Biggest Threat To U.S. Goals In Afghanistan Is Corruption

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Dallas gives an Afghan civil patrol officer a coin of appreciation during Operation Eagle Mountain in Didar, Afghanistan, April 14, 2012. Dallas is assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Marc Loi

Afghan Corruption Threatens 'Everything We've Gained' -- Aol Defense

WASHINGTON: With the Taliban reeling, it is the Afghan government's own corruption that is the biggest threat to US goals and the biggest reason to keep US advisors in place through 2014 and beyond. That's the verdict of Marine Maj. Gen. John Toolan, who just finished a year commanding the international force called Regional Command Southwest, responsible for both Nimruz province and the former Taliban stronghold of Helmand.

"If we want to lose everything we've gained, then if we allow corruption to take root, it'll come crashing in," said Toolan, speaking at the Atlantic Council of the United States. Today, the Taliban are "completely on their back" in southern Helmand, "on their knees" in the center of the province, and "on their heels" in the north, Toolan argued. "Three years ago, before the surge," Toolan said, "the Taliban ran the local communities." Today they have to sneak across the border from Pakistan. "They're now the visiting team," said Toolan. "We are the home team."

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My Comment: To change a culture that has been living with corruption for decades (if not centuries) cannot be changed overnight. The best that we can hope for is that it`s impact is minimized, and some token officials are punished when caught.