Rob
Rob
Aug 24, 2017 · 3 min read

Trump’s inherently counterproductive Afghan War Strategy

Incontestably, the War on Terror has created more problems than it has solved. President Trump’s principled realism is the doctrine that will guide this unclear strategy through its increase in troop deployment to Afghanistan. To a certain extent, this strategy is deceptive and detrimental. Deceptive, because it is nothing new nor logical yet it is purported to be. It is merely a continuation of the doctrine championed by previous administrations. Detrimental, because the past 16 years have seen radical Islam flourish in defiance of this pro-war doctrine.

The dire situation in Afghanistan is a ramification of the radical Islamic ideology whose origins can be traced back to the Cold War. In cahoots with their Pakistani counterparts, the CIA channeled approximately $2 billion into the radicalization, training, and arming of young Muslim guerrilla fighters to counter the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Korans and pro-jihad material were printed by the Americans. The Pakistanis instilled in them the idea that Soviet infidels deserved nothing less than death for their abominable invasion. It worked. These radicalized fighters were known as the mujahideen, and one of their bravest commanders was a certain Osama bin Laden.

Unfortunately, nothing was done to disempower these dangerous men after they drove out the Soviets. No disarmament nor de-radicalization. The failure to disempower these jihadists allowed their ideology to evolve exponentially. It was not long before these dangerous men formed extremist groups, many of which coalesced into Al Qaeda and the Taliban. We know how the rest of the story unfolds.

Increasing the military presence in Afghanistan is comparable to an attempt to eradicate every single white supremacist and neo-Nazi from the face of the earth. Impossible! Yes, a substantial number of jihadists may be killed; but the idea which is the root problem, will survive the bombs, bullets and drones. Military force escalates terrorist activity. Islamic extremism, like stubborn bacteria, will only regenerate, more resistant than ever. This is what has happened the past 16 years. The Trump Administration strategy is doing the same thing and expecting different results… Einstein’s definition of insanity.

Indeed, the Taliban and its allies are wreaking havoc in Afghanistan, which clearly requires a radical change in military strategy. However, is increasing military presence the answer? The truth of the matter is that the situation on the ground has spiraled out of control, and this happened in the presence of a coalition of troops. The barbaric terrorist attacks Europe is suffering is undoubtedly linked to this military presence. In the medium to long-term, a considerable shift from hard to soft power will be more effective in eradicating the idea behind the chaos, radical Islam. This balance between soft and hard power is what allowed the CIA to contribute to the rise of radical Islam, so it should be equally effective in contributing to its demise.

President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary James Mattis. Copyright: LA Times (2017)

A great starting point would be a reevaluation of the alliance with Pakistan, where radical ideas are rife and there is no guarantee that the country’s leadership is spared by these ideas. Equally counterproductive are the strong economic ties with the Saudi and Qatari regimes; whose petrodollars are channeled towards radical groups that propagate the very ideas American soldiers have died in their droves fighting against. Finally, substantially investing in the propagation of anti-radical Islamic media would be equivalent to dropping bombs on the factories that produce the barbarians billions are being spent on to kill. It worked during the Cold War, it will work today. Thousands affected by the war are being manipulated and brainwashed to join the jihad against the American infidels, yet the US Government is doing little to combat the propagation of these ideas.

If Mr. Trump really wants to put America first, he should “follow his instinct” and pull out, wisely. He should respect the will of the majority of Americans, who do not want to see this war continue. Personally, I think it’s time to stop tinkering in a region whose socio-political dynamics are clearly too complicated to grasp. An impartial reevaluation of the curses and boons of the military involvement in Afghanistan and the Middle East at large is long overdure. This military presence is a causal factor of the terror we are fighting; and as such a paradigm shift is in order.

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