‘Touch wood,’ Karzai said to me. You hear it all the time

28 May 2008

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From the President downwards, all Afghans know that the peace in Helmand is precarious.Fraser Nelson reports from a shattered land of corruption and murky power where warlords wait to see if the West has what it takes to stay the course and thwart a horrific new conflict

At the middle of this stands President Karzai himself, whose scornful nickname — the Mayor of Kabul — actually exaggerates his freedom of manoeuvre. He is occasionally lambasted for failing to tackle corruption by those who presume his fledgling government has the power to take on the warlords. I met him briefly when Mr Browne’s delegation had finished their visit and we spoke about the peace in Helmand. ‘Yes, touch wood,’ he said.

These words are on the lips of everyone who talks of progress in Afghanistan. Risk factors remain everywhere. Nato may run out of members willing to send troops into harm’s way. Taleban troops may yet come pouring into Helmand from across the Pakistan border. Americans may rush the other way, taking the fight to al-Qa’eda camps. Or worse, they may find Osama bin Laden and send troops home.

In Lashkar Gah, I asked Brigadier Carleton-Smith how long Britain should stay in Afghanistan. He did not hesitate in his response. ‘This is a task which one measures in decades,’ he said. The Taleban believe the West has stopped measuring tasks in decades. It misjudged the British military in Helmand. The future of Afghanistan depends on whether it has misjudged the West in the same way.

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Water

May 29th, 2008 11:02am Report this comment

"Only in Afghanistan could the rockets being fired into the Kandahar airbase be seen as a sign of progress" surreal.

Water

May 29th, 2008 11:15am Report this comment

"Only in Afghanistan could the rockets being fired into the Kandahar airbase be seen as a sign of progress" surreal.

Water

May 29th, 2008 11:55am Report this comment

Glad to see the posting system is working as normal.

Ray

May 31st, 2008 10:13am Report this comment

The most cutting comment on this whole tragic imbroglio comes from Charles moore writing in the Telegraph... "Why have we allowed ourselves to fantasise about ideal states, rather than exerting our power to make the best of real ones? Afghanistan won't have democracy as we know it; it won't suddenly want its women to wear jeans and choose their boyfriends; it won't forget tribe and embrace diversity. Perhaps this is a statement of the obvious, but, in our rather sanctimonious politics, the obvious is not always easily stated."

Ed Hummer

May 31st, 2008 2:41pm Report this comment

He was probably told to say �touch wood�instead of the ubiquitous and equally meaningless Inshallah to any infidels he met.

Praetorian

May 31st, 2008 10:01pm Report this comment

I am returning to Helmand for a tour of duty this Sep. I thoroughly recommend this article as it is the most informative and accurate one I have read on the situation in both Helmand and wider Afghanistan. Our presence in Helmand guarantees nothing except that the Taliban will not regain control. However, that is worth fighting for, the alternative is a terrorist sanctuary from which further attacks will be launched against the West. I hope the politicians keep their nerve and start to make a better case for our engagement.

Mungo Lockhart

June 9th, 2008 2:16am Report this comment

A very good article - we are in for the long haul.

Note the milder comparison with Mexico where I live. Narcotics bosses apparently offer their front line Governmnent opponents a choice between cooperation or a bullet. This is not a choice.

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