Lessons Lost in Afghanistan

by YankeeJim | April 14, 2010 at 01:40 pm

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Before the Japanese invaded China, Mao Zedong, Communist was at war with Chiang Kai Shek, the Nationalists. Communism was emerging as a popular government form following a successful start in Russia. When the Japanese invaded China, the two different groups joined forces. Mao stayed in the hinterland and Chiang took the cities.

In the end, sustaining the army and people in the countryside was more viable than doing so in crowded cities that are ripe for unrest and insurrection. Mao and the Communists won and Chiang and Nationalists lost.

I cannot forget this lesson when I observe McChrystal’s strategy unfold below. I can't say whether it is worth fighting anywhere in Afghanistan.

“U.S. leaves Afghanistan’s ‘Valley of Death’ Military decides remote region isn’t worth the cost in casualties

“It is also part of a new effort by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander of forces here since last summer, to consolidate and refocus his forces in places where they might change the momentum of what had become a losing contest.

Fighting for isolated mountain valleys like this one, even if they are hideouts for clusters of Taliban, was no longer sustainable. And it did more to spawn insurgents than defeat them. Better to put those soldiers in cities and towns where they could protect people and help them connect to the Afghan government, he reasoned.”