Peace in Afghanistan?
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This past week the United States government singed an agreement with the Taliban that called for a “reduction in violence”, whatever that is supposed to mean. The goal is to then lead to an actual peace agreement being singed within a week or two. Part of this agreement that the Taliban must uphold is that they keep all other terrorist organizations from operating within Afghanistan. Yes, that means only the Taliban is allowed to conduct terrorist operations in Afghanistan, that is part of the purposed peace agreement.
It should be noted that we here at CBL want to see peace in Afghanistan and a complete withdraw of troops and contractors from the war torn country. That said we have a good idea of what this will be in the end, an agreement not even worth the paper it is written on. The US and Taliban have tried a few times in the past and most recently in the fall of 2019 for a peace deal. That one ended when Bagram Airfield was attacked by a 15,000 lb SVBIED (suicide vehicle born improvised explosive device) and a few guys with suicide vests on as well. Even if this peace agreement makes it all the way to actually being signed the fact that the Taliban are still then authorized to conduct operations in Afghanistan doesn’t sound like any peace deal we should be celebrating on it’s merits. If this peace deal does though lead to a withdraw of all US and NATO forces from Afghanistan perhaps we should celebrate it for that fact. As with all things, only time will tell.
Will this new peace deal lead to actual peace in Afghanistan, no. Could it though lead to a reduction in troop numbers, yes. Will it lead to a total withdraw of all US and NATO forces from the country, wouldn’t count on it. The US and NATO forces invaded the country over 18 years ago and have seen increases in violence across the region. It has become back page news if it is even in the papers at all these days. Sadly the small, and sometime very beautiful country, of Afghanistan is a mess that westerners just will never understand. The way of life is so far from what we as westerners know that we can’t wrap our heads around it. A small example is that only 37% of Afghans can read and write. To us westerners that just seems insane.
Peace in Afghanistan is something we should all want and pray for. Sadly though reality will most likely show us how hard if not impossible of a task this will be.
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Keep that coffee warm for us
LWS
