Chayes calls for hope in Afghanistan

Author: Margaux Fimbres

On Friday, March 6, Dana Auditorium was brimming with students, professors and Middlebury residents all waiting to hear former NPR Middle East correspondent Sarah Chayes deliver a lecture titled, "Afghanistan: Notes From the Remembered War." Chayes initially arrived in Afghanistan in 2001 as an NPR correspondent documenting the fall of the Taliban. Her book, "The Punishment of Virtue," covers the history of Afghanistan during and after the fall of the Taliban. In 2002, she left NPR and launched a nongovernmental organization in Kandahar that works to cultivate crops and produce soap in order to deter opium production.

Chayes proudly addressed the large audience's interest in her lecture, but quickly redirected attention to Afghanistan's current issues. Chayes presented a straightforward, unapologetic lecture with sharp criticisms of previous U.S. policies in Afghanistan. However, Chayes asserted that with a new government in the United States, "the second window of opportunity is now." Addressing the staggering question of how to improve the current state in Afghanistan, Chayes merely said three words: "Yes, we can!"

Chayes championed the Obama administration and announced "a new period of government in the United States." Afghanistan was a significant feature in President Obama's campaign and Chayes affirmed that although the new administration is listening, policy in Afghanistan remains unclear. Though relations between the United States and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan have recently soured, Chayes remains optimistic. She alluded to the United States' tremendous talent in energy and policy, claiming, "We have the A-Team."

But how can we remedy the situation in Afghanistan, especially with the current economic recession and with the war in Iraq? "We need more troops. We need the 17,000," Chayes said, referring to President Obama's decision to send another 17,000 troops to Afghanistan this spring and summer. Chayes declared that when there are too few troops, more damage is actually done. Yet quantity is not enough; quality is also critical when it comes to fighting this war. Chayes sees the way we are deployed now as "completely unsustainable." The U.S. Army needs to deploy itself with the population in mind, for if there are insufficient troops as well as intelligence, civilian casualties are more difficult to avoid.

In addition to more troops, Afghanistan needs optimism, pure and simple. Unfortunately, President Obama advised the American public to lower their expectations regarding Afghanistan, which, according to Chayes, generated a dampening effect among Afghans, who found Obama's statements disappointing. For Chayes, this was a huge mistake. At the onset of the war in Afghanistan, a quick and easy victory was more or less expected. But once all of the energy, resources and commitment were transferred to Iraq in March of 2003, Afghanistan was forgotten. Chayes dubbed this the "fatal neglect" of the United States and claimed that it wasn't because expectations were too high; instead, the follow-through was too low. She compared the diversion the war in Iraq caused with the current recession that has distracted the world's attention away from Afghanistan yet again. Thus, contrary to President Obama's statements, Chayes affirmed that "we need the hope. We can't do this without the Afghans."

The discussion on opium, a topic of controversy by itself, brought up some unexpected assertions from Chayes. First, Chayes dispelled the notion that opium production is the primary source of funding for the Taliban. The Taliban taxes the local population and does profit from opium production, but revenue generated from opium taxes are about equal to that generated from taxing fruit. Chayes then boldly alleged that the Taliban receives most of its funding from Pakistan, an ally of the United States that receives an annual amount of $1 billion. In its invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan was using Afghans as proxies up until 2006. In another surprising remark, Chayes deemed Iran America's most natural ally in the region. After 9/11, she said, Iran was adamant in offering its sympathy to the United States and yet, "we chucked it out the window."

At the conclusion of the lecture, one brave audience member asked about Chayes' security situation in Afghanistan. Chayes interrupted, "You mean, why am I still alive?" According to Chayes, it is well known in Afghanistan that she interacts with the military, but she does not try to camouflage her actions. She is also aware of the Taliban tracking her vehicle. She admitted she is "bending the rules a bit as far as the role of a humanitarian goes." Chayes attributes her safety in Afghanistan to the local people. She speaks the language and was even asked to be the head of a council of elders. Chayes took this question as an opportunity to address American understanding of what the conflict is about. The conflict in Afghanistan is not a grassroots, indigenous, ideologically-based insurrection. This is not Hamas.

Chayes then called out to elderly members of the audience, seeking mayors, public health officials, governors and the like to come to Afghanistan and mentor Afghan government officials. She remained optimistic that at least 100 people in the United States would join her in her mission to rebuild Afghanistan.