muse
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I understand the sentiment. The problem is not just the fighting capablity - in my opinion, in my experience, the problem is structural - it is a problem of governance - for instance, try and register a vehicle in an Afghan city, or get any kind of permit or license or any activity that involves interacting with govt types.
Now, I always like these kinds of things because I think it allows us to look at situations from a different persepective and to understand anew a predicament we kind ourselves in --
One of the strengths of the English was of course that they were long term players and left the Indian not just the Indian army but more importantly the civil service.
Try looking into the Afghan postal service, just as an example of the kinds of problems that any one faces -- houses do not have numbers, most building has taken place in unsanctioned sections (where ofcourse land and property rights are...."uncertain") honestly, without cell phones and given the lack of a postak service, imagine what society is?
Best way to deal with the Pashtun is to leave him alone - they are self regulating, self sustaining systems, the organization of the Pashtun is - the absoiutely most networked society you can imagine - all without a postal service, really fascinating stuff.
How to co-opt the Pashtun - that is the best question and most worthy challenge -- leave him the heck alone but do not discriminate against him - he is the majority, he is conservative (read backward) not stupid -- he will avail education when he can see his self interest in it.
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The Pashtun say that govt schools turn Muslims into infidels, I say give me madaress which are in reality technical schools -- trades in Afg are learned in the old style, apprenticeship --- and lets be realistic, it's a long term project, not one the US can handle.
It's curious that no Turkish or UAE soldiers are ever targetted - even more interesting is that when UAE soldiers gone into a village they do not come in offering "security" - they bring FOOD!, grains and legumes -- the diet of the ordinary Afg is much improved, at least they now eat meat once a once, even if they have to take a loan to do so.
And the Pashtun mentality does not understand assistance the way you or I may understand it - these are terribly practical persons, worldly -- don't offer them assistance, the US is not understood as a Muslim country or even one friendly to Muslims - leave it at that, things must take their time, ande reconcile to the idea that modest notions of success are best.
Even though they may find it offensive, Pashtun affiliations and organizatiosn operate very much like Indian Hindu castes - perhaps we may learn by studying these.
Now, I always like these kinds of things because I think it allows us to look at situations from a different persepective and to understand anew a predicament we kind ourselves in --
One of the strengths of the English was of course that they were long term players and left the Indian not just the Indian army but more importantly the civil service.
Try looking into the Afghan postal service, just as an example of the kinds of problems that any one faces -- houses do not have numbers, most building has taken place in unsanctioned sections (where ofcourse land and property rights are...."uncertain") honestly, without cell phones and given the lack of a postak service, imagine what society is?
Best way to deal with the Pashtun is to leave him alone - they are self regulating, self sustaining systems, the organization of the Pashtun is - the absoiutely most networked society you can imagine - all without a postal service, really fascinating stuff.
How to co-opt the Pashtun - that is the best question and most worthy challenge -- leave him the heck alone but do not discriminate against him - he is the majority, he is conservative (read backward) not stupid -- he will avail education when he can see his self interest in it.
\
The Pashtun say that govt schools turn Muslims into infidels, I say give me madaress which are in reality technical schools -- trades in Afg are learned in the old style, apprenticeship --- and lets be realistic, it's a long term project, not one the US can handle.
It's curious that no Turkish or UAE soldiers are ever targetted - even more interesting is that when UAE soldiers gone into a village they do not come in offering "security" - they bring FOOD!, grains and legumes -- the diet of the ordinary Afg is much improved, at least they now eat meat once a once, even if they have to take a loan to do so.
And the Pashtun mentality does not understand assistance the way you or I may understand it - these are terribly practical persons, worldly -- don't offer them assistance, the US is not understood as a Muslim country or even one friendly to Muslims - leave it at that, things must take their time, ande reconcile to the idea that modest notions of success are best.
Even though they may find it offensive, Pashtun affiliations and organizatiosn operate very much like Indian Hindu castes - perhaps we may learn by studying these.
