Dear Friends,
It seems to me that at this point in Afghanistan the United States as a nation has to ask itself one question; Is the USA a nation, that when it is attacked, goes and knocks over the anthill. Or a nation that knocks over the anthill, then rebuilds it, so the ants never need attack it again?
History sorts out the good from the bad. Even though the victors write history… Time edits it. History will reflect the stomach of those that live today. No one looks back at destroyers with ennui. No, they look back with horror. We all love builders. Those that rebuild that which they have had to destroy… But better.
In 1700BC there was a people in India called the Harappan. They had indoor toilets and well built cities. All their cities were laid out the same. Streets at given widths depending on the usage. With a writing system that has never been figured out. The only examples of which are stone obelisks and tombs.
The Harappan people disappeared around 1500BC. They didn’t seem to have fallen to conquerors. There is a lack of archeological evidence. There has been some archeological evidence that they were fleeing from something. There is speculation a natural disaster wiped them out. But their disappearance is a mystery.
No matter the cause the cities abandoned by the Harappan were then inhabited by others. Barbarians by their standards. The new inhabitants then had access to all the accoutrements of the Harappan people. But never came close to emulating the Harappan level of technology. (Or standard of living).
The new people had access to the things of the Harappan but didn’t have the philosophy of the Harappan. Therefore they could only diminish in standard of living once the philosophy was disengaged from the technology. The point being that the philosophy is more important than the stuff of a civilization.
By not only rebuilding the stuff of Afghanistan America should instill some new philosophies there. Like ethical government service. Government corruption being utterly corrosive of liberty. The corruption in the government of Afghanistan is epic. According to reports from Afghanistan.
If the philosophy of ethical government service is all the Americans instill in the people it will have been a resounding victory. Ethical government service would lead to all goods coming to the people of Afghanistan. No amount of charity can give to them what this philosophy has to offer.
Rebuilding roads is good. Building schools for the Taliban to blow up may be helpful. But rebuild the people’s confidence in their government and you have won a victory. One that will destroy the Taliban with more alacrity than unbridled violence ever could. But to have an impact on one’s allies and one’s foes one must appear to be iron willed in the endeavor. They are putting their lives on the line.
I heard John McCain say something presidential for the first time today. He said “no one follows a half hearted trumpet.” That is an excellent point. Had Patrick Henry said Give me liberty or give me a warm bed. It wouldn’t have had the oomph. The colonials wouldn’t have followed him… If Winston Churchill had said “Aw…Jerry’s not so bad lets just go have a pint.” …we might have had to live under a socialist government.
No amount of stuff, violence or talk can give to the people of Afghanistan what one little change in their ethos can… Peace, Prosperity and true Piety.
