(2009-09-25) Lind McChrystal Afghan Plan

William Lind critiques General StanleyMc Chrystal's "plan" for Afghanistan. America must find a new strategy, since the current strategy depends on an Afghan state that does not exist. But the report offers no new strategy... Our strategic goal, as General Mc Chrystal's report states in its first paragraph, is to prevent AlQaeda's return to Afghanistan. There is currently no evidence of AlQaeda presence in Afghanistan. One of the best open sources of intelligence, Nightwatch, recently stated this directly, and General Mc Chrystal's report hints at it. Our strategic goal would be to see the creation of a state in Afghanistan that can and will prevent AlQaeda's return. Who can do that? The Taliban. We would use the time bought by counterinsurgency operations to negotiate with the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, the Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin and other Afghan leaders, including some in the current Afghan government, toward a power-sharing arrangement. A government that includes the Taliban can create a state. The risk is the Taliban's willingness to keep AlQaeda out. Why should Mullah Omar agree to that? Because AlQaeda no longer needs Afghan bases. It has far more useful ones in Pakistan. That is why it is not in Afghanistan now.