History doesn’t repeat itself. But certain patterns do. Particularly, when short-sighted oversimplifying dogmatism and bossiness in judgement and evaluation of complex situations predominates, learning from history becomes a hard job or even gets obstructed. When it’s moreover about distant places and their history, many people just soon switch off anyway.

„The Afghan Misery“, which after the withdrawal of the Soviets in 1989 continued with the country’s implosion and civil war and then ended in the Taliban dictatorship after the withdrawal of Western troops seems to lead again to the dominion of Islamic fundamentalists. Besides that though it’s also becoming apparent, that the country at the Hindu Kush in addition to that might become a theater of war between international IS and local Taliban. With the Afghan people taken hostage in between.

Everyone, who him- or herself has worked on the ground there in the last 20 years, if as soldier or as civilian definitely could easily recognize, that only by “balancing measurements” between rich and poor the country could be brought on a peaceful track. A long and drawn-out process. But: also Germany and Europe didn’t immediately revive from the debris particularly of WW2. Also that regeneration and rebuilding required a lot of time.

Maybe the main reason for the “Western failure” and the failure of the “War against terror” at the Hindu Kush was, that the will to surrender the country as a whole and its people from their misery wasn’t too distinct. To say it the other way round: the humble realization, that regeneration and rebuilding are important for all layers of society didn’t have a chance. A humble and respectful, deeply human insight, George C. Marshall as one of those US-Generals, who decisively defeated Nazi-Germany in 1947/48 displayed with his "European Recovery Program (ERP)”. What instead in the US immediately got torpedoed by Senator McCarthy and others and then in 1951 caused the retreat of the merited 5 Star-General and founder of the “Marshall-plan” from politics.

Time will tell, how moderate the Taliban now will deal with social and more or less unpolitical institutions. 25 years ago the first generation of Q’ran scholars also protected important social and development services. Also, if those were managed by “Westerners”. How this will go on also depends from the reworking in the West. Thus: in the US and particularly also here in Europe. After all we’re not separated by the Atlantic Ocean from the “Central Asian Bridge” between South- and East-Asia.

Finally the way, the “Western failure” happened also shows once more, that the “war against terror” long ago has already become a war “up against down” and “rich against poor”. A balance and dealing out the equivalent challenges of the 21st century also requires the will power for doing that. Therefore: a change of culture also in those parts of the world, which call themselves civilized and enlightened.

The escape movement, coming with the battle fatigue of the Afghans and their delivery to the Taliban really requires taking the challenge of tackling “reasons for migration on the ground”. Also the increasing number of bankrupt states altogether in the “global South” as a consequence of war and inflation finally requires drastic changes.

In addition to that climate change and its impacts can be perceived since much longer in the “global South”. For increasing local resilience and that way for efficiently tackling reasons for migration and casus belli a better collaboration in rebuilding infrastructures is essential.  Water and food security once more are the leverage, where to start with.

And: regarding that we’re all sitting in the same boat. And we’re challenged to work together more efficiently.
It’s always and everywhere all about people. For getting to know places and the people better and for finding out, what really is essential you have to focus and open up your eyes. You have to listen to humans and their stories. You also have to face their wounds. And: Afghanistan is a deeply wounded country. Like always also amongst the majority of Afghans are great people. Also their lives matter. What is most important and how to achieve Peace and better living conditions for more and more people: that requires a realignment of trade and exterior policy. Furthermore a deepened and multilateral approach.  

For all these reasons we should now open up the way for a comprehensive and extensive "Near and Middle Eastern Recovery Program (NMERP)". Besides that this should also effect a new vitalization of the "European Recovery Program (ERP)".  It’s high time for that. Respecting the UN-Human-Rights-Charta and the dignity of all humans over all should per se be the basic condition for any agreement and any transaction.

WEaD: Water Equity and Dignity
https://www.wead-20.com/

PS: When you signed the English petition, please don't sign the German petition any more! Thanks.