| NATO : The war in Afghanistan- an open letter |
| Source: |
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By: |
M. Siddieq Noorzoy, Ph.D. |
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We are writing to request for the policy makers at the forthcoming US and NATO summit on My 25, 2017
to seek peace in Afghanistan through peace making mechanisms and sincere efforts rather than by sending
more troops to bring the Taliban to the peace table as reported by the main media. Many have written questioning
the logic of this proposal particularly as viewed from the perspective of the crisis in Afghanistan now well documented
by many sources including the UN and the US Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction that issues frequent reports.
Peace cannot be made through the use of force in Afghanistan as the experience of 16 years of war and massive military
and supporting civilian forces from the US and NATO have tried costing many lives and nearly $1 trillion of expenditures.
It must be remembered the previously stated commitment made at the NATO summit in May 20-21, 2012 to end the war
also made by President Barack Obama on December 31, 2014, and in fact, as previously stated by
by Vice President Joe Biden in a letter of September 20, 2011 to us that the US ( and NATO ) commitment will be
ended "responsibly" all are part of the historical records of this great tragedy inflicted upon Afghanistan.
The letter from VP Biden along with other US policy positions since 1979 during the Soviet invasion are part of the documents
which are being published in a forth coming book; Campaigns by the Afghan Diaspora on Behalf of Afghanistan September 21,-
August 3, 2015 covering more than three decades of invasions and wars against Afghanistan.
It may be unnecessary to remind members of NATO that Afghanistan suffered deeply only a generation ago in defeating the former Soviet Union,
an avowed enemy, from which the US and clearly European countries benefitted much.
The present war in Afghanistan fought since October 7, 2001, has cost the lives of well over 100,000 Afghans according
to the study of a team of 35 researchers at Brown University. This war has caused deep seated problems in
Afghanistan and in the region. The massive number of refugees, the rampant corruption and rising crime right in Kabul
the deepening poverty, and massive unemployment, the abuse of power and lack of justice, the neglect of the very needy,
observable to all, and the drug problem never experienced before are all the outcomes of this unjust and illegal war.
The need for peace is urgent. We hope you will take the road to peace and announce the end of war and occupation of Afghanistan
and let the Afghan people come together to solve the outstanding problems and issues. Your commitment to peace making
and genuine rebuilding of Afghanistan especially its economy to benefit all Afghans with a fraction of what is spent on the war
will go a long way to heal the wounds suffered by many.
Sincerely,
M. Siddieq Noorzoy, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics, Emeritus
In consultation and support of many |
