Why Russia Does Not Want U.S. Forces To Leave Afghanistan

A coalition soldier secures an area during a patrol in the Muqer district in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, March 21, 2012. Coalition forces conducted the patrol, which followed an insurgent attack, to engage merchants, villagers and key leaders in the area. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David Frech

Afghanistan: Pass The $1 Billion A Week Baton To Russia? -- James Brook, Voice of America

In early September 2002, one year after American troops entered Afghanistan, I reported newspaper stories from Kandahar, the main city of the Pashto-speaking southern part of Afghanistan.

I drove in from Quetta, Pakistan, and stayed 10 days at the “best” hotel on Kandahar’s main street.

For one report, I spent a morning walking the street with a Pashto-English interpreter. I talked to the video rental man, poked around the bazaar, and sipped tea with the used car dealer and his brothers. As a Westerner, I was a bit of an attraction. People were curious. Some were reserved. Some were friendly. For most of my stay, I’m sure the Taliban knew where I was.

This was back when the war’s goal was to destroy al-Qaida in Afghanistan. From the ruins I saw of Tarnak Farms, the Al Qaeda training camp near Kandahar airport, it was clear that the American and allied soldiers had done fine job of that.

Then, two Washington syndromes descended on Afghanistan.

With mission creep, getting rid of al-Qaida morphed into democratizing Afghanistan.
Without a sunset clause, the war went on and on and on.

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My Comment: When the Russian Foreign Minister is making demands to both the U.S. and NATO that they must maintain their forces in Afghanistan by 2014 .... you have to ask the question why. And the answer is easy to find, all that you have to do is read what the Russian news and blog sources are talking about when it comes to Afghanistan. In short ..... there is now a great deal of concern on what will happen to Russia's southeastern flank when ISAF forces leave. There is already a heroin epidemic in Russia, and while there is always a concern about terrorism and Al Qaeda, it is the prospect of Afghanistan descending into a narco-super state that brings shivers to many in the Kremlin .... and a willingness to find some accommodation to keep U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan a little longer.