hearts and minds
Imagine, just for a second if you will, that the UK was invaded and occupied by a military force but you didn’t know the reason why they were there, just pitched up one day, heavily armed and decided to stay. Occasionally, it takes a poll to reveal truths that government policymakers, politicians and media journalists conveniently overlook. Apparently, never has this been more evident than in Afghanistan.
A recent survey has found that a mere 8% of individuals in the Helmand and Kandahar provinces had never heard of the 9/11 Twin Towers attack. A similar huge majority could not clearly articulate why US and coalition forces where in their country, more than half oppose military operations and three-quarters believe the soldiers have no respect for their religion. Is it any surprise so many appear to resent the presence of our allied forces?
These findings, if true, dismiss the core assumption of the allied strategy that its forces are operating against the Taliban with the inherent support of the populace and that any insurgency support will disappear as the Taliban is driven out. The vast majority of Afghans, it would appear do not support the premise for this action, do not understand our rationale for intervention, are not aware of recent historical and political events which we have used to justify our actions, and have no sense whatsoever of how coalition forces might be able to offer a better future. It can’t end well, can it.
