
“Afghanistan is Mr. Obama’s war of choice”
Foreign relations expert Richard Haass says in an interview that Afghanistan is no longer a necessary war
By Gregor Peter Schmitz and Gabor SteingartTopics: Afghanistan, News
A U.S Marine from Delta Company of 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion patrols near the town of Khan Neshin in Rig district of Helmand province, southern Afghanistan September 10, 2009. Richard Haass, the president of the influential Council on Foreign Relations, talks about new approaches to the Afghanistan war, the country’s decreasing significance in the war on terror and why Pakistan is more important to American interests.
A memo written by the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Stanley McChrystal, was recently leaked in which he asks the American people for more patience and President Barack Obama for more troops. Isn’t it rather unusual for U.S. generals to put so much pressure on the president?
It is fine for generals and civilians to ask for more resources. One of their responsibilities is to speak truth to power if they think they need more resources to accomplish the mission. To do that in public is not appropriate, though. The president deserves to have these issues debated in private. Whoever leaked Gen. McChrystal’s memorandum acted unfairly and unprofessionally.
But should Obama follow this advice?
It would be premature to follow it at the moment. First, we need to be more confident that doing more militarily in Afghanistan will produce more results. It is not clear that will be the case. Secondly, we need to challenge the assumption that what happens in Afghanistan is critical for the global effort against terrorism.
Isn’t that effort doomed if Afghanistan remains a safe haven for terrorists? That is why the West invaded the country, after all.
That is not clear either. Even if terrorists were to be denied Afghanistan, they could operate out of other countries. We should also reconsider whether what happens in Afghanistan is essential for the future in Pakistan, which, frankly, matters more to the United States. Pakistan’s internal dynamics will count for more when it comes to determining Pakistan’s trajectory. I believe the president is right to slow down the decision process.
Obama already announced a new Afghanistan strategy in March, which appeared to include more U.S. troops. Now there are calls for that to be reconsidered. What has changed since then?
Today, things are looking even bleaker in Afghanistan. It is not at all obvious that Afghans can overcome ethnic and tribal loyalties, corruption and personal rivalries. The presidential election in August was deeply flawed. No matter who is ultimately declared the winner, this election is almost certain to leave the country even more divided.
Some administration officials have suggested that the U.S. should step up its military operations against terrorists in Pakistan, rather than sending more troops to Afghanistan.
I am sympathetic to the idea. Pakistan is more vital to the U.S. and we are starting to see progress there. There should be a greater level of economic and military support in Pakistan. Carrying out more airstrikes there is an attractive idea as long as the chance of collateral damage is minimized.
President Obama often calls the war in Afghanistan a “war of necessity.” It’s a term he lifted from one of your books…
Please, you are getting me into trouble.
But you no longer call it a war of necessity. Why?
It was a war of necessity after the attacks of 9/11 when you had a hostile government led by Taliban in Afghanistan. Now you have an essentially friendly government in Kabul and al-Qaida has reestablished itself in Pakistan. So I am no longer sure what happens in Afghanistan is still essential to the war on terrorism. Afghanistan is thus a war of choice — Mr. Obama’s war of choice. There needs to be a limit to what the United States does in Afghanistan and how long it is prepared to do it.
What options does the president have?
We have alternatives to an even bigger troop increase. That is another reason why this is no longer a war of necessity. The choice is not between pulling out and increasing resources. We can reduce our troops’ ground-combat operations but emphasize drone attacks on terrorists, the training of Afghan soldiers and police officers, and development aid and diplomacy to fracture the Taliban. Nobody is talking about or should be talking about abandoning Afghanistan.
But we are talking about fewer U.S. troops.
The risk of ending our military effort in Afghanistan is that Kabul could be overrun and the government might fall. The risk of the current approach — or one that involves dispatching 10,000 or 20,000 soldiers more — is that it might produce the same result in the end, but at a much higher human, military and economic cost. But if the U.S. does decide to increase troop levels, it should condition any such decision on specific Afghan commitments and reforms.
This article has been provided by Der Spiegel through a special arrangement with Salon. For more from Europe’s most-read newsmagazine, visit Spiegel Online or subscribe to the daily newsletter.
You Might Also Like
More Related Stories
-
FBI admits to using drones over U.S. soil
-
WikiLeaks helping Snowden seek asylum
-
HPV vaccine leads to drastic drop in infection rate among teens
-
Brazilian demonstrators out in full force
-
National study finds discrimination against gay couples in housing market
-
Brazil "wakes up"
-
Delaware passes measure to protect transgender rights
-
Popularity boost for search engines outside NSA dragnets
-
Creepy pickup artist rakes in Kickstarter cash
-
Serena Williams blames Steubenville rape survivor for "putting herself in that position"
-
UN: Global refugee crisis worst in decades
-
Must-see morning clip: The WWE weighs in on the immigration debate
-
Why metadata really is the message
-
Brazil lawmakers vote to lift ban on gay "conversion therapy"
-
The FBI doesn't shoot by mistake, says the FBI
-
4 most iconic images of dissent
-
Karzai suspends peace talks with Taliban
-
House passes sweeping anti-abortion bill
-
Gun nuts' strangest subculture: Book clubs
-
Five easy steps for becoming a rape apologist
-
How Obamacare shortchanges low-wage workers
Featured Slide Shows
Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)
close X- Share on Twitter
- Share on Facebook
- Thumbnails
- Fullscreen
- 1 of 11
- Previous
- Next
-
The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.
-
In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.
-
This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.
-
Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.
-
An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.
-
Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.
-
Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.
-
People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.
-
On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.
-
The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.
-
Recent Slide Shows
-
Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)
-
The week in 10 pics
-
Photos: Turmoil and tear gas in Instanbul's Gezi Park - Slideshow
-
10 summer food festivals worth the pit stop
-
- Share on Twitter
- Share on Facebook
- Thumbnails
- Fullscreen
- 1 of 11
- Previous
- Next
-
The week in 10 pics
-
10 summer food festivals worth the pit stop
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
9 amazing drive-in movie theaters still standing
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
Netflix's April Fools' Day categories
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
Related Videos
More Related Stories
-
FBI admits to using drones over U.S. soil
-
WikiLeaks helping Snowden seek asylum
-
HPV vaccine leads to drastic drop in infection rate among teens
-
Brazilian demonstrators out in full force
-
National study finds discrimination against gay couples in housing market
-
Brazil "wakes up"
-
Delaware passes measure to protect transgender rights
-
Popularity boost for search engines outside NSA dragnets
-
Creepy pickup artist rakes in Kickstarter cash
-
Serena Williams blames Steubenville rape survivor for "putting herself in that position"
-
UN: Global refugee crisis worst in decades
-
Must-see morning clip: The WWE weighs in on the immigration debate
-
Why metadata really is the message
-
Brazil lawmakers vote to lift ban on gay "conversion therapy"
-
The FBI doesn't shoot by mistake, says the FBI
-
4 most iconic images of dissent
-
Karzai suspends peace talks with Taliban
-
House passes sweeping anti-abortion bill
-
Gun nuts' strangest subculture: Book clubs
-
Five easy steps for becoming a rape apologist
-
How Obamacare shortchanges low-wage workers
Most Read
-
Bank of America whistle-blower's bombshell: "We were told to lie" David Dayen
-
Why Sarah Palin actually matters again Joan Walsh
-
GOP lawmaker: Extreme abortion ban justified because of masturbating fetuses Katie Mcdonough
-
GOP plan to appeal to millennials: "Make abortion funny" Alex Seitz-Wald
-
Why didn't anyone help? Mary Elizabeth Williams
-
Lynda Obst: Hollywood's completely broken Lynda Obst
-
To my daughter on Father's Day: Sorry I used to be a sexist Mo Elleithee
-
The best of Tumblr porn Tracy Clark-Flory
-
The most popular Tumblr porn Tracy Clark-Flory
-
Rahm Emanuel is losing control of his city Mark Guarino

Popular on Reddit
links from salon.com

33 points34 points35 points | 2 comments
From Around the Web
Presented by Scribol
- Llansanffraid or Llansantffraid? Spelling spat leads to vote in Welsh village (AUDIO)
- Militants from Al Shabaab attack UN complex in Somalia, leaving at least 15 dead
- Fed holds the line on US interest rates but may cut back on bonds
- Nigeria: Gunmen kill 48 in Zamfara state
- Indian doctor creates 'suicide-proof' ceiling fan


Comments
26 Comments