United Nations begs to Stay the Course in Afghanistan

[Keepitsimple]

Here is an aritcle written Jan. 24, 2008 by Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations. His article received very little publicity and although it seems to be a G & M Special Report, it did not appear in print to my knowledge. The article is presented on David Kilgour's website - a former Liberal, now sitting as an independent.

Link: http://www.david-kilgour.com/2008/Jan_26_2008_03.htm

Being in Afghanistan is dangerous, not

being in Afghanistan is more dangerous

By BAN KI-MOON, Special to Globe and Mail Update

January 24, 2008

Afghanistan is a potent symbol of the costs inherent in abandoning nations to the lawless forces of anarchy. That alone justifies international efforts to help rebuild the country. Lest there be any doubt, remember Sept. 11, 2001, and its worldwide reverberations. We learned then how a country, shorn of its civic institutions, becomes a vacuum to be filled by criminals and opportunists. In its chaos and poverty, Afghanistan became a home base for terrorism.

Must we learn that lesson all over again? The past six years have seen a massive international partnership to rebuild Afghanistan's state institutions. A modern constitution was adopted after widespread popular consultations. Presidential and parliamentary elections were held. Three million refugees returned from decades of exile. Clearly, a large majority of the population supports the international community's efforts on Afghans' behalf.

Yet, this progress is in jeopardy. Once again, the opportunists are on the rise, seeking anew to make Afghanistan a lawless place — a locus of instability, terrorism and drug trafficking. Their means are desperate: suicide bombs, kidnappings, the killing of government officials and hijacking of aid convoys. Almost more dismaying is the response of some outside Afghanistan, who react by calling for a disengagement or the full withdrawal of international forces. This would be a misjudgment of historic proportions, the repetition of a mistake that has already had terrible consequences.

The United Nations has been in Afghanistan for many decades. Our institutional memory stretches back to the traumas of the Taliban, and beyond to the era when rival militias battled one another for the meagre spoils of a country broken by civil war. Our hopes for the future look to a day when Afghan state institutions stand on their own, able to tackle with dignity the difficult tasks of reconstruction and development while providing security and justice within secure borders.

I believe that day is within reach. We cannot let it be lost to the inhuman violence of today's insurgents.

For all the frustrations and periodic setbacks, I am heartened by the strong and sustained international support given to Afghanistan. Security concerns notwithstanding, there has been obvious progress. Girls' school enrolment has increased dramatically in the past five years. Six million children are in schools today, compared to less than a million under the Taliban. More than five million children have been immunized against polio, crucial not only for them, but also for our fight to eradicate polio worldwide. Half a million Afghans have gained access to safe water.

New roads are helping farmers get produce to markets. Afghan farmers are meeting 95 per cent of the country's grain needs; in 2001, the figure was less than 50 per cent. The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, created following the 2001 Bonn Agreement, now has nine provincial offices, actively promoting human rights. Under the Taliban, women's participation in public and political life was non-existent. Today, 28 per cent of the seats in parliament are held by women.

The United Nations, alongside national and international counterparts, non-governmental organizations and Afghan civil society, will continue to provide the Afghan government whatever assistance it needs to build on these achievements. Our collective success depends on the continuing presence of the International Security Assistance Force, commanded by NATO and helping local governments in nearly every province to maintain security and carry out reconstruction projects.

In December, the Afghan National Army, supported by ISAF forces, reclaimed the town of Musa Qala in the southern province of Helmand, occupied by insurgents since February of 2007, and a major poppy-growing area. Significantly, it was led by the Afghan army and carried out at the request of the local population. At long last, development work can begin anew in Musa Qala.

The Afghan government has far to go before it regains control of its own destiny. But that day will come. It is hard work. There is little glory. It requires sacrifices. And that is why we are there.

Ban Ki-moon is Secretary-General of the United Nations.

[blueblood]

Tell that to the Europeans

[Army Guy]

Thats the best we can do " tell the europeans" that simple sentence gives us an excuse to pull out of our NATO commitment, to throw our G-8 nation status and responsabilities out the window...To stomp our feet and yell and scream....if i don't get my way i'm going home....we need to grow up...we as canadians need to come to the conclusion that there is more to life than our pogey checks and hockey games..that we can not afford to take those responsabilities that those before us worked so hard to achieve "lightly"....to use them when we are in the mood....

How soon we forget that we have military forces in Afgan today facing live and death each minute of the day....How soon we forget we where the ones that sent them over there to uphold what most Canadians thought was near and dear to them....we where the ones that extended our hand in friendship and to assist a nation down on it's luck....and like a bunch of spoiled rich kids we have grown bored of the Afganis people and thier problems and now want to leave, for something else, something different ...we are not sure of what but we will find something.

Edited February 13, 2008 by Army Guy

[myata]

I understand your frustration, and it's not an easy situation, but these questions have to be asked. Because if going into Afghanistan was a wrong decision in the first place, no "committment" nor "responsibilies" will matter. We'll have to withdraw bleeding, as others before, leaving the country in a greater mess than it was under Taleban.

Again, I agree with your frustration, but it's aimed in the wrong direction. The real cause of problem was the decision to change the focus of our involvement, from assistance and reconstrution, to "combat mission", without broad consideration and analysis, what it means. This was done, of course, to pacify the americans, but was still a wrong thing to do. As a result we ended up fighting on one side in an internal conflict. We shouldn't be doing this. Only Afghans will know (and decide) what's good for them. And they'll decide it the way they know and used to. Nobody gave us the right to "to uphold what most Canadians thought was near and dear to them" on other people's territory and by force of arms. This is as near to plain old colonialism (by another name) as it can get.

[Keepitsimple]

Thats the best we can do " tell the europeans" that simple sentence gives us an excuse to pull out of our NATO commitment, to throw our G-8 nation status and responsabilities out the window...To stomp our feet and yell and scream....if i don't get my way i'm going home....we need to grow up...we as canadians need to come to the conclusion that there is more to life than our pogey checks and hockey games..that we can not afford to take those responsabilities that those before us worked so hard to achieve "lightly"....to use them when we are in the mood....

How soon we forget that we have military forces in Afgan today facing live and death each minute of the day....How soon we forget we where the ones that sent them over there to uphold what most Canadians thought was near and dear to them....we where the ones that extended our hand in friendship and to assist a nation down on it's luck....and like a bunch of spoiled rich kids we have grown bored of the Afganis people and thier problems and now want to leave, for something else, something different ...we are not sure of what but we will find something.

You make me proud Army Guy. It's not a coincidence that the majority of our Military seem to come from outside the major cities. Canada's heart and genuine caring for Canada's responsibility to the free world is still alive and well in Moose Jaw, Kapiskasing, Thunder Bay, Prince Albert, Digby, Fogo, etc.

[MontyBurns]

You make me proud Army Guy. It's not a coincidence that the majority of our Military seem to come from outside the major cities. Canada's heart and genuine caring for Canada's responsibility to the free world is still alive and well in Moose Jaw, Kapiskasing, Thunder Bay, Prince Albert, Digby, Fogo, etc.

Well said. Somebody has to do the hard, dirty work. It astounds me that a majority of Canadians want to lose the war in Afghanistan. It is nice to see that Canada's spirit is still alive in more rural areas.

I think if the people in the major cities had their way we would all be a bunch of gay-mongering socialists like the Swedes. It's sad really.

[M.Dancer]

...... gay-mongering socialists like the Swedes. It's sad really.

The swedes are gay mongers?

I thought they were rabid militant heterosexuals.....

[blueblood]

Thats the best we can do " tell the europeans" that simple sentence gives us an excuse to pull out of our NATO commitment, to throw our G-8 nation status and responsabilities out the window...To stomp our feet and yell and scream....if i don't get my way i'm going home....we need to grow up...we as canadians need to come to the conclusion that there is more to life than our pogey checks and hockey games..that we can not afford to take those responsabilities that those before us worked so hard to achieve "lightly"....to use them when we are in the mood....

How soon we forget that we have military forces in Afgan today facing live and death each minute of the day....How soon we forget we where the ones that sent them over there to uphold what most Canadians thought was near and dear to them....we where the ones that extended our hand in friendship and to assist a nation down on it's luck....and like a bunch of spoiled rich kids we have grown bored of the Afganis people and thier problems and now want to leave, for something else, something different ...we are not sure of what but we will find something.

I was merely responding to the article. The article seems aimed at Canada and in my opinion is suggesting that we should not pull out. I also agree with the article in that since our troops are already there they should do their job, do it fast, and do it well.

I was saying tell it to the Europeans as they are the ones who need to hear this article. They are the ones blabbing about it's America's war etc. They're the ones who are neglecting their G8 status etc. as you were eluding to. What gives the European's the right to be lazy while the Canadians are doing most of the work?

[Argus]

I understand your frustration, and it's not an easy situation, but these questions have to be asked. Because if going into Afghanistan was a wrong decision in the first place, no "committment" nor "responsibilies" will matter. We'll have to withdraw bleeding, as others before, leaving the country in a greater mess than it was under Taleban.

Again, I agree with your frustration, but it's aimed in the wrong direction. The real cause of problem was the decision to change the focus of our involvement, from assistance and reconstrution, to "combat mission", without broad consideration and analysis, what it means. This was done, of course, to pacify the americans, but was still a wrong thing to do. As a result we ended up fighting on one side in an internal conflict. We shouldn't be doing this.

Either you believe in the concept of peacekeeping or you don't. This wishy-washy whiny liberal bleeding heart idea of the peacekeeper as virtually unarmed blue helmets with note pads and wagging fingers was never true to begin with, and is even more absurdly unrealistic today. Did anyone say we were wrong to go into Cyprus to keep the warring Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots away from each other? Canadians fought and killed and died there for many long years - decades, in fact, to preserve the peace. And in an era where charity workers are kidnapped and beheaded, where peacekeepers are chained to bridges as hostages and hacked to death with machets, the ludicrousness of this anti-militarist desire to be 'peacekeepers" without violence is even more profoundly idiotic. Should we have our soldiers there like the Dutch in Srebrenica, who stood by, and actually got out of the way so the Serbs could massacre muslims and croats at a UN camp - because they were only allowed to fight in self defence? Is that what the left wants, for us to take notes as massacres take place but not actually do anything because that's too "american" or militaristic?

[jdobbin]

Thats the best we can do " tell the europeans" that simple sentence gives us an excuse to pull out of our NATO commitment, to throw our G-8 nation status and responsabilities out the window...To stomp our feet and yell and scream....if i don't get my way i'm going home....we need to grow up...we as canadians need to come to the conclusion that there is more to life than our pogey checks and hockey games..that we can not afford to take those responsabilities that those before us worked so hard to achieve "lightly"....to use them when we are in the mood....

I think you mean that Canada should accept the two tier status of NATO.

[jdobbin]

Either you believe in the concept of peacekeeping or you don't. This wishy-washy whiny liberal bleeding heart idea of the peacekeeper as virtually unarmed blue helmets with note pads and wagging fingers was never true to begin with, and is even more absurdly unrealistic today. Did anyone say we were wrong to go into Cyprus to keep the warring Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots away from each other?

Did anyone say anything when we left Cyprus?

[eyeball]

What gives the European's the right to be lazy while the Canadians are doing most of the work?

Exactly what is the cause of the unwillingness in these country's and where is it rooted, in their people, their governments, military or all these? Nobody seems to be directly asking this question. Does it have anything to do with whether you're whiney, a fag or lazy or if you live in the country or the city? These seem to be main criteria for support or a lack thereof here.

Perhaps the real answer is still too inconvenient to bear.

[Wild Bill]

I understand your frustration, and it's not an easy situation, but these questions have to be asked. Because if going into Afghanistan was a wrong decision in the first place, no "committment" nor "responsibilies" will matter. We'll have to withdraw bleeding, as others before, leaving the country in a greater mess than it was under Taleban.

Again, I agree with your frustration, but it's aimed in the wrong direction. The real cause of problem was the decision to change the focus of our involvement, from assistance and reconstrution, to "combat mission", without broad consideration and analysis, what it means. This was done, of course, to pacify the americans, but was still a wrong thing to do. As a result we ended up fighting on one side in an internal conflict. We shouldn't be doing this. Only Afghans will know (and decide) what's good for them. And they'll decide it the way they know and used to. Nobody gave us the right to "to uphold what most Canadians thought was near and dear to them" on other people's territory and by force of arms. This is as near to plain old colonialism (by another name) as it can get.

How do you focus on "assistance and reconstruction" while dodging bullets and bombs? In practice, aren't you saying that we would then be forced to pull out altogether?

Also, which particular Afghans would be allowed to decide what's good for them? Do you mean that some of the Taliban tribes would conduct a national poll and abide by the outcome? That it would be a majority decision?

Are you also saying that it's alright for us to totally abandon the women of Afghanistan to a life of no schooling and no rights?

Please clarify.

[M.Dancer]

Also, which particular Afghans would be allowed to decide what's good for them? Do you mean that some of the Taliban tribes would conduct a national poll and abide by the outcome? That it would be a majority decision?

Maybe he is trying to say that the 8 million afghans who voted in 2005 and the 8 million who voted in 2004 are either the wrong afghans or their secret ballots don't really count.

[Argus]

Did anyone say anything when we left Cyprus?

We'd been there over twenty years, and things had calmed down considerably. We didn't run out in the middle of the job.

[Argus]

Exactly what is the cause of the unwillingness in these country's and where is it rooted, in their people, their governments, military or all these? Nobody seems to be directly asking this question. Does it have anything to do with whether you're whiney, a fag or lazy or if you live in the country or the city? These seem to be main criteria for support or a lack thereof here.

Perhaps the real answer is still too inconvenient to bear.

It's the people, and more specifically, the academic, artistic, media and political elites. They simply loathe America, and so does a large segment of their population. To them, Afghanistan is not a UN mission or even a NATO mission, it's an American mission, and they can't stand the thought of giving the "violent, militaristic" Americans any substantial help. To fight would be to be like, well, the Americans! Iiccck! Honestly, if it weren't for the American involvement I don't think they'd have a problem. I don't think most of the people in Canada would either.

[eyeball]

It's the people, and more specifically, the academic, artistic, media and political elites. They simply loathe America, and so does a large segment of their population. To them, Afghanistan is not a UN mission or even a NATO mission, it's an American mission, and they can't stand the thought of giving the "violent, militaristic" Americans any substantial help. To fight would be to be like, well, the Americans! Iiccck! Honestly, if it weren't for the American involvement I don't think they'd have a problem. I don't think most of the people in Canada would either.

You'd have more than just my financial support too if the Americans would only home and stay there.

[Army Guy]

I understand your frustration, and it's not an easy situation, but these questions have to be asked. Because if going into Afghanistan was a wrong decision in the first place, no "committment" nor "responsibilies" will matter. We'll have to withdraw bleeding, as others before, leaving the country in a greater mess than it was under Taleban.

I don't think you do, This is something every soldier is strugling with. Our nation asked us to carry out it's foreign policy, which we did gladly....at the time the nation stood behind us....While doing so we poured everything we had into that mission, our sweat , blood, and tears....we have seen the Afganis people strugle in thier day to day lives, which are slowly improving....we have seen our comrads die in our arms, or pour thier precious blood over the endless Afganis dust.... we have and still are giving everything we have to make this mission suceed....even when our nation frowns at our achievements...

Only to have to come home and justify why? we are so passionate about this mission. why we don't see it as an endless mission to the very people who sent us over....I'm very aware that it is our government that has the power to send us any where they want...But i'm also very aware that the people of Canada also have a voice and when, used it is heard....there are serveral recent examples of that. and still they have not one way or the other used that vioce....leaving the impression that we are alone in our quest....

But our nation is stuck in limbo, (it won't move forward in regards to the mission, and it won't withdrawal) the people do not support the mission...and without that support this mission will fail, and all our sweat, blood and tears will be for what ? And the majority of Canadians would have a valid piont if this was about oil, or Canada expanding it's empire, or some other reason...but when you boil it all down it's about our nation, blessed as it is ...stretching out it's hand to help...yes the Afganis have alot of bagage but when did we every let that stop us as a nation from atleast trying.... It is effecting our moral, it is effecting the military as a whole...And if it is us who is paying the price that this mission demands, then let us have a say when we have to pull out....as it will be us that will have to explain to the Afganis, to our allieds, to our comrads sorry we have to go home now....

[Army Guy]

I was merely responding to the article. The article seems aimed at Canada and in my opinion is suggesting that we should not pull out. I also agree with the article in that since our troops are already there they should do their job, do it fast, and do it well.

I was saying tell it to the Europeans as they are the ones who need to hear this article. They are the ones blabbing about it's America's war etc. They're the ones who are neglecting their G8 status etc. as you were eluding to. What gives the European's the right to be lazy while the Canadians are doing most of the work?

Sorry blue blood my head just imploded, and that was the straw....To many people are using that as an excuse or one of many Not to support the mission.....But the european commitment or lack of is not a reason for us to drop the ball....But rather it should inspire us to press on finish the job in true Canadian form, much like we did in Vimy, or countless other battle fields thru out the world...or on our first UN peacekeeping mission.

Frankly scarlet, i don't give a damn....that is the message we should be sending....

[M.Dancer]

Sorry blue blood my head just imploded, and that was the straw....To many people are using that as an excuse or one of many Not to support the mission.....But the european commitment or lack of is not a reason for us to drop the ball....But rather it should inspire us to press on finish the job in true Canadian form, much like we did in Vimy, or countless other battle fields thru out the world...or on our first UN peacekeeping mission.

Frankly scarlet, i don't give a damn....that is the message we should be sending....

One of the questions that we aren't asking is, how long will it be before we can stop going cap in hand for support. Canada needs to massively reinvest in the armed forces from the ground up.

[Army Guy]

I think you mean that Canada should accept the two tier status of NATO.

No Canada should only be concerned that it is holding up it's end of the alliance...and when that day comes around that NATO is reconsidering it's alliance members....we might still be at the table..

[myata]

Our "end of the alliance" is collective defense. What we're doing in Afghanistan, fighting with one faction of the people against another, however unpleasant from our point of view (and note that we may and have, found many, absolutely and democratically elected factions unpleasant before - such as e.g left in South America; Islamic opposition in Middle East (Egypt, Algeria); Hamaz in Palestine), can be called "defense" only with a major stretch of credibility. That's the main cause of the unease on the part of some allies, as well as public in the country. I.e, the nature of the mission. I only wish it was discussed openly and broadly before committing to the combat role. If would save you and your comrades much pain and frustration.

[HisSelf]

We need a solid and well-equipped armed force. We need it to defend our country. Are we really putting our dollars to their best use by putting our military in Afghanistan? We have a weak flank a lot closer to home. And by buying equipment and training people for Afghanistan, we are weakening that flank.

When the US was attacked on 9/11, I was all for going into Afghanistan and doing what had to be done. But since then I have seen the US take its focus off of Afghanistan and put it into Iraq, where there was very little threat to the west. At the same time, the US administration has constantly put pressure on its NATO Treaty allies to backstop this idiot adventure by backfilling in Afghanistan.

It is time we all took a very close look at what the US has gotten us into and why. We need to think about where our own interests are best served. The Europeans did so long ago and chose a different path. I think they were right.

[capricorn]

It is time we all took a very close look at what the US has gotten us into and why.

If you're referring to Afghanistan, the US has not gotten us into it. Afghanistan is a UN sanctioned mission commanded by NATO. We support the UN and we're a member of NATO. Through our involvement in Afghanistan we are living up to our obligation as a NATO member.

As far as the US contribution to Afghanistan, having well over 30,000 troops in Afghanistan I'd say it is a significant contribution.

[eyeball]

I don't think HisSelf is referring to the US getting us into Afghanistan capricorn, I think he means our "obligation" (as you put it) to be accessories in the unfolding crime against humanity aka as American economic and military foreign policy.