A Better Armed Afghanistan: What Could Possibly Go Wrong with This Idea

The U.S. ignores reality, again.

The Obama administration has made Afghanistan a preferred military partner eligible for quicker financing for U.S. weapons.

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With that agreement, the Obama administration Saturday named Afghanistan a Major Non-NATO Ally — a designation that makes it easier for countries to acquire and finance U.S. weapons systems.

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Afghanistan is the first nation to receive that status since Pakistan in 2004 and joins other Major Non-NATO Allies such as Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Japan.

President Barack Obama views Afghanistan as a major ally worthy of measures that will increase that primitive and tribal nation’s ability to become a significant force in the region. You may remember that in 2004, then President George Bush extended this same Major Non-Nato Ally status to Pakistan while not offering the much desired designation to American ally India, who Pakistanis view as their mortal enemy. You may also recall that New Dehli was not at all pleased with Mr. Bush’s decision.

There are several possible reasons that an American administration is designating Afghanistan an ally.

Here are a few possibilities, of which more than one may apply:

One, this will provide cover for a larger than advertised sustained presence in Afghanistan after the “full withdrawal” of American forces (set to occur in 2014). After all, someone will have to train the Afghans to use all the new goodies that the U.S. will provide.

Two, this upgrade in Afghanistan’s weapon procurement ability is because the Obama administration knows that the pending United States withdrawal from Afghanistan, when realized, will leave in its wake a serious power struggle in the country. The Obama administration fears that a post-withdrawal Afghanistan will be susceptible to takeover by a group hostile to the United States (as if the current Afghanistan “government” and every man in Afghanistan isn’t already hostile toward America and the West). The administration thinks that the current Afghan government in Kabul will be able to resist such a takeover if they are well armed. The fact that America is arming an enemy is something that doesn’t trouble democratists, and Mr. Obama appears to be as much of a democratist as was George Bush, with notably different targets for democratization.

A third possibility, and certainly not the least likely, is that this is the most effective method (politically and strategically) of stockpiling weapons in the region in preparation for war with Iran. This would be true for those democratists who desire war with Iran or for others that see war with the Islamic nation, whether America wants such a war or not, as a strong possibility. Afghanistan borders Iran to the east and would provide an excellent weapons storehouse and (another) point of entry in the event of war with Iran. This action of labeling Afghanistan a Major Non-Nato Ally also strengthens America’s military presence should Pakistan, Afghanistan’s southern neighbor, become more of a U.S. military target in the future. That would be the argument (one would assume) from anyone claiming this reason as justification for the new categorization.

A fourth possible reason for this action by the Obama administration: Afghanistan is a Muslim country and President Obama is partial to Muslim countries. By Islamic definition, Barack Hussein Obama was born a Muslim and at least partially raised as a follower of Islam. For Mr. Obama this is simply another ”bow” to a Muslim country meant to show that he respects them, trusts them, and values their friendship.

While any or all of reasons one, two, or three may well have been the real impetus behind the Obama administration’s decision, reason number four was certainly a consideration for President Obama personally. The kinship that he apparently shares with Muslims may very likely have been enough by itself for the president to embrace the barbaric nation of Afghanistan as a major ally.

As for the Afghan leaders, there is no love lost for the men from Washington. The Muslims see that the Americans are giving away weapons and money and are more than willing to take whatever gifts offered them. Conversely, in Mr. Obama eyes, Kabul is just another friendly place that doesn’t see everything eye to eye with America; a bit like Paris, just in need of a few more lights. Factor in that socialists such as Mr. Obama believe that there is nothing that a good chunk of someone else’s money won’t fix and you have a marriage made in Mecca.