Nato, Diplomacy: and Marines
One of today's BBC articles on the developing situation in Afghanistan makes the military operation sound - well, military."Nato begins major Afghanistan offensive"What's a bit less obvious in leading news from Afghanistan is the sort of diplomacy that's going on before - and, quite possibly, during - the strictly military aspects of the operation.
BBC (February 13, 2010)
"Thousands of US, British and Afghan troops have launched the biggest offensive in Afghanistan since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001.
"Helicopter-borne forces are attacking the Taliban-held districts of Marjah and Nad Ali in Helmand province in a bid to re-establish government control.
"Nato says Marjah is home to the biggest community under insurgent control in the south and 400 to 1,000 militants.
"Many residents fled ahead of Operation Moshtarak - meaning 'together' in Dari.
"Nato had distributed leaflets in the Marjah area warning of the planned offensive in a bid to limit civilian casualties. Villagers said they warned Taliban fighters to leave the area or be killed...."
"...Operation Moshtarak is being led by the US Marine Corps, but a total of 4,000 British troops are involved on the ground and in support, supported by Danes and Estonians.
"The initial offensive in Marjah, in Nad Ali district, began early on Saturday.
"More than 4,000 US marines, 1,500 Afghan soldiers and 300 US soldiers moved in by helicopter under cover of night...."
I'd like to live in a world where outfits like the Taliban - particularly their leaders - would have a change of heart, decide that it's okay for women to drive cars, apologize for killing people they didn't approve of, and start being nice.
I think it's likely enough that some people who supported the Taliban out of fear or inadequate knowledge will be willing to abandon terrorism. But dedicated islamic terrorists? No, I think the odds are strongly against their deciding to be nice.
"Nato forces in Afghanistan to launch Helmand operation"I'm reminded strongly of what the American-led coalition did in Iraq. (And, no, Bush wasn't "going it alone" - although admittedly a little under one in eight of Earth's 265 nations and other administrative units were in the coalition. (August 9, 2007))
BBC (January 25, 2010)
"...But if there was a conversation before the operation between the Afghans and village leaders, he said, 'we often find the Afghans don't fight - but they will welcome you'.
"He pointed to an operation run in a similar way by Canadian forces to the west of Kandahar 'where not a shot was fired'.
"And in an operation by the Grenadier Guards in central Helmand province 'the same effect was created', he said....'
Many Iraqis simply didn't know about foreigners, western or otherwise. As they discovered that these foreigners, when they weren't fighting Al Qaeda or Hussein holdouts, repaired and restocked hospitals, fixed sewer systems, and made themselves helpful in other ways - Al Qaeda propaganda started to be questioned.
Al Qaeda's efforts to win support by cutting off people's heads probably didn't help their popularity, either.
I doubt we'll hear much about the Anbar Awakening and related grass-roots movements in Iraq: That was, after all, Al Qaeda in Iraq, not the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Besides, America has a new administration now - but perhaps I'm being unfair.
Related posts:
- "Iraq's Soft Surge; Pakistan and the Taliban: Weekend News and History"
(May 10, 2009) - "Obama Reaches Out to Taliban: This Might Actually Work"
(March 8, 2009) - "Good News From Iraq? There Must be Something Wrong Here"
(October 23, 2008) - "Good News: Anbar Province is Just About Ready for Hand-Over"
(January 11, 2008) - "Beheading Iraqis: Not Al Qaeda's Brightest Idea"
(October 25, 2007) - "Locals Join American Forces, Purge City of Terrorists"
(September 11, 2007) - "Watch for Weird Words: Election's Coming Up!"
(August 9, 2007)
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