Peters: Afghanistan a Mess

Ralph Peters writes about military matters for the New York Post. He has a very interesting article about our current strategy in Afghanistan. Peters' view is that the people who live in Afghanistan are tribal and have little or no interest in a larger multi-tribal "nation."

I particularly agree with the following observation:

The Brits cracked the code on how to get tribesmen to fight for them: You give them a substitute tribe that's an extension of their hereditary tribe. The Indian Army's regimental system fit the bill perfectly: Recruited from an exclusive tribal network or ethnic group, the regiment could count on soldiers performing well to avoid shaming their families (think Gurkhas). Plus, the regiment offered its own tribal rituals.

Peters concludes as follows:

If you want to succeed in a tribal society, you exploit tribal identities. Our officials insist that would undercut our goals. Well, perhaps our goals should be more realistic.

This article is worth your time.