Happy 4th: Out of Afghanistan

Today we should celebrate leaving.

The headline below is from the Guardian, seeming to suggest that post-US Afghanistan should be our concern after spending twenty years there.

In modern history, they in turn have tossed off the yoke of the British Empire, the Soviet Union and now the U.S.; no system of government is to their liking: be it monarchy, communism, democracy.

There’s a lesson there for us.

First, last and always Afghans are tribal, choosing tribe over the ideals of equality and humanity.

Even so-called Afghan pro-democracy forces would sabotage progress if it meant a loss of tribal power and influence.

The Taliban are just an especially effective tribe using religion as a rallying point.

We tried there and failed.

Afghanistan is land-locked and ungovernable and abuts both Iran and Pakistan. Maybe if those countries have to pay more attention to the Taliban they will have less time to fight in Kashmir or support Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Let the Ayatollah deal with the hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees in Iran and the specter of many more.

Let the Pakistani’s pay for their covert support of the Taliban when it suited their purposes.

Afghanistan should remind us all of what happens when tribal affiliation “trumps” republican principles and religion is allowed to reign supreme.

Happy Fourth.