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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Beach bacteria thresholds may tighten ... Our View: Who politicized the UCC shootings? Not Obama ... View from 100,000 feet ... Beach bacteria thresholds may tighten ... Our View: Who politicized the UCC shootings? Not Obama ... View from 100,000 feet ... Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan conflict remains uncertain By Arthur I. Cyr More Content Now MailTribune.com By Arthur I. Cyr More Content Now Posted Oct. 7, 2015 @ 6:54 am By Arthur I. Cyr More Content Now Posted Oct. 7, 2015 @ 6:54 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Once again in Afghanistan, the Taliban has captured headlines through a spectacular and startling military attack. On Sept. 28, the extremist Islamic movement overran the major city of Kunduz. Afghan government forces were quick to counterattack. Reliable sources report the Afghan military retook the city center Oct. 5, but fighting continues. The inadvertent U.S. attack on a hospital adds further complication. Nevertheless, progress continues. Afghanistan’s President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani personifies democratic change. He was warmly welcomed in Washington in March. Last year saw a peaceful transition in power. Presidential elections were held in April and June. Turnout was high, despite Taliban intimidation and violence. World Bank veteran Ghani won among a total field of eight candidates. The national election commission testified that corruption was much reduced from the 2009 presidential election, and the UN did a careful audit of votes cast. In September 2014 a new agreement was signed to continue the U.S. partnership. A major London conference in December highlighted the international coalition aiding Afghanistan. Previous President Hamid Karzai was a durable survivor but had become increasingly erratic. Late in his tenure, he denounced the alliance with the U.S. This occurred despite the fact that he was the recipient of sizable regular cash payments from the CIA. During the election, the Taliban mounted hundreds of attacks but no major government installations were struck. By contrast, in June 2013 Afghanistan rebels detonated a car bomb and battled security forces in front of the presidential palace, the most heavily guarded installation in the country. Long-term ties between Afghanistan and the U.S. have deepened. In a July 2012 visit to Kabul, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced a formal alliance between Afghanistan and the U.S. This relationship goes beyond the long-term but limited multilateral effort under United Nations and NATO authority. As a result, Afghanistan joined fourteen other nations in the distinctive category of Strategic Partner of the U.S. These include Argentina, Australia, Israel and Japan. Other partners are notably stronger economically, and more stable politically, than Afghanistan. The bilateral partnership brings closer cooperation encompassing regular delivery of military equipment, supplies and weapons. This in turn becomes more important as insurgency persists. After the announcement, Secretary Clinton and President Karzai attended a conference in Tokyo, where donor nations pledged $16 billion in new development assistance. Foreign aid remains important for political leverage as well as economic development. Progress includes growing participation of women. Notable publicity has been generated by Ascend, an international nonprofit which engages young people in rigorous athletic training. The association’s priority is training a group of young Afghan women in challenging mountain climbing. Modern technology is spreading steadily. Cellphones and the Internet, as well as traditional television, are now features of even isolated communities. Historical context and accurate analogies are instructive. In Vietnam, insurgents early controlled large areas, and established a remarkable, sustained intelligence and sabotage network. The Taliban has not approached this success – but could yet win. Continued U.S. engagement is crucial, and goes beyond forces on the ground. The historic Afghanistan involvement of Britain is instructive. Through the 19th century, British military expeditions experienced frustration. However, London eventually was successful through financial aid, limited military leverage, plus astute diplomacy. With U.S. and NATO drawdowns from Afghanistan, focus shifts to economic and diplomatic tools. Whatever the formal ties, both Americans and Afghans should recognize the latter ultimately will determine — and face responsibility for — the course of their own country. Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of “After the Cold War.” Contact him at [email protected]. By Arthur I. Cyr More Content Now MailTribune.com By Arthur I. Cyr More Content Now Posted Oct. 7, 2015 @ 6:54 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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