I want to commend a paper at the Brookings Institution on U. S. policy with respect to Afghanistan to your attention. The paper takes the form of a transcript of a discussion among a panel of policy experts. The members of the panel agree on a number of things:
- We’ve accomplished our original goal in Afghanistan long since.
- That objective transmogrified over time into generalized support for the Afghan government.
- Progress on that goal has been elusive.
- President Obama’s concern about America’s impatience was wrong.
- President Trump’s decision to give the Pentagon a longer leash on troop strength was probably the right one.
- Our force levels in Afghanistan should be increased.
- Sustaining that will require a substantial sales job.
Part of the sales job needed will be reducing expectations for what we can accomplish there. How low can you go?
Way way way back when I was a yunker, people used to play a board game called RISK. And one of the frequently recommended strategies to newcomers was “Fortify Afghanistan!” It was, in fact, a sure way to lose, but …
It’s always nice to be reminded of childhood pleasures.