The main point about my post on Pakistan was to be sober about the limits of American power. Big nations lose small wars precisely because of the problems we are having in Afghanistan. It has nothing to do with troop counts. It is because America has to win, while the Taliban only has to not lose. Our interests are asymmetrical- for the Taliban, its a matter of existence, for America- well, we're not exactly sure.

Creating a legitimate, self-sustaining government under occupation is maddeningly difficult, as recent events make all too clear. And in Pakistan, what can the U.S. do? If Pakistan is unable or unwilling to destroy the Pakistani Taliban, the U.S. isn't going to invade Waziristan itself. The drone attacks can be useful, but they are ultimately a stopgap to make us feel like we have control in an area that in which we do not.  

The good news is that those who oppose the Taliban are on the right side of history. War strains the moral fiber and muddies the moral compass. But ultimately the Taliban are nothing more than philistine thugs who worship death and distort faith for their own ends. Al-Qaeda is cut from the same cloth, and for all its bluster, its mission has been a complete failure. Terrorist groups rarely last more than a couple of decades because they consume themselves. In the end, this is a battle of ideals, and the fundamentalist terrorists will not be the last ones standing.

- Jon
 


Comments

Paul Drescher

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:33:50

Hi Jonathan,
I'm glad that you got to see Zach & Roberta recently in Florida. I enjoy reading your posts. One question: when will the moderate Muslim world take on active opposition to the extremists and demand change in the radical madrasas and the brainwashing by the crazy imams? The war on terrorism will not be won militarily. certainly not by western forces. Every terrorist "martyred" inspires more children to become suicide bombers. As long as the crazies dominate the muslim pulpit and the muslim media, the supply of these ignorant, gullible, and murderous human pawns will never end. Terrorism must be stopped at the root and that requires an end to the institutions that inspire, brainwash, and train so-called martyrs. Turkey is a moderate islamic state but what about Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen? These countries tolerate or even support radical Islam. Pakistan has taken on the Taliban only because it now threatens the government's survival. When is moderate Islam going to wake up and take on the murderous radicals that are destroying their own faith? What will moderate Islam do to win the hearts and minds of their young people? Who is going to change the definition and perception of martyrdom and give the young people a reason to live in tolerance of non-muslims? I just don't see it happening in my lifetime for a variety of reasons. I hope I'm wrong.

 



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