WEB EXCLUSIVE: Intelligence Squared event report – ‘Afghanistan: the future’

Yesterday’s Intelligence Squared / Spectator event was a discussion, rather than the usual debate. There was no motion, and panellists presented possible outcomes. Matthew Parris was mischievous, rejecting all analyses except that “Afghanistan is not Britain’s fight”. What was this “nearly third rate power doing there”? Fighting a war “we can’t afford” against a “cultural and religious identity we don’t understand is mad”. Britain was not fighting at the Afghans’ invitation. “Imagine the card: The Afghan people request and require your presence for a limited military occupation.” He predicted that fellow speakers Lords Inge and Ashdown would espouse the Mastermind approach to foreign policy: I’ve started so I’ll finish. The wrong approach because “Afghan warlords employ the same logic to continue the struggle”. Good sense is to recognise mistakes; Britain should “withdraw immediately”.  

Field Marshal Lord Inge did indeed assume the mantle of Magnus Magnusson. “We are where we are. The Kabul government is corrupt; its writ does not extend beyond the capital.” The situation requires “direction and strategic planning”. (In other words, ‘biffing’ followed by redevelopment). The war was “not about beating the Taleban and achieving democracy, but securing the population”. Petraeus’ surge and ensuring NATO partners fight on the front line will achieve success, he claimed.

Clare Lockhart served the Karzai government until discovering that $1bn contracts were sold to cronies for $1. Now she directs the Institute for State Effectiveness. “Afghanistan is not ungovernable or anti-western; it has huge potential”. Until 2005, the coalition worked in “partnership with Afghans”; then the country descended into lawlessness. We forfeited legitimacy and must rebuild it, not with “more bombs”, though the coalition must remain, but by redistributing aid. $2bn packages awarded to NGOs should fund government endorsed projects so that “Afghans can rebuild their country”, protected by capable Afghan forces.