U.S. allies, defense secretary suggest political solution to Afghan war

While the U.S. presidential candidates both suggest an increase in military forces as the solution for the conflict in Afghanistan, allies and even the U.S. defense secretary have agreed that a political solution involving engaging in diplomacy with the Taliban is necessary.

Britain’s most senior military commander in Afghanistan, Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith this week said “We’re not going to win this war. It’s about reducing it to a manageable level of insurgency that’s not a strategic threat and can be managed by the Afghan army.”

“We may well leave with there still being a low but steady ebb of rural insurgency,” he also said.

“I don’t think we should expect that when we go there won’t be roaming bands of armed men in this part of the world. That would be unrealistic and probably incredible.”

In addition, he said, “We want to change the nature of the debate from one where disputes are settled through the barrel of the gun to one where it is done through negotiations.”

“If the Taliban were prepared to sit on the other side of the table and talk about a political settlement, then that’s precisely the sort of progress that concludes insurgencies like this. That shouldn’t make people uncomfortable.”

In response, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said, “While we face significant challenges in Afghanistan there certainly is no reason to be defeatist or to underestimate the opportunity to be successful in the long run.” More