[International Herald Tribune, France]

[Click Here for German Version]

Die Zeit, Germany

Afghans Must Publicly Admit they Still Need West to Stay

Hamid Karzai knows full well - particularly since his own fate is inextricably wrapped up in all this - that for now, he wont last long without the Americans. The Afghans must acknowledge that they still need help, and say so, both at home and abroad. Karzais duplicitous high-wire act is as much a burden on the process as charred pages of the Quran and out-of-control troops. Karzai has to enunciate what he wants.

By Carsten Luther

Translated By Stephanie Martin

March 13, 2012

Germany - Die Zeit - Original Article (German)

Ghulam Rasool, a tribal elder from Kandahar Province, after a meeting with President Hamid Karzai. It seems that he and his associates now believe that the massacre allegedly committed by a lone American serviceman, was a revenge attack for a roadside bomb attack on American forces in the same area a few days before. EXPRESS TRIBUNE, PAKISTAN: The U.S. failed in Afghanistan, but is playing the same game in Balochistan, Feb. 12, 00:04:34

We are back to debating the withdrawal from Afghanistan. This time it was triggered by the perverse rampage of a U.S. soldier last Sunday. There have been events of similar gravity in the recent past: corpse desecration, the hunting down of civilians, and the accidental but momentous burning of copies of the Quran. The discussion then was the same: With incidents like these, is it possible to remain in Afghanistan? Can we still seriously hope that this mission can succeed? Or should we finally admit the mission has failed and withdraw international troops from the Hindu Kush earlier than planned?

In its own interest, the West launched this conflict as the war on terror. But then it turned into a promise to guide Afghans toward a better future and help them build a state that could guarantee security and opportunity for the nations people.

That remains no more than a promise. And up to now, the West has failed spectacularly to keep it - in the first place, by committing a large number of military and administrative mistakes. But above all, because the perspective of the West was incorrect from the outset, since the aim never was to ascertain how Afghanistan could best be helped. Rather, the idea was to ascertain what the West was prepared to do - or not do - for Afghanistan. As a result, civilian reconstruction was pursued half-heartedly and the response to the resurgence of the Taliban in the middle of the decade was no more than one-sided.

Not We but the Afghans Must Decide

It has always been our ideas and resources that determined the mission in Afghanistan  and it was always our perspective. Now, after the rampage of an American soldier, this is again the case.

Instead, the correct question to ask is whether the Afghans still want us there. What future do they envision for their country? When would they like to take full charge of their own fate? And do they believe they could do so by 2014, the date international troops are scheduled to withdraw?

In particular, the reaction of Afghan President Hamid Karzai to the rampage committed by the U.S. serviceman shows that for the time being, such questions will remain unresolved. In the first place, because Karzai uses almost every mistake and insanity this war produces to discredit Americas deployment as an unwanted occupation.

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With Karzai fueling a domestic mood that as far as international troops are concerned, makes everything beyond battling extremists difficult, all often seems lost. Thus for tactical reasons, Karzai weakens moderate forces in the country and plays into the hands of those who dont wish to see a functioning government that can prevent attacks. This provides just a glimpse of the potential post-withdrawal chaos.

On the other hand, he knows full well - particularly since his own fate is inextricably wrapped up in all this - that for now, he wont last long without the Americans. Therefore, Karzai is negotiating with Washington over a post-2014 strategic partnership that might allow for some U.S. troops to be deployed once the combat mission ends.

Karzai Must Tell Us What he Wants

And these days, thats the real point we need to focus on. The West can only stay in Afghanistan, whatever the length of time, if Afghans want it to - at least a majority. Not without a growing recognition here and among Afghan leaders that things primarily depend on the Afghan people, will both sides be able to work together to find solutions to Afghanistans lingering problems.

SEE ALSO ON THIS:

Kahleej Times, UAE: Trial of Robert Bales will Put U.S. Government in the Dock

The Telegraph, U.K.: Madness is Not the Cause of American's Afghan Massacre

Kayhan, Iran: U.S. Killed Afghans to Divert Attention from Burnings of Holy Quran

Frontier Post, Pakistan: Taliban Claim Afghan Killing Spree not Work of Lone U.S. Soldier

Guardian Unlimited, U.K.: Afghans Suspect U.S. Cover- Up Over Soldier Killing Spree

Outlook Afghanistan, Afghanistan: Dishonoring Holy Quran Harms U.S. Credibility

Kayhan, Iran: American Leaders Fear 'Rising Tide of Islam'

News, Switzerland: How Political Correctness Led to Pastor Jones

The Star, South Africa: South African Muslims Prevent a 'Bible Bonfire'

Die Tageszeitung, Germany: Let's Punish Pastor Jones By Looking Away

Folha, Brazil: Pastor Jones Takes Journalists for a Ride

Der Spiegel, Germany: Daughter of Terry Jones Asks Dad: 'Papa, Don't Do It'

Der Spiegel, Germany: Jones Condemned By His Ex-Church in Germany

Telegraph, U.K.: Can One Idiot Really 'Threaten World Peace'?

Telegraph, U.K.: 9/11 Quran Burning: What U.S Law Says

Daily Star, Lebanon: Quran Burning a Threat to America and the World

Rheinischer Merkur, Germany: Cordoba House: Let it Be a Triumph of Tolerance

ABC, Spain: Cordoba House: The 'Impossible Mosque'

ABC, Spain: The Mosque Near Ground Zero: A Case of Insensitivity

La Opinion de Zemora, Spain: Cordoba House and 'Hussein of Yankeeland'

Guardian Unlimited, U.K.: The Poison Behind the Ground Zero Mosque Furore

The Telegraph, U.K.: The Depressing Debacle of 'Ground Zero Mosque'

BBC News, U.K.: Mosque Dispute Exposes Obama on Two Sides

To achieve this, the West will have to be realistic about its ambitious and optimistic goals and show patience. The Afghans must acknowledge that they still need help and say so, both at home and abroad. Karzais duplicitous high-wire act is as much a burden on the process as charred pages of the Quran and out-of-control troops. Karzai has to enunciate what he wants.

Yes, a discussion about withdrawal must take place. But not with the war-weariness of Western troops as the only backdrop.

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