The Lessons of Afghanistan?

The interview from General McChrystal, Commander of the US army and NATO forces in Afghanistan, in the magazine Rolling Stone showed his frustration and the gap growing between what the politicians want and what the military commanders want to do. I believe that he fully knew the consequences of such an act and wanted out. It also another sign of the values’ change compared to before, yet people expect the same results. Indeed, the lessons of the decolonisation, Viet-Nam and others have not been learnt. 

Does this gap between the two men shows the limit of the American war machine? It is obvious that if a developed army can win a battle against some partisans is not a trouble, winning the war against them is different. People at home do not want to hear about casualties but they still want to “win” the war. It is really odd because wars invariably involve casualties on both. It seems as if it was paradoxical. Interestingly many political figures such on both side the American political spectrum talk about winning the war and being patriotic and how they believe in freedom. Yet they have no trouble, imposing their own value on a different people leaving thousands of kilometers away from them. Is it the condition of winning the war? That’s not really democratic, it reminds me of the time of colony where western nations would “educate” other nations. The prime intention of letting people being master of their destiny is praiseworthy, however it is really hard to implement, let alone in a country prone to tribal war as it is a conflict between idea where education play a big role. The problem in this war is that the conditions of a victory are blurry. How are the strategists in the field supposed  to meet these requirements?

Then what can be the role of an army, how will it help a wannabe superpower to assert its influence and ambitions: I would think that this army wouldn't retaliate heavily, should be ready to take loss and reacting accordingly: no massive show of firepower, compassionate answer since political correctness is all over the place, rendering everything less natural and genuine. So are we back to Louis XV and the War of the Austrian Succession where France would be the peace maker of Europe while asking for nothing in return bar glory? However nowadays, soldier’s lives are much more valued this day making it hard to continue that kind of enlightened war.

And that is the trend as developed nations or at least western nations are less and less inclined to suffer human losses which make the exercise of war even harder. This will give the opportunity to others developing states to try the same: China in Africa, it is too early to get any lesson from its involvement there but it s not too glorious either, they benefited from an immaculate picture and used their own principles without adapting too much to the locals, it gets the job done but it doesn't make a country live if the workers are foreigners and do not integrate.

In conclusion, the role of an army shifted heavily toward a humanitarian pattern, it should rather defend and develop than attack and destroy, this is a frustrating position for the army now as they are being asked the double tasks of winning the war and bearing the brunt of the casualties while reorganising civil life.

I think that the Afghanistan war was started out of revenge and its goal was poorly designed. I do not put into question its motive and fully agree with it. However, the West and  chiefly the USA should have focused on continually eradicating Taliban leadership and their drug field without trying to get involved too much in the politics of this country not yet suited for democracy, instead they chose to achieve the impossible in spite of the previous lessons. Much easier said than achieved. And would have it been possible from a moral point of view? certainly not. However now, the coalition must go on.

-C

Fresno: a sick city?

I thought about including my little adventures in central California and more precisely in Fresno in my article about San Francisco. However, I think that it deserves an article on its own.

Fresno is not a city easily reachable by public transport. It still benefit from six trains per day thanks to the San Joaquin Line of the AMTRAK. A bus line manned by Greyhound is also available. An airport is present in the city but I have not really checked for that opportunity.. I took the train and was a bit surprised by how slow it was going. Nevertheless, it was comfortable and I had a lot of space for my legs. It also gave me the opportunity to enjoy the rural landscape of California and to learn more about it. The countryside seems to be a really nice place often sunny, as it was this day, but I did not expect to see so many decrepit factories along the way. They reminded me of the 50’s-70’s. As expected, I saw a lot of orange trees field, vineyards and some beehives. Nevertheless, there is a difference between a city like San Francisco and this countryside which seems to be stuck some decades behind as the towns that the train serves have a kind of miserable feel about them that does not lent toward dynamism. Interestingly it reminds me that in America, cheap can sit with no shame next to poshness.  In addition of being the country of opportunity, the USA are perhaps also a country of great contrasts whether they be geographical or social. Overall, the car remains the best way to reach it and enjoy the city.

Indeed, the city’s structure reminded me a lot of Johannesburg in South Africa. Down-Town is kind of deserted and riddled by crime, as I was told. It was a sad thing for me to see as I hate a city with no real centre. Some buildings deserve more attention and the central streets could use more high-profile trade and shops rather than some cheap Hispanic shops. As a matter of fact, most of the big name will be found in malls scattered all over the city. And as the commuting is pretty much inexistent and that the city has expanded a lot, walking is not an effective way to reach a point, even for me! So the car remains the best way to travel around. It is obviously a vicious circle as nothing seems to be done to make people walk more. I am curious to know if the situation of Fresno, fifth biggest city in California with more than half a million inhabitants, is unique in America or if second rate cities across the country share the same flaw. Looking at the demographic statistics reveals that the city population boomed in the 90’s and that it probably suffered from a bad city development and now it would take a lot of effort to restrain the expansion of the city as no buildings exist in order to stall it. So the more the city grows, the more it expands and the more things get scattered.

Anyway, thanks to my designated driver, I could enjoy all the services that a city could offer. It is just that everything is scattered all over the place which might be a bit frustrating and I do not think that it is a positive motivational factor when the question of going out or doing some activities is raised. I have been able to enjoy a base-ball match where the local team, the Grizzlies, were trounced by the visitors. At first, this sport is to me as interesting as cricket as I do not fully grasp how it works. Yet, I am persuaded that if I had to live in the country, I could learn to appreciate it for its dynamic and relaxed ambiance and of course for its foot-long hotdog!

The proximity of a lot of natural parks should make of Fresno an ideal hub but it seems to be left unexploited and I am pretty sure that the fact that it is hard to be reach for tourists and backpackers does not help at all. In addition, the city is barely known abroad. I have a feeling that a lot of things could be done in this city but that people do not know how to deal with it because most of the competent persons leave the city and only the less motivated stay. Indeed, in the current state; why would they stay when they could go to bigger and more exciting cities? Interestingly, one of its sister’s cities is Verona in Italy: a city cradled in culture and history; it should be for Fresno a great way to improve its own status. Indeed, if the USA is not reputed for its fine culture and its long history, they are on the other hand a major actor on the outdoor’s activities scenes and Fresno happens to be close to a lot of them while being not so far from seaside and mountain activities. If the city is broke, why could not they use their potential outlaws, since crime is rife there, to help them develop the city instead of parking them into some overcrowded prisons? What’s going on there?

-C