Afghanistan: An unwinnable war

THE US and NATO's top military chief in Afghanistan has told his political bosses that western forces will fail there unless there is a change in policy. A secret 66-page document from General McChrystal, leaked to the Washington Post, says that unless the insurgent tide is turned back within 12 months then the Taliban may become unbeatable.

But McChrystal's warning isn't simply about winning militarily, but is a call to shift the western forces' emphasis from fighting the Taliban to winning the 'hearts and minds' of angry and alienated Afghan people. "The insurgents cannot defeat us militarily but we can defeat ourselves", he laments. But can a turnaround in strategy be achieved?

It isn't rocket science to understand that blasting the country back to the stone age, tolerating mass unemployment and widespread poverty, and allowing an unaccountable, rich, corrupt and brutal warlord regime to rule, has proved to be a recruiting sergeant for the Taliban.

Eight years on from the Bush and Blair initiated invasion of Afghanistan, the vast majority in the country are worse off in terms of security, the economy and democratic rights.

The Socialist Party opposed the invasion and we continue to call for an end to the occupation.

Demonstrate against the continuing occupation/bring the troops back - Saturday 24 October, central London.

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In The Socialist 22 September 2009:

No cuts in public services