For some time I have been trying to come up with something that expresses my increasing concern at our ongoing involvement in Afghanistan. I accept (I think) that the main thrust as far as Canada is concerned is to aid in an evolving transition to a more democratic society. However every time I hear of yet another young soldier being killed I wonder if, even with the good intentions it’s all worth the effort. The ruined lives, the incalculable grief and loss which results, even if it had some positive effect, can never come remotely close to justifying the appalling price. Nothing can be worse than this, yet there exists an increasing impression (-to me at any rate) that by and large the Afghan populous fails to acknowledge the sacrifices or appreciates the efforts made.
I have been trying to understand the mindset of the people. Why is there no apparent shortage in the supply of willing suicide bombers and why is there a perception that the Afghan effort seems half-hearted at best and duplicitous at worst? The recent debacle where nearly 500 high risk prisoners tunneled their way to freedom under the noses of the guards is an example. Moreover, this wasn’t the first time. On a previous occasion nearly 1000 escaped. What do they want and what’s more to the point, what do they really think?
Thankfully, I have been let off the hook. The subject has been addressed recently in a dynamic TED lecture on Empathy by sociologist Sam Richards. Given in front of an American audience at Penn State, he pulls no punches. Although he specifically aims his comments at the situation in Iraq, much of what he says can be read across to Afghanistan, where to the locals little distinction exists between any of the Western armed forces.
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