CIAO DATE: 07/2010
June 2010
Global Political Trends Center
Elections are being held in Afghanistan. The result will not change Afghan political landscape. As Obama said, the war was not one of choice but of necessity. Yet the Western project of building a unified Afghan nation and creating a modern state was a matter of choice. It has a very slim chance of succeeding. Today, it is better understood. The continuation of the war carries an enormous financial burden and important political risks. Afghanistan may turn into a Vietnam preventing much awaited reforms by President Obama at home. It may erode the credibility of the North Atlantic Alliance and may destabilize Pakistan much more. The West needs an exit strategy. Bringing into government “moderate Taliban”, implementing projects aimed at people as Turks have done in the past and continuing the fight against terrorism not with large forces but with high-tech military means can be such a strategy.
Resource link: Elections in Afghanistan [PDF] - 236K