Article

2005-11-29 Afghanistan

After Ismail Khan, miniskirts and dating in Herat

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Posted by Fred 2005-11-29 00:14|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Article: While governor he refused to hand over to the central administration millions of dollars in tariffs from trade with neighbouring Iran and Turkmenistan, annoying Karzaiâs cash-strapped government. Instead he used the money on roads, schools, hospitals and factories, turning the war-damaged city into the most prosperous in Afghanistanâs 34 provinces.

This is too bad - I've always thought Afghanistan was better off with warlords ruling the provinces. What I don't get is why State Department people always seem to think the foreign countries are better off with Chinese-style central government rule where the capital appoints local officials instead of the federal model we have stateside. At the very least, the governor of Herat should have been elected. Afghanistan's traditions were ripe for a federal-type government, but State seems to have either bowed to Karzai's overbearing instincts or insisted upon centralized government. Either way, State is paving the way for tyranny.

Posted by Elmenter Snineque1852 2005-11-29 01:56|| 2005-11-29 01:56|| Front Page Top

#2 Historically, warlords have been the bane of Afghanistan. They were the flip-side of invasion by foreigners, evolving decentralized power to combat the foreigners. However, when the foreigners left, the warlords were at each others' throats, each wanting to be the Khan.

This resulted in constant warfare that lasted for unending centuries.

They really need to evolve beyond the warlord system, to have a national presence before they can evolve a federal presence.

This individual is also needed at the national level for the best of all reasons: he is efficient with public works. Efficiency in government is the most stabilizing factor around, to help keep a government in power.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-11-29 09:14|| 2005-11-29 09:14|| Front Page Top

#3 Anonymoose: This individual is also needed at the national level for the best of all reasons: he is efficient with public works. Efficiency in government is the most stabilizing factor around, to help keep a government in power.

I don't think this suggestion would go over too well stateside. The fact is that a governor appointed by the central government will try to please the central government, not the people of his province. A federal system is a better idea for the same reason that a feudal system worked better for England back in the day - the nobility kept the king in check, first forcing upon him the Magna Carta, while retaining the right to defy him by force of arms if necessary. These weren't mere formalities - Oliver Cromwell finally defanged the English monarchy by taking off Bonny Prince Charlie's head. A governor appointed by the central government is worse than no governor at all.

Posted by Elmenter Snineque1852 2005-11-29 14:03|| 2005-11-29 14:03|| Front Page Top

#4 England at that time was more or less ethnically and linguistically homogenous (pace the Scots and the Welsh).

This is most certainly NOT the case in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has only a limited identity as a country and needs a coherent Afghan identity to be constructed. In the United States, that occurred in part through (believe it or not) the creation of West Point, where future military and political leaders identified with the nation as a whole and not with their original state.

Until that sort of common identity is formed, federalism is a recipe for conflict and corruption rather than for accountability.

Posted by lotp 2005-11-29 15:35|| 2005-11-29 15:35|| Front Page Top

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