Lack of support from Afghans shows attitude toward the US

The week-long deadly protests in Afghanistan over the burning of the Quran and other Islamic texts has not only claimed American lives, but has revealed a bitter truth: The Afghan people don’t consider the United States their friend. It’s a hard pill to swallow when the cost of the war in Afghanistan is added up: More than $500 billion spent; more than 1,500 troops killed; and thousands injured.

While it is true that the protesters represent a small percent of the population, what has been missing in the attacks on foreign troops and advisers is the rising up of Afghans, including members of President Hamid Karzai’s government, in support of the foreigners.

The burning of copies of the Quran and the other Islamic texts was a mistake, for which President Barack Obama and top U.S. government officials and military commanders have apologized.

Indeed, Obama and others have been tempered in their reaction to the deadly protests, even though they are clearly angry and would like nothing more than to turn their backs on Afghanistan.

However, the U.S. cannot abandon its goal of establishing a solid foundation for democracy and ensuring that Islamic extremists, the Taliban, and the world’s leading terrorist organization, al-Qaida, do not return to take control of the country.

Prior to the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan by a U.S.-led military coalition following the terrorist attack on Sept. 11 on America’s homeland, the Taliban were in control. They provided al-Qaida and its leader, Osama bin Laden, a safe haven. Bin Laden operated training camps from which most of the terrorists involved in the 9/11 attacks emerged. Bin Laden is now dead because of Obama’s decision to send in Special Forces units to capture or kill the world’s leading terrorist who was hiding in Pakistan.

Afghanistan under the Taliban was firmly lodged in the stone age, with women in second-class status and Islamic clerics in control of every aspect of Afghans’ lives.

All that has changed, in large part because of the blood, sweat and tears expended by American and European forces. The war in Afghanistan has left a gaping hole in the U.S. budget because former President Bush did not establish a revenue source to pay for it and for the war in Iraq.

Goal being met

Last summer, President Obama announced the draw down of 33,000 troops by this summer. That goal is being met, but now the issue that U.S. and its NATO allies must address, in light of the deadly protests over the past week, is who will protect the support staffs of the various coalition partners.

The killing of the four American soldiers and about 40 other people has prompted NATO, France, Britain and the U.S. the pull their advisers from Afghan ministries out of concern that the anti-foreigner anger might erupt again.

The United Nations has also scaled back its operations.

Despite all that, the commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan has said that the partnership with the Afghan government is strong as ever.

But, the lack of passionate support for the coalition forces on the part of President Karzai and other supporters of democracy is disturbing, and could be a turning point in the relationship.

The American people are right to expect loyalty from the people of Afghanistan.