British Military Frustrated in Afghanistan
Richard Norton-Taylor, The Guardian | December 10, 2008
The British military are increasingly angered by the poor international effort to win over hearts and minds in Afghanistan. ++ British generals have been arguing for years that getting the population on side is the key to success. ++ A top official has called the UN’s support "wholly inadequate." ++ Meanwhile, the Taliban are "winning the information war." ++ As NATO screams for more troops, the British military chiefs have said no more Brits will be sent in until other countries increase their efforts to promote political development in the country.
Fri, Dec 26th 2008, 07:05
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1. The primary condition is ensuring freedom of movement of people, without the fear of being bombed or raped or looted or even intimidated. Even small conclaves of civilized order would be great moral booster shots. For everyone concerend, except perhaps the Taliban.
2. Second would be to make available basic amenities: education, food, employment, entertainment, etc. Using Afghan women to supplement the education modules with gender-equality classes and gender-sensitization programmes that do not attempt going beyond the charter of HUMAN RIGHTs (where men too form a part of the human populace).
3. Setting up of specialized units that can be used to expand the conclaves - via local populace and their participation. Areas where INGO's etc. can play a role, with a larger representation of local populace in those INGO offices as well as task-forces.
Between educational institutions at work there: one can have a three-tier system at place. One: The primary education can be given at the traditional Muslim schools with additional subjects that are secular. Two, the movement beyond primary education to secondary education where any one foreign language is made compulsory as a second language - amidst some choice available. Here the traditional subjects of theology (Madarsas' specialization) can be healthily supplemented with secular subjects that amke the students aware of the globe and the global reality - of civilized and peaceful living and co-existence with other cultures.
They would need to be made compulsory while minimising the drop-out rate. Given the Taliban mindset, one can be sure of low drop-out cases here - since they would be looking at science subjects as easy & 'foreign' funded sources of teachings in explosives, etc for their future recruits!
Thhe most important aspect would be a military victory over the Taliban and other similar forces. Tall Order? Yes. But the fight over the hearts & Minds of any people in a war-ravaged society displaying a damaging socialization into violence and religious fanaticism - one has very few choices and options left.