Chris' Lounge

Diplomatic leaks have caused consternation, as publicly reported; but, for the citizen of a given country, he or she certainly cares quite a bit, how the leadership gets along and directs public policy. Usually every country wants to disclose to its citizens, such direction, and does so rather well. But a leak might suggest that citizenry who are considered friends of other nations’ citizens, can be spared from suffering any illusions born from the relations that might be deceptive as a result of certain leaders. Whether there are obvious deceptions- they can be eclipsed by the potential that exists every day for diplomats to be honest about what information they operate on. This I think is good in not using illusory friendship to usurp the labor or capital of another, who has been functioning in good faith. That wouldn’t be what friends do otherwise. A diplomat should know how to offer what can be offered, how to ask for what can be asked, and should be able to establish the reasoning for both. This is my opinion as the news broke this week… everyone is entitled to opinion and that’s mine on this matter. [Update 2014: Leaks can endanger lives, but they can also save lives. State secrets can do both the same.]

I’m wondering if the US President is using any of his familiarity with the African continent to call upon a region therein to assist in the efforts in Afghanistan.
It might be shrewd of us to ask the secretary of state to call upon African partners in this effort. Many African countries, being of Muslim majority, surely have a role to play in keeping peace with the US, and keeping peace among those who share their faith, in Afghanistan; and, of curtailing weapons and drug trafficking from Afghanistan. I will be doing a bit of investigating of African countries, for my own knowledge, to see just who might be fitting to be called upon for aid in Afghanistan. [2014: No volunteers stepped forward.] It seems that some African countries might like the opportunity and might be well equipped to play a role in shaping peace in Afghanistan right now… not in two years’ time, or later, but now. [Update: France’s successful intervention in Mali has reminded me that as much as I wished for moderate Muslims in Africa to contribute in Afghanistan, there is simply too much persecution against Christians there. Furthermore, some African States are in upheaval and revolution as we’ve come to see. Some areas are also ruled out, as there is terrorist sympathy in many of those regions. Not so in all of Africa – it is a large continent, but much of Africa does not seem like a good partner against the Taliban or Al-Qaida, who are clearly anti-Christian groups. While not every soldier of the coalition in Afghanistan claims to be a Christian, there are likely not any Muslim terrorist sympathizers among them. And coalition of such sort would make for strange bed-fellows.]

I have to admit, I am not an expert on the US involvement in Afghanistan, likely no one person is. But, I’m not calling for withdrawal of US forces here… I really think now that maybe the coalition needs more time there to protect villagers, in the absence of ability yet, to build a new hierarchy. The US and German nation should not carry burden alone, of protecting Afghans who turn away from native forces that have dominated their lives, safety, and livelihood. [update 2014. My understanding is that Afghanistan is now a money pit. Somehow the coalition seems to be failing its mission.]