Success in Afghanistan
Success in Afghanistan
Edmonton Sun
Dr. Keith Martin
November 3, 2008
Re: “Afghan peace depends on negotiating,” Oct. 31, by Lyn Cockburn.
Despite the heroism of our troops, our Afghan mission will fail unless we deal with the following four areas irresponsibly neglected by NATO.
First, an Afghan-led grassroots inter- and intra-tribal reconciliation must occur in order to deal with the endemic conflict that has plagued the country for decades.
Second, a regional working group, involving Pakistan, India and Afghanistan, must work together to stop the insurgency based in western Pakistan.
Third, Mr. Karzai’s government is riddled with corruption. Ethical standards must be developed and enforced for people to run for office. Anybody who does not meet those standards should be forbidden from running. Information about monies given by other countries and NGOs to the government must be made public, to create grassroots accountability. Additionally, building up Afghanistan’s technical human resources capabilities must be a priority. This requires better aid co-ordination, a focus on aid for development, the creation of a domestic ability to provide for people’s essentials (health care, education, water and food security), and the creation of essential infrastructure.
Fourth, we must have a “surge” in our efforts to have competent, paid, equipped and trained members of all four pillars of Afghan security: an Afghan army, police force, judiciary and correctional system. Remarkably, these last three areas have received grossly insufficient attention. If these four solutions are not addressed, Canada and NATO will be mired in our own “Vietnam,” a war without end.
Dr. Keith Martin, MP for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca
Success in Afghanistan
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