Rebirth of Afghanistan

I come from a long line of military background. I graduated from a military academy in Kabul, Afghanistan. I am now a member of the Former Afghan Military Organization. At our monthly meetings, we discuss the conditions in Afghanistan and we always speak about having the opportunity to help our adopted country, the USA, succeed in the country of our birth, Afghanistan. We also understand that the task is great and the solutions are few. Last week we had a member of the Afghan Unity Organization as a guest speaker and he explained the goal and purpose of the Afghan Unity Organization to us. We were very impressed. It is true that America is the land of opportunity for anyone who wants to be successful and make an honest living. I know this because I came to the United States in 1971 and I worked hard to create a happy life for myself. I can honestly say that I truly love America and all it has to offer. Yet the situation that exists today leaves me feeling sad.

I feel sad that America supports the corrupt government of Afghanistan. America needs a new approach and strategy in Afghanistan. America went into Afghanistan to provide justice for the Afghan people who were under the control of the ruthless Taliban. But how can there be justice and freedom for the Afghan people when America is now supporting the corrupt government of Mr. Hamid Karzai? How can we get corruption out of Afghanistan when we continue to support this corrupt government and the warlords who run the country?

I feel sorrow for the young men and women in the U.S. military who are overseas fighting a war that only Mr. Karzai and his corrupt government are benefitting from. I strongly feel that the proposal made by the Afghan Unity Organization should be seriously considered by our government. We the Former Afghan Military Organization endorse and support the Afghan Unity Organization and consider it an honor to be a member. According to President Obama, “We will support Afghan ministries, governors and local leaders that combat corruption and deliver for the people and expect those who are corrupt to be held accountable.” As long as we allow the corruption to continue and the warlords to rule, the war in Afghanistan will never end. America can defeat the corruption if we support organizations like the Afghan Unity Organization whose members are truly honest people who are committed to seeing us succeed. As a member of the Afghan Unity Organization I believe that there is a possibility that Afghanistan can once again become the great country that it used to be.

Jalilullah Akbar
Military/Security Adviser