Afghan woman stoned to death in Badakhshan
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."Given the country’s history of the past decades, the people being shocked, cowed and illiterate as well as all the provinces with warlords but, no modern devices around as everyday life, I’d say there is not a good chance for this country to pull itself out.
It will become like Somalia after we leave.
There simply is not the will, the governing to make that difference to better.
Of course the Taliban will take over because the people do not have the fight left in them or the will to fight back and take control.
I only see bleakness in this country’s future at least for the near future.
Also, we may have had a chance to make some kind of difference several years ago.
But, the Bush incompetence and uncaring, the cronyism and the mishandling has long ago squandered any chance that country may have had in changing it’s luck