Comments on: Handling Marjeh’s Poppy & Other Concerns

By: Farhad

Farhad — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:26:23 +0000

When will NATO wake up and smell the coffee that the current Afghan civil service can’t even tie its shoes?

Place non-corrupt, young Afghans that have recently graduated from high education institutions aboard or within the country to start working in places like Marjah.

Yes, place a bearded, turban wearing man as the “head”, but the real administration has to be dealt with the emerging young, professional Afghans that need to gain experience in the field and to take care of their country. And you can then tack on two Western advisers to this group for further guidance, and you may just have success.

if NATO wants to leave quickly, then they need to stop investing in these old corrupt officials and work with the younger Afghan generation.

By: AJK

AJK — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:32:29 +0000

This is exactly what Maria Costa mentioned (and I wrote) yesterday: Policemen, Kabul, ISAF, all can’t touch the Taliban through a justice system. They can’t get Kabul’s brand in place. They can’t build up institutions to even make up for the ones they took down.

It’s real ugly, and in a real predictable way.

By: Dafydd

Dafydd — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:56:30 +0000

Given that one of the more plausible reasons for the Marjah campaign was to show a victory to home populations in the west in order to sore up support, this looks particularly bad.

If Marjah doesn’t get bolted down before they move on Kandahar, it could prove a significant turning point. Just not in the direction Obama wanted.