The Guardian today has revealed the extent of the leaks from a huge cache of secret US military files. It is not edifying reading as it exposes the woeful behaviour of US service personnel and the success of Taliban fighters with deadly surface to air missiles and very effective bombing devices. NATO forces are in serious trouble. They cannot defeat their deadly foe by means of modern warfare and they have managed to alienate and ostracize the civilian population. They are hated and cannot repair the damage done by brutal bombing and inaccurate strikes which have reaked havoc among the local people. There is moral outrage against immoral and amoral behaviour.
There appears to be evidence that elements within Pakistan's intelligence community have been supporting the Taliban and forces opposed to NATO. This brings into question the whole aid for Pakistan package. Are Western funds being diverted and, in effect, spent on forces and movements sympathetic to the Taliban and their fellow travellers? Safe havens for insurgents and guerrilla warriors in Pakistan and along the Afghan border are most certainly an intolerable affront to US politicians and Pentagon pen pushers. There has been a steep rise in bomb attacks on NATO/coalition forces. This will continue as their opponents are committed to driving the foreigners from Afghanistan and the whole region. The Taliban and their fellow travellers support the Islamic way of life and wish to see their opponents blown to death by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) known as roadside bombs. Ideologically they are strongly and vehemently opposed to what NATO represents, i.e. decadent Western values. The Taliban and Muslim fighters resent the presence of unbelieving aliens, whom they regard with contempt and scorn.
With so much corruption and dishonest practices in this whole region, one wonders if any credible military and political enterprise, funded by Western governments, can succeed and flourish in a way that shows integrity and honest endeavour. Can we trust the political and military leadership in Pakistan and Afghanistan? Fair play would be great, but cheating is rife. It is time to review the situation and bring our troops home from this messy conflict.
On the front page of today's Guardian there is a photograph of an American soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division. On his left arm is the distinctive tatoo which reads: AND HELL CRIED AIRBORNE. Well, in Helmand province US soldiers will, in all probability, experience the living hell on earth of warfare, as British soldiers did earlier this year. And we are told that the coalition forces are acting with the good intentions, but the path to hell is paved by good intentions.
Proverbs 16:25 is a solemn word of warning.
Today's Guardian reveals the true and terrible cost of the war in Afghanistan. What a mess! What a quagmire!
It cannot be won by military means. Voices are crying in the wilderness. The NATO forces cannot straighten out the crooked paths. Crooks have benefited from the corruption and the bribes. False accounts have been told about the way the war has been waged and the terrible loss of civilian lives. The unacceptable truths are coming to light about dark and dismal realities. When many more facts are revealed then the full folly of what has happened will be admitted. Sadly more troops will die before NATO forces will leave with their tails between their legs. Some tall tales will no doubt be shared by leaders who do not wish the full and fair truth to come out.
For me, the true and authentic Micah challenge is concerned with justice, grace and humility. Justice for the poor, the oppressed and the powerless, for those who are being denied righteous governance. Grace to those who need love, compassion and tender loving care in a world of pain and suffering. Humility in our dealings with others and in walking with God in humble adoration, praise and honest endeavour. Christians will want to see fair play winning the day. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. The arrogant are cursed; they will not see God's blessing on their lives. Glorious grace is bestowed on those who are willing to humble themselves and to discover the beauty of a holy lifestyle, living for God in covenant loving kindness.
Afghanistan is high on the corruption index and, according to the BBC News yesterday at 20:20 BST, corruption is a growing problem. It seems that the UK Government has planned to spend £175 million pounds a year in aid. How much will reach the right destination?
There are only about 48% of the Afghan children in primary schools. Are we expected to pay for the education of Afghan children? It may be better than spending it on military hardware. Should not more money go to wives and children of our dead soldiers who have died in the tragic conflict? Money is really needed in our schools. We have lost too many highly trained army personnel. In human resource terms this war has been a disaster, with fine servicemen dying, it seems, daily at this present time. Woeful!
Does not charity begin at home? Can we afford to support such a corrupt country where we are not wanted and certaintly not appreciated in tribal areas? And now there is talk of deals and negotiations with the Taliban and other groups. They will be laughing all the way to the banks or where their money is deposited. They will play things out so that when we leave then they will claim a mighty victory.
Why do we have to spend so much money, sacrifice so many lives and put up with the bribery and corruption? For what? A special hold on a significant and strategic area? For reasons of power balancing and long term objectives? This Government should be looking after its own people, their education and their future. Let the Muslim community who are very rich, sometimes though oil revenues, put the money into education in Afghanistan rather than premiership football and playboy pursuits. Why does it have to be us who foot the bill and see too many young lives wasted and wounded by this quagmire, this mess, this awful Afghanistan project. Let us leave and let the people of Afghanistan, with Muslim aid, live their way.
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