Bribe On To Victory

Interesting developments in Afghanistan these days. The Obama administration, frustrated with non success in getting rid of the Taliban, has decided to copy the Bush administration to "win the war" there. And what are they doing? Well, uh..they are bribing the citizens to help. U.S. and Afghan officials have agreed on a new nationwide strategy that will funnel millions of dollars in foreign aid to villages that organize "neighborhood watch" programs to help with security. The plan will provide an incentive for Afghan tribal leaders to form their own militias and guard against Taliban insurgents.

If you can't win militarily nor get the support of the locals, bribing is an option. It surely worked in Iraq. At the end of the Bush term the co called "surge" in Iraq was not only an increase in soldiers there but tens of millions of dollars handed out to thugs in Baghdad neighborhoods surrounding villages. Cash for assistance worked there and allowed the war to wind down, and now officials are counting on the greed motive to win out again in Afghanistan.

The theory is that by placing more responsibility for security in the hands of villagers, U.S. troops will be able to focus on more urgent matters at a time when the Taliban is on the rise. Even with less money spent on bribes than in carrying on the war with the U.S. army, There might be greater progress in defeating the Taliban. Having locals turn against rather than harbor the Taliban is a huge benefit to the U.S. army operations.

The bribery is similar in some ways to an initiative that helped turn the tide of the Iraq war by paying members of Sunni tribes, including some former insurgents, to defend their neighborhoods. Even for devoted anti infidel Muslims, money talks loudly. But unlike in Iraq, aid will not go directly to individuals. Afghan villages that cooperate will receive roads, health clinics, fuel, and other aid.

Afghanistan is a corrupt country with a corrupt and utterly weak government. This is different than the Iraq bribery scheme. There, the U.S. military was far more in charge and made recipients of the bribes be accountable for the money they received. I am not sure this Afghan government can do that.The bribe for help strategy is not a U.S. one. it has long been the focus of the U. N. when using "peacekeeping" or monitoring forces in war torn nations. One might claim the use of bribes is a modern war strategy of great appeal in an age of greed for material benefits. fewer soldiers are killed this way, meaning there is less upset back home at the price of war.

Too, the bribe amounts are usually smaller than the cost of sending and equipping more troops and support personnel. Opponents to the bribe strategy say that caving into world opinion, catering to the enemy, giving away taxpayer money when they can't afford it, giving the enemy more while taking away from the American people is a policy doomed to fail. So what do you think?

Is bribery now a reasonable tactic of war? I, but uh..I refuse to pay you a bribe in return for an answer.