Another Optimist On Afghanistan Who Is Becoming Pessimistic

TOP DOWN - U.S Navy Seaman Apprentice Brian Uibel and U.S. Marine Cpl. Kevin Johnson, left, check stores during a patrol with Afghan national police in Farah province, Afghanistan, Jan. 24, 2009. Uibel and Johnson are assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau

The Island Of Kabul -- Battlefield Tourist

For years I have kept faith that the experiment in democracy here in Afghanistan would lead to better lives for millions of Afghans. While this is true in many ways, there is a lot of concern in the capital that this experiment is moving rapidly toward failure. As I sit here and brainstorm what is happening around, I find myself shaking my head in confusion because the elements that compromise this problem are so numerous that even optimistic people, like myself, are starting to doubt in a major way.

My former colleague, Nadir, has lived in Afghanistan his entire life. Together, him and I have travelled the Kabul-Kandahar road several times back in 2004, and while we had reservations then, those days are long gone.

“Oh no, David… it is far too dangerous. You can’t even drive to Ghazni anymore.”

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My Comment: I know what this blogger is feeling. I was optimistic once .... no more. The problems in Afghanistan are huge, and we in the West do not have the resources nor the will power to help the Afghans to confront and solve them. The observations from "A Battlefield Tourist" are riveting. This is a must read post.