Is American Policy in Afghanistan Flawed?
Tribalism and Ethnicity Supercede Afghan Nationalism
Jul 26, 2009
A radical examination of the Afghanistan problem has emerged that forces America to look at its elementary concepts of nationhood. The last two administrations have different views on the Afghan predicament; however, it is possible that both tactics are flawed. For many years the Bush Administration had followed a path of military conflict similar to that of the Soviet Union in the late 1970s. The Obama administration is pursuing a path of military strength that provides the security to force diplomatic negotiations. Yet both approaches have one underlying factor that may cause fundamental failure - one unified nation in Afghanistan.
Bush Doctrine
Arguments on the failure of the Bush policy have focused on four fundamental areas.
- Analysts have insisted that the administration did not supply sufficient troops in the early days of the war. Distracted by Iraq, troop numbers were naive at best and disingenuous at worst.
- Another criticism of the policy was that the troop deployment was inappropriate. ISAF forces concentrated on cities and metropolitan areas when tribal security was necessary.
- The next area was that the US ignored the influence of Pakistan.
- The final area of concern was the tactics used by American forces. Focusing on a central government failed to win the hearts and minds of local tribesmen, creating problems in provinces nonaligned with Kabul.
The Obama administration is attempting to correct some of the problems made by its predecessor; however, while still new, some historians are arguing that this path too will fail.
- Increase military strength in key regions.
- Provide security and infrastructure in regional areas.
- Address cross boarder issues with Pakistan and Iran and
- Negotiate with those ousted from power – mainly the Taliban.
Richard F. Nyrop and Donald M. Seekins of the American University wrote in their paper Afghanistan Country Study, “Afghanistan is home not only to several religious sects but also to a host of different ethnic, linguistic, and tribal groups. Rivalry and even armed hostilities have traditionally been common between and within many of these groups…. Ethnicity and tribalism have both served to divide Afghans of different groups from each other and to unite Afghans with similar backgrounds….Because both tribe and ethnic group are extensions of family, in order to unite Afghans from divergent groups it might be useful to extend the concept of family as far as it will go… This is precisely what the Mujahidiin have done.”
America’s Fatal Flaw
Both administrations fail to accept a fundamental principle of Afghanistan. Their policies are based upon one central theme of nationhood as understood by the USA. Many of the tribes in Afghanistan have ethnic ties with other “nations.” Most common to Americans are Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Equally united are Afghan Uzbeks and Uzbekistan, Afghan Tajiks and Tajikistan, Afghan Farsiwans (or Persians) and Iran, Afghan Turkmen and Turkmenistan as well as over 100 other tribes, ethnic groups and sub-groups. They perceive no man-made national boundary only ethnic family.
The tribalism of Afghanistan’s populace has existed for centuries from the ruling elite to rural mountaineers and the American concept of nationalism is completely abstract at best. The creation of a centralized government, while appealing to America, has the appearance (supported by evidence of cronyism and corruption) of one tribe gaining power over the others. The Taliban (former Mujahidiin) have once again successfully united the groups under the concept of family. Nyrop and Seekins said, the Mujahidiin appeal “…to the community of believers (i.e., all Muslims regardless of sect.) Although there is no belief that Muslims share a common descent, the shared goals, and opposition to other groups…are reminiscent of familial, tribal, and ethnic group construction. As such, the appeal of the [Taliban] must be strongly familiar.”
The radical idea is that one nation, under God, indivisible…simply can not exist in Afghanistan! It is possible (as the Taliban have revealed) to unite the nation against a particular foe, but unity, for nationalism's sake, has proven unlikely.
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