Just finished listening to historian and author Steven Pressfield’s video blogs (see parts 1-5 on the subtitle bar, or left sidebar) on tribalism and Afghanistan. Good stuff for the most part, although I think his hierarchical characterization of the Afghan tribes (at least) is contradictory to the codes of Pashtunwali, which teaches that every man is equal to every other.
Chapter 5 – how to win in Afghanistan – has its more fanciful elements as well. Fifteen year viceroys and $150k a year sergeants sounds very well in principal, but then reality butts in. Forming an alliance with the tribes against another set of outsiders – al Qaeda – makes eminent sense, if it can be accomplished. While a transitory accommodation may be made in exchange for funds, that whole “infidel” thing gets in the way of any long-term alliance.
But all in all, half an hour well spent (and many thanks to Pam Slim for pointing it out).
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