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U.S. mission in Afghanistan becoming increasingly muddled
By Shoshana Bryen
Shoshana Bryen
WASHINGTON, D.C. — What is the American goal in Afghanistan? To chase al Qaeda, degrade the Taliban, or protect the people from the Taliban’s depredations? Is it to provide consensual government under elected leadership, clean government and services to the people? Or maybe it is to kill bad guys? But what constitutes a bad guy? Is it killing Americans or depriving Afghan women of their civil and human rights? If the former, would they be less likely to kill us if we weren’t in their country? If the latter, is it the job of the United States to provide Western-style opportunities for women only in Afghanistan, or elsewhere as well? If we chase al Qaeda out of Afghanistan, will we follow them to their next refuge?
The President, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State have provided varying answers to those questions and the result is that the military officers fighting the Afghan war appear to have divergent views about what we are doing and for how long we will do it.
In a series of events dating from late May, Maj. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Adm. Eric Olson and Gen. David Petraeus – and Karl Eikenberry, a former Army Lieutenant General now Ambassador to Afghanistan – clearly, and perhaps inadvertently, laid out the U.S. policy conundrum beginning in Marjah.
The battle for Marjah, begun in February, was to be the first demonstration of Gen. McChrystal’s population-centric warfighting doctrine for Afghanistan: emphasis on preventing civilian casualties- even at greater risk to the lives of U.S. and coalition troops – providing security for the people; ensuring that Afghan government services and jobs would follow (“government in a box,” he called it); and proving that life would be better under U.S.-Afghan rules than under the Taliban.
“I believe the perception caused by civilian casualties is one of the most dangerous enemies we face,” because when the U.S. kills civilians more people join the Taliban,” McChrystal said, and a loss of popular support “will be strategically decisive.”
This doctrine was in support of the President’s determination that the U.S. would leave Afghanistan in 2011 with an operative, consensual government. But Ambassador Eikenberry had doubts. In leaked cables described in the press, he wrote:
“President Karzai is not an adequate strategic partner… The proposed counterinsurgency strategy assumes an Afghan political leadership that is both able to take responsibility and to exert sovereignty in the furtherance of our goal, yet Karzai continues to shun responsibility for any sovereign burden, whether defense, governance or development. He and much of his circle do not want the U.S. to leave and are only too happy to see us invest further.”
If Amb. Eikenberry is concerned about the inability of the Karzai government to function, Adm. Eric Olson did not believe the population-focused strategy was responsive to American military interests. A report in Defense News notes:
“The U.S. military’s counterinsurgency tactics increasingly place too much emphasis on protecting local peoples and not enough on fighting enemy forces, said U.S. Special Operations Command chief Adm. Eric Olson. While the U.S. military has adopted a population-focused strategy in Afghanistan, Olson said he ‘fears counterinsurgency has become a euphemism for nonkinetic activities.’
“The term is now to often used to describe efforts aimed at ‘protecting populations,’ Olson said during a conference… The military’s top special operator, in a shot across the bow of modern-day counterinsurgency doctrine proponents, then added: ‘Counterinsurgency should involve countering the insurgents.’
While insisting that the population-centered approach serves the mission, Gen. McChrystal appears worried about the time line. In late May, he expressed impatience with the pace of progress and the unwillingness of the people of Marjah to side openly with the Afghan government or the U.S.-led coalition. Knight Ridder reported:
“There aren’t enough U.S. and Afghan forces to provide the security that’s needed to win the loyalty of wary locals. The Taliban have beheaded Afghans who cooperate with foreigners in a creeping intimidation campaign. The Afghan government hasn’t dispatched enough local administrators or trained police to establish credible governance, and now the Taliban have begun their anticipated spring offensive. ‘This is a bleeding ulcer right now,’ McChrystal told a group of Afghan officials.
“One American civilian strategist told McChrystal that it would be hard to force Marjah residents to shed their skepticism quickly. ‘The vast majority of people are going to be on the fence, and they’re going to wait… The hard question for us is: Can we push them off the fence or do we have to wait for them? It will take time, and even if you throw two more battalions in there, it is still going to take months and months.’
The United States military has postponed the next phase of its planned Afghan operations – the offensive in Kandahar – because conditions in Marjah are still unsettled. The Knight Ridder story explained:
“In an attempt to contain the creeping Taliban campaign (Marines) in northern Marjah recently ceded direct control of an outlying rural area, collapsed its battle space and moved a company back into the population center, which had been neglected. ‘There was no security,’ said a tribal elder whose fear of the Taliban prompted him to leave Marjah two weeks ago for the relative safety of Helmand’s nearby provincial capital, Lashkar Gah. ‘By day there is government,’ he said. ‘By night it’s the Taliban.’
This leads to the question of the planned U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan in July 2011. To the extent that the Afghans understand that we have an exit strategy and the Taliban doesn’t need one, it is in their interest to find a way to live with the Taliban rather than with us. And if we believe the Taliban will be the long-term player, how do we plan to force out al Qaeda? And even if we do, what will make them stay out?
President Obama, at a joint press conference with President Karzai, reiterated, “I am confident that we’re going to be able to reduce our troop strength in Afghanistan starting in July 2011, and I am in constant discussions with General McChrystal, as well as Ambassador Eikenberry, about the execution of that time frame.” Jonathan Alter’s new book about the Obama Administration quotes Vice President Biden saying, “In July of 2011, you’re going to see a whole lot of people moving out. Bet on it.”
But CENTCOM Commander General David Petraeus told Congress last week that the date would be the “beginning of a process” and that withdrawal would be “conditions-based.” In reply to questions, he said, “There was a nuance to what the president said that was very important, that did not imply … a search for the light to turn off, or anything like that,” and “July 2011 is not the date we race for the exits, but is the date we begin a responsible drawdown.”
Putting the pieces together, Admiral Olson takes the most “kinetic” view of the situation in Afghanistan, the most traditional view of counterinsurgency. Ambassador Eikenberry now says he has confidence in the Karzai government, but Maj. Gen. McChrystal now appears to believe that “government in a box” is not enough and winning the people’s trust will take longer than he anticipated, and perhaps longer than he has. The difference between the President (and the Vice President) and Gen. Petraeus may be the difference between looking for the door and looking for success.
American troops in Afghanistan shouldn’t have to wonder which one is their mission.
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Bryen is senior director of security policy of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. Her column is sponsored by Waxie Sanitary Supply in memory of Morris Wax, longtime JINSA supporter and national board member.
Israel opens Gaza Strip for all non-military goods
(WJC)–Israel’s Security Cabinet has decided to relax the land blockade on the Gaza Strip. Only specific items would be forbidden to enter the Hamas-controlled territory, such as those that could be used to produce weapons, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. After a meeting with the International Quartet’s Middle East envoy Tony Blair, Netanyahu said: “Israel seeks to keep out of Gaza weapons and war-supporting materiel that Hamas uses to prepare and carry out terror and rocket attacks against Israel and its civilians. All other goods will be allowed into Gaza.” The sea blockade, however, will remain in place.
In a statement, the White House welcomed the new policy toward Gaza. “Once implemented, we believe these arrangements should significantly improve conditions for Palestinians in Gaza, while preventing the entry of weapons,” the statement said, adding: “We strongly re-affirm Israel’s right to self-defense, and our commitment to work with Israel and our international partners to prevent the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition into Gaza. As we approach the fourth anniversary of the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, we call again for his immediate release, and condemn the inhumane conditions of his detention.”
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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress.
Jewish license plate ~ GR*R TOV
SAN DIEGO–Our favorite license plate sleuth, Melanie Rubin, spotted this one, translating from English, Hebrew and some license plate-ese to Greater Good. Given the fact that the owner is a Boston Red Sox fan, we assume that refers to first baseman Kevin Youkilis improving his already formidable batting performance each season.
To view San Diego Jewish World‘s collection of Jewish license plates, click here.
Pro-Palestinian protestors prevent unloading of Israeli ship in California port
(WJC)–On Sunday, around 500 anti-Israel protesters formed a picket line at the port of Oakland, California, and
temporarily prevented an incoming Israeli ship from being unloaded. The dock’s day shift of longshoremen agreed to not cross the picket line. The action was in protest at Israel’s recent raid on the Gaza-bound flotilla, in which nine people died. “Our objective was to boycott this ship for 24 hours, and we succeeded in doing that,” said Richard Becker of the ANSWER Coalition, one of the groups that had organized the protest.
According to Becker, the ship’s arrival was delayed from the morning until its eventual arrival around 6 p.m., by which time dockworkers agreed not to show up to unload the vessel, citing concern for their personal safety. A representative of the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco disputed Becker’s account, saying the ship had always been scheduled to arrive at 6 p.m. In the afternoon, two Israel supporters arrived and waved Israeli and American flags across the street from the pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
“I want the Palestinian people to have peace and land. They have been suffering for 60 years, and it’s time for them to have justice,” one of the protestors was quoted by the ‘San Francisco Chronicle’ as saying.
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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress.
Quartet praises changes in Israel’s policy towards Gaza
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The following statement by the Quartet consisting of the United Nations, United States, European Unon and Russian Federation was issued on Monday in response to Israel’s decision to allow freer flow of non-military goods to Gaza:
The Quartet re-affirms that the current situation in Gaza, including the humanitarian and human rights situation of the civilian population, is unsustainable, unacceptable, and not in the interests of any of those concerned. The Quartet reiterates its call for a solution that addresses Israel’s legitimate security concerns, including an end to weapons smuggling into Gaza; promotes Palestinian unity based on the Palestine Liberation Organization commitments and the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under the legitimate Palestinian Authority; and ensures the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza, consistent with United Nations Security Council resolution 1860 (2009). The Quartet declares its readiness to work closely with Israel, the Palestinian Government and international donors in order to achieve sustainable economic development on the basis of the full implementation of the Agreement on Access and Movement of 2005 and in the broader perspective of the two-state solution.
Consistent with these objectives, the Quartet and the Quartet Representative have worked with Israel, as well as consulting the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, and other concerned parties, to effect a fundamental change in policy in Gaza. The new policy towards Gaza just announced by the Government of Israel is a welcome development. The Quartet notes that the elaboration of further details and modalities of implementation will be important in ensuring the effectiveness of the new policy. Full and effective implementation will comprise a significant shift in strategy towards meeting the needs of Gaza’s population for humanitarian and commercial goods, civilian reconstruction and infrastructure, and legitimate economic activity as well as the security needs of Israel. The Quartet will continue to work with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and other concerned parties to ensure these arrangements are implemented as quickly as possible. The Quartet affirms that much work remains to achieve fully the solution stated above, and, in consultation with the concerned parties, it will monitor closely the implementation of the policy in all its aspects. It will actively explore additional ways to improve the situation in Gaza, encourage involvement of the PA at the crossings and promote greater commerce between the West Bank and Gaza.
The Quartet stresses the importance of United Nations and other international interventions, as well as the work of local non-governmental organizations, to be expanded in Gaza to meet urgent civilian needs, and calls on all parties to fully enable this work.
The Quartet recognizes that Israel has legitimate security concerns that must continue to be safeguarded, and believes efforts to maintain security while enabling movement and access for Palestinian people and goods are critical. The Quartet commits to work with Israel and the international community to prevent the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition into Gaza. It urges all those wishing to deliver goods to do so through established channels so that their cargo can be inspected and transferred via land crossings into Gaza. The Quartet emphasizes that there is no need for unnecessary confrontations and calls on all parties to act responsibly in meeting the needs of the people of Gaza.
The Quartet also calls for an end to the deplorable detention of Gilad Shalit in advance of the fourth anniversary of his capture on June 25; it further condemns the violation of Hamas’ international obligation to provide him access by the International Committee of the Red Cross and demands that Hamas immediately remedy the situation.
The Quartet also reiterates its support for proximity talks toward the resumption, without pre-conditions, of direct bilateral negotiations that resolve all final status issues as previously agreed by the parties. The Quartet believes these negotiations should lead to a settlement, negotiated between the parties within 24 months, that ends the occupation which began in 1967 and results in the emergence of an independent, democratic, and viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbours.
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Preceding provided by U.S. State Department
German minister outraged over Israel’s refusal to let him into Gaza Strip
(WJC)–The German government has criticized Israel for not allowing Development Cooperation Minister Dirk Niebel
travel to the Gaza Strip. “Refusing a German development minister entry to the Gaza Strip is a great foreign policy mistake on the part of the Israeli government,” Niebel, a member of the Free Democratic Party, said, adding: “I am saddened that Israel is making it so difficult for its truest friend to understand its actions.”
Niebel wanted to visit a German-funded water purification plant in Gaza and meet with UN aid workers there. He said no meetings with Hamas officials had been envisaged. The Liberal politician said his Gaza visit had received the go-ahead by Israel’s Defense Ministry, but the Foreign Ministry had later intervened and denied him permission to go to Gaza.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement in Berlin that he also “regretted” the decision by the Israeli government, and underlined that Germany and the European Union want to see an end to the Gaza blockade.
Niebel, who is a vice-president of the German-Israeli Society (DIG) and usually a staunch supporterIsrael, said time was running out for the government in Jerusalem “to move away from hard-line policies” in light of international protests over its Gaza policy and faltering efforts to achieve a viable peace deal with the Palestinians. “For Israel, it is five minutes to twelve,” he said, adding that the country must take the opportunity “to stop the clock while it can.” He added: “If the Israeli government wants support for its new Gaza strategy then it must ensure more transparency and a new partnership. The blockade was “not a sign of strength but rather evidence of unspoken fear.”
The deputy leader of the parliamentary caucus of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU, Andreas Schockenhoff, said Israel was only “hurting its own interests” and demanded “unfettered access” to Gaza for international guests and officials.
Israel reacted with surprise to Niebel’s criticism. An unnamed Foreign Ministry official told the German news agency DPA: “There is a clear policy…We have explained that we do not allow the entry of foreign politicians to the Gaza Strip.” He added that Israel feared Hamas would exploit visits by foreign politicians for propaganda purposes which in turn would also weaken the more moderate government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.
During his visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, Niebel met with Abbas (picture).
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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress.
Jews from war-torn Kyrgyzstan flown to Israel
(WJC)–The Jewish Agency for Israel has brought 12 Jews from the conflict-torn former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan to Israel. The twelve were flown to Tel Aviv on Sunday and welcomed at a ceremony at the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Board of Governors assembly on Monday, alongside 650 other new immigrants. They were immediately made Israeli citizens.
Fewer than 70 Jews are thought to live in southern Kyrgyzstan. Most of the country’s estimated 1,500 Jews reside in the capital Bishkek. To date, no Jews are believed to have been harmed in the ethnic violence, which has cost the life of more than 2,000 people. An estimated 40,000 people have been displaced in fighting between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz that began earlier this month in the country’s south.
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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress.
‘Suds’ ‘N Starlight
Kurt Norby, Samantha Mills, Anise (in the middle) Courtney Corey (in back)...photo by Ken Jacques
Carol Davis
SAN DIEGO — If you’re a softie for a little bit of nostalgia, you might want to pack your snuggie, a thermos of warm coffee/hot chocolate and a warm blanket and head down to Balboa Park where Starlight Musical Theatre is presenting a robust production of the 1987 home grown rock musical, Suds.
Starlight Musical Theatre is an icon in San Diego having been around for no less than 64 years. Suds hasn’t been around quite that long (a mere baby at 23) but it was conceived and written by local writers Steve Gunderson (who was there on opening night) and Melinda Gilb (who will be playing Dolly Levi in Starlight’s last show of the season) when it debued at the Old Globe in 1984.
Dubbed a jukebox musical, it features at least eighteen familiar ’60’s tunes in Act I and about the same in Act II. Stretch your memory and see if your feet don’t start tapping and shoulders swaying to “Please Mr. Postman”, “Locomotion”, a Burt Bacharach/Hal David medley, “Wonderful, Wonderful”, “Respect” and “We Can Work It Out” to name a few. Honestly, for once I knew every tune the four member cast sang.
The story, feeble as it might be, drives the songs and lo and behold! a musical is born and celebrated in, none other than the local Laundromat, of which Cindy is in charge.
Cindy, no last names here, (Samantha Mills) is celebrating her birthday and nothing but bad news comes her way this day. She gets a letter from her boyfriend ‘pen pal’ whose decided to break off their relationship for someone with better penmanship; her cat is run over by a corvette and because of some fluke in the tax law, she owes the IRS oodles of back taxes. In short, Cindy is having a really lousy day.
Prostrate and desperate and seeing no way out of her unhappiness she goes so far as to attempt to strangle herself with a pair of bright red stretch capris wrapped from around her neck to the washing machine’s agitator. (Yup this is as serious as it gets)
But wait. Help is on the way in the shape of two guardian angels, Marge (Anise Ritchie) a seasoned angel who has already earned her wings and De De (Courtney Corey) an apprentice still waiting to get hers. Their job is to talk Cindy out of suicide and make her whole again by any means possible, and hopefully by helping her to find her ‘true love’. (Baby we’ve come a long way)
Artistic director Carlos Mendoza who resuscitated Starlight last year, is back again with a vengeance to keep this outdoor theatre venue going. Javier Valesco, (who was responsible for the original staging and choreography of Suds way back then), and Mendoza have assembled an energetic and well-rounded cast of characters who are giving it their all in this first of three productions to be aired on Starlight’s stage this summer.
Samantha Mills is a bouncy, starry eyed and clueless Cindy who just goes about her business singing her way through her problems. Courtney Corey’s De De the wingless angel, is spry and somewhat of an overachiever in trying to be first helping Cindy out. Anise Ritchie (her “Respect” brought the house down) is a sassy and commanding Marge, the in charge gal.
Between the three singing and dancing, the music rocks, rolls and glides through the entire thirty odd songs without a hitch. Kürt Norby who plays all the male characters (mailman, washing machine repair, etc) comes and goes in and out of the Laundromat as well as Cindy’s life. He’s a good balance and quite funny.
Tanya Bishop’s costumes have just the right look, Jennifer Edwards lighting design works for the most part, but Patrick Hoyny’s sound design needs some tweaking. It is ear piercingly loud especially for those close to the stage. Musical direction under the baton of Rayme Sciaroni and his five-piece band is lively just in keeping with the theme of the show.
This year two portable movie screens were added to either side of the stage for easier viewing and close up shots for those sitting in the nose bleed seats. It reminds me of watching a sports event on TV where only action shots can be seen.
Live theatre should be seen in its entirety and not just selected scenes a videographer selects. Bring those in the boonies down to fill in some of the empty seats. There are no less than 4,200 seats, half of which are empty on any given performance night. It makes no sense.
For a fun filled family night, Suds is the right choice to make.
See you at the theatre.
Dates: June 17th– July 4th Thursdays through Sundays
Organization: Starlight Musical Theatre
Phone: 619-232-7827
Production Type: Musical
Where: Starlight Bowl, Balboa Park
Ticket Prices: $10.00 -$75.00 Kids free& Youth program Thursdays and Sundays
Web: starlighttheatre.org
Venue: Starlight Bowl
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Theatre critic Davis is based in San Diego
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