http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34238313/ns/us_news-giving//
I was browsing the internet and came across this article today. I previously told you about the book in another post. This guy (Greg Mortenson) has it right. I believe the solution to the problems, not only in Afghanistan, but in the entire Middle East, revolves around education and getting to know the people on the ground being affected by the war.
It seems to me that in Iraq, we didn't start making any significant progress until we started working with the village leaders to help them overcome the problems in their own villages. They wanted al-Qaida out as bad as we did, but we kept throwing our forces and money at people who did not have the ear of the locals. The military finally "got it" and began working with the locals and they were able to drive al-Qaida out of the areas.
The same applies in Afghanistan. We will never win the war on terror by throwing bombs at it exclusively. By meeting and working with the local elders (shuras) we would be able to meet their needs and they would take care of the war on terror.
I heard that if you educate a man it helps him, but if you educate a woman, you educate a village. I really believe that if we could do what Greg Mortenson is trying to accomplish in the region, we would eventually have success.
Read the article. It is pretty perceptive. The military now believes him and uses him. If we can get the politicians on board we may win this war.
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