Panelists debate Afghan war

While some experts doubt much can be done to improve the situation in Afghanistan, others are optimistic about the opportunities the U.S. has in the area, panelists said at a debate on Tuesday. 

A panel debated with each other and members of the 60-person audience at the Boston University School of Law about what can be done to rebuild Afghanistan and the steps the Obama administration should take.

Andrew Bacevich, a BU professor of international relations and history, highlighted the struggles of the Bush administration to succeed in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the huge cost of the war thus far.

“The war has cost this country nearly $1 trillion and nearly 5,000 lives,” he said. “And the imperative of this moment is to ask how, if at all, Afghanistan contributes to what is now called the Long War.”

Jasteena Dhillon, an international lawyer who has spent time in Afghanistan as a legal advisor and advocate, said she too has doubts about what can be done in Afghanistan.

“Even if we could stay as long as we needed to in order to solve the problems in Afghanistan, do we have the capacity to do it?” she asked. “We would need resources, political will, and public support, and to me, it doesn’t look like we have those things.”

Saeeq Shajjan, a Harvard University law student who was born and raised in Afghanistan, countered these arguments with positive changes that have been brought about by the war.

“There are things we can be proud of,” he said. “More girls are going to school now. We have to be patient and optimistic, these things take time.”

Kerry Healey, former Mass. lieutenant governor and a member of the Executive Board of the U.S. Department of State’s Public-Private Partnership for Justice Reform in Afghanistan, also said she has an optimistic vision for the future of Afghanistan.

“I am an optimist,” she said. “I think there will be success with this nation that could possibly be an ally to the U.S. They need to know we will not abandon them.”

Bacevich and Healey discussed their opinions about a potential troop surge in Afghanistan.

“If you look at the past 30 years, from Vietnam to the Gulf War, it seems to me that if you’re going to be sending more troops and hoping for the same result that, yes, you would have to be quite the optimist,” Bacevich said.

Healey opposed this idea, citing the need for stability in the country.

“I think we should put more troops in order to stabilize Afghanistan,” she said. “We need to stabilize the area as soon as possible, and if that means sending more troops then that’s what we need to do.”

Healey emphasized the importance of having an open dialogue about the issues at hand.

“I think it’s important to have a balanced discussion about our options in Afghanistan,” she said. “I believe there are both moral and political considerations to be discussed.”

Michael Greenwald, discussion coordinator and National Security Law Society president, said the panel was held to show BU Law students a different side of Afghanistan legal issues.

“It was a rare opportunity for the students of BU Law to hear from an Afghan lawyer and gain an important perspective from the Afghan legal community,” he said. “And today’s important panel showcased the different approaches to a very difficult situation.”

Students said they appreciated the diverse opinions in the debate.

“It was nice to have divergent input on the issue of Afghanistan,” School of Law junior Candice Lang said. “And to have competent and knowledgeable people speak and give different opinions.”