Flash forward 10 years from now. Sept. 11 is now a national day of remembrance. The former Taliban government is a short mark in history. The name Osama bin Laden has faded, but it is certainly not forgotten. The country of Afghanistan is once again in turmoil. It has terrible poverty, orphans, famines and warlords fighting for control. Women are still oppressed, can’t go to school and are abused daily. Sound familiar?
Whether or not the United States is instrumental in creating a new Afghan government once all traces of the Taliban are eradicated, Afghanistan faces potential political turmoil.
While sticking its foreign policy finger in all international problems is one of the U.S. government’s favorite pastimes, this time it should reconsider. When the puppet government for this bereaved country is set up, corruption is still bound to ensue. Due to its decades of war, Afghanistan has been an extremely poor developing country, with different tribes fighting for control.
The Taliban have been in power five years. Before the Taliban, Afghanistan had been in a 10-year war with the Soviets. The U.S. backed the Taliban. Our government should have checked its longterm planner.
Eradicating the poverty of Af-ghanistan, and liberating women, is one step in the right direction of fixing this war torn country. The Afghan lifestyle will not be easily changed. The fundamentalist extremist approach of many may not change at all.
According to Newsweek, many women are waiting to see if Northern Alliance officials are commited to women’s liberation before they discard their veils.
Creating a stable government to rule over Afghanistan and help its economy is a must. The country has shown with more then enough proof that it is not capable of self-rule.
The U.S. already felt it was necessary to step in and interfere because the Tali-ban were a danger to the U.S. and the world. But after finishing their business with the Taliban and bin Laden, it would be in the U.S.’s best interest not to auto-matically throw together an incompetent, corrupt and weak transitional government.
The U.S. needs to “Walk softly and carry a big stick,” laying down a firm hand in Afghan-istan until its economic and social status can be improved.