Richard Gabriel Speech

Richard Gabriel, Ph.D., said that the United States has no vital interest in Afghanistan, and that the current strategy is clouded by domestic concerns as well as a failure to understand the region's history and culture, in his speech: “Afghanistan: A Strategic and Tactical Analysis,” Monday.

       Speaking to a crowd of over 100 students, faculty, and concerned citizens in Saint Louis University's Pius Library, Gabriel explained why he believes President Obama has increased U.S. Military presence in Afghanistan.

       “Obama understands that if [he] let people perceive [him] as weak [militarily], he will be attacked by the right-wing in this country.”

       Gabriel, a retired Army officer, is the author of more than 30 books concerning all things military. He discussed how a president's foreign policy is often informed by domestic concerns, for better or worse.

       “No sitting president could allow the [9/11] attacks to go unanswered and remain in office.  But Bush, to his credit, understood that the

U.S. had no strategic interest in Afghanistan and switched priorities.”

       Obama, in contrast to his predecessor, has made Afghanistan a focal point of his administration; a fact that Gabriel believes has more to do with winning independent voters than winning the War on Terror.

       Gabriel argued the mission is shortsighted and ineffective, “[The mission is] to stop the Taliban from taking over Afghanistan and [not allow them to] make a base for terrorism.  But there is no need for bases to plot a terrorist attack, any hotel will do.” 

       He brought up that American anger at the attacks was directed at the Taliban regime, with dubious rationale.

       “By no means can we claim that the Taliban would have supported terrorism against the U.S.…There is no evidence to suggest that the

Taliban trusted al-Qaida.”

       Gabriel alluded to U.S. support for the Taliban regime in the late 1990s and claimed, “[The U.S.] paid [the Taliban] some $230 million a year to destroy opium in Afghanistan.” 

       The speaker noted that in addition to domestic concerns, ignorance about Afghan history and culture has plagued U.S. Military objectives there.

Gabriel stressed the tribal culture of Afghanistan, and U.S. failure to understand its implications.

       “The largest tribal society in the world was split in half... The border between Afghanistan and Pakistan was drawn by a British bird watcher.”

       Gabriel pointed out that U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had recognized the Taliban's Islamic Fundamentalist regime and that Pakistan continues to support the Taliban.  

In addition, he discussed the crucial role the U.S. played in providing training, funding and weaponry to militant Islamic jihadists during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Gabriel contends that ignorance of this context has severely hampered U.S. military objectives.

Gabriel thinks it is likely the U.S. will return home and that Afghanistan will revert to a patchwork of regional and local militias.  Reflecting on the role of the American military going forward,

Gabriel said, “No one ever made the military better by covering up mistakes.”