Traverse City Record-Eagle

Opinion

March 10, 2012

Another view: U.S. role in Afghanistan unclear

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After a decade of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, the latest incident involving the burning of copies of the Quran raises troubling questions.

What is our understanding of Afghanistan's cultural, religious and political landscape, 10 years in?

It's not hard to imagine that burning copies of the Quran in a trash pit would offend devout Muslims, who bury worn-out versions of their holy book. How did this happen, then?

Just how deep is support for the U.S. effort in Afghanistan if, after 10 years, a misstep of this nature can provoke the levels of rage we're seeing now?

The U.S. maintains the burning was inadvertent, although others question that. The president has apologized, but who is offending religious dignity here — those who would burn the Quran or those who would use the incident to justify suicide bombings, violent protests and the execution of U.S. officers?

The deeper question the incident raises is this: What's next?

We can't help but believe that as soon as U.S. troops withdraw, Afghanistan will revert to ways of life that existed even before the United States existed.

We have not won the hearts and minds of the people there. Without that, what do we truly expect to accomplish?

Ten years in, the biggest source of resentment is not the burning of the Quran, but rather, the fact that we are 10 years in.

The longer we are there, the worse this is going to get.

The Joplin Globe Joplin, Mo.

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