Of the many aphorisms on hindsight, the one which ought to be the truest was penned by the ancient Greek writer Homer: “After the event, even a fool is wise.” Too often and albeit for different reasons, policy makers and journalists have an ability to be the exception. One of the most sinister examples is jihadism and I was, in a small way, part of it.… Read the rest
The early 2nd century poet Juvenal coined the phrase “bread and circuses” to describe how Roman emperors distracted their public from governmental shortcomings. The rash and ultimately short-sighted ploy echoes today in the form of crises. The danger is that crises can be lethal if mishandled, a distinct possibility when they are seasoned with cynicism.… Read the rest
The most brutally moving aid poster I’ve ever seen is of an emaciated child sitting with an empty food bowl. The caption reads: “I was hungry and you formed a committee to discuss the matter. Thank you.” Afghanistan calls for an update: “I am dying, and you imposed sanctions to solve the matter…’… Read the rest
Among the many remarkable inhabitants of the lake where the photo for this blog site was taken are weasels.
Resourceful, fast nocturnal hunters, weasels avoid humans. They also have the misfortune to be a synonym for cunning or deceit, which unjustly associates them with the kind of people trying to “weasel” their way out of their share of responsibility for what is happening in Afghanistan.… Read the rest
“You can always count on Americans to do the right thing, after they’ve tried everything else.”
Had Sir Winston Churchill coined his famous phrase with the Afghan debacle as a benchmark, he could have added that the learning process invariably includes tuition fees paid by those with no say in the curriculum.… Read the rest
The 19th century struggle for dominance in Afghanistan was dubbed “The Great Game’.
The 21st century version is looking increasingly like ‘The Grotesque Game’; summed up neatly by an Afghan proverb: “While the butchers were arguing, the cow dropped dead.”… Read the rest
Military history is littered with examples of out-numbered and out-gunned, rag-tag forces outlasting well-trained, weapons-rich enemies.
Afghanistan is but the latest.… Read the rest