The futility and folly of war!

This will be a very short article…

So, now, the UK say we will take in 20,000 fleeing Afghans and one can assume the USA will take in as many or s bit more, Canada will take some, perhaps France, Germany and Australia will take some too?

So, WHY DIDN’T WE JUST DO THAT in 2001 or 2006 or 2011 or 2015?…..

Instead of a 20 year war with those folks caught in the middle!!

When this latest war in Afghanistan started in 2001, or for argument’s sake, let’s say it took a few years for some Afghans (i.e. the ones who are now fleeing) to make a choice to turn their backs on the Taliban and embrace the west, why didn’t we invite those folks to move over then? Would that not have been a better organised, properly vetted move, with them bringing their belongings and being settled without chaos. THEN, you know everyone left back in Afghanistan want to be there and most likely will support the Taliban. But most importantly, you are able to avoid leaving those who helped the allies behind to face certain persecution and death (which is what all the veterans of this war are finding so hard to take, and it is the reason they are all so angry now and feel their sacrifices may have been for nothing).

Imagine how many thousands of allied (and mainly American) lives could have been saved.

After 5 years of this war, in 2006, the allies were in control of most parts of Afghanistan and with a little bit of foresight, the offer could have been made to relocate Afghans who want a western-style life or simply want something different. It all could have been done in civility instead of people now having to cling to airplanes on a runway

War solves nothing. And a 20 year war solves even less! But most importantly, if the need for a show of force was the only option (and may well have been, in 2001), a clear plan should have been put in place, with a humanitarian objective in mind, instead of an endless sojourn, ending in chaos, with very little achieved in the end. Imagine what kids born in 2002, now 19years old and perhaps in university could add to society?