The truth is that after more than a decade of war, the bonds between Afghans and US/NATO troops have only grown more frayed.
The truth is that children would be safer on the streets of New York, Chicago, or Detroit than on the "safest family compound" near the US Embassy in Kabul.
The truth is that many Afghans, not just the Taliban and other insurgent groups, are tired of the foreign troops in their country.
The truth is that the distaste for the foreign troops in the midst of millions of Afghans means it only takes the slightest spark to generate a crisis. Case and point: Last month, an obscure Christian preacher in Florida who burned a Quran inflamed a mob-enraged assault that overran the UN compound in Mazar-e Sharif.
The video above is another sad indication that this quagmire is no closer to being resolved than a decade of effort, billions of dollars and (it is estimated) millions of lives. That's right. No classification of these lives under the labels 'US', 'Afghan', 'combatant', 'child', etc. These are HUMAN lives - period.
But here is some more truth:
The truth is we can't just walk away.
The truth is that only about 25% of the entire population of Afghanistan has access to drinking water, the life expectancy there is 43 years, the literacy rate is under 20%, and it has the highest infant AND maternal mortality rate in the world. Ever.
The truth is that those with strength must protect those without, those who have must assist those who have not, and those with the eyes to see the oppression of others must have the fortitude and courage to stand between them and their oppressors.
The truth is (and yes, this is stolen from Edward Burke) 'all that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing'. And for the record, I am appalled at the application of the word 'evil' as it is thrown about today. 'Evil' is not someone keeping us from oil. 'Evil' is not those who talk bad about me, my faith, my country, my opinions, etc. In my book, evil is the intentional harm of another, the intent to cause pain or injury for ones own satisfaction or purposes.
From what I've seen, I know that evil is real. But I also know that good has power. Evil can destroy, but good can protect, heal, build, and prosper. The truth is we must do everything we can to "...overcome evil with good".
