In reference to this article:
The civilian government does not run Afghanistan, the clans do. It will be even more so once the Americans pull out.
Afghan unity is a sham propped up by the US government. Once we lose interest, as we did in Iraq, the region-improperly-labeled-as-country will fall back into its previous state.
If only the Shahs were still around...
Abdullah and Ghani are playing to the future. There's no way these guys would get the positions they now hold if they didn't brown-nose the US, and long-term there's no way they will remain in power if they don't brown-nose the clans.
I have a feeling it won't work out for either of them, especially Ghani. The Pashtun have a history of constant power struggles that result in the untimely demise of prominent figures. Tajiks less so, but it's doubtful that Abdullah will be a player down the road.
Either way, Afghan culture and society is ill-suited to western democracy. The tribes will take it back, be it in five years or fifty.
The civilian government does not run Afghanistan, the clans do. It will be even more so once the Americans pull out.
Afghan unity is a sham propped up by the US government. Once we lose interest, as we did in Iraq, the region-improperly-labeled-as-country will fall back into its previous state.
If only the Shahs were still around...
Abdullah and Ghani are playing to the future. There's no way these guys would get the positions they now hold if they didn't brown-nose the US, and long-term there's no way they will remain in power if they don't brown-nose the clans.
I have a feeling it won't work out for either of them, especially Ghani. The Pashtun have a history of constant power struggles that result in the untimely demise of prominent figures. Tajiks less so, but it's doubtful that Abdullah will be a player down the road.
Either way, Afghan culture and society is ill-suited to western democracy. The tribes will take it back, be it in five years or fifty.
No comments:
Post a Comment