By John Johnson II
Now that the Taliban have the upper hand, it’s in America’s best interest to acquiesce and make a generous offer of a bounty for safe passage for airlifting remaining Afghans and all-American citizens out of Afghanistan. The bounties paid should be funds belonging to Afghanistan currently held in accounts frozen in Europe and the U.S. Hopefully, the Taliban may be open to such an agreement to avoid more unnecessary blood shed as well as further destruction to their homeland. Beside the offer of a BOUNTY, the U.S. should offer other diplomatic incentives and humanitarian assistance.
Americans, journalists, and veterans must realize this senseless struggle has ended. America lost! Trump agreed to a conditional surrender. Somehow, there’s a false belief we could’ve use our military force to dictate the terms of this withdrawal. The suicide bombing and random assault weapons firing was a reminder of what to expect if the U.S. military attempted to extend the August 31, 2021, deadline. Instead of thirteen soldiers killed, it easily could’ve been hundreds.
American Officials should submit their offer to the Taliban and await their response. The Taliban should add language that they want included for acceptance and approval of this agreement. If the appendages are acceptable, an agreement could be in order. A review of history reveals how Britain learned to work with Afghanistan after their colonial control collapsed. Yes, they paid the warlords generous BOUNTIES, or you can call them bonuses.
This agreement of a BOUNTY, besides the diplomatic incentives and humanitarian assistance, should also include specific requests for approval for the following:
- Procedures for identifying processing and air lifting individuals selected;
- Identification of checkpoints requiring guards to ensure safe passage to the airport;
- Allow for Afghans or any individuals who change their mind and desire to remain in Afghanistan. Also, Afghans not selected by U.S. Officials must remain;
- Provide approval for a specific number of daily departures and arrivals times;
- Provide approval for the deadline for all departures; and
- Provide American Officials with information regarding the agreed upon payment of the BOUNTY per departing flights with the last payment submitted and agreed upon based on an exact number of days before the last departing flights.
The senseless 20 years struggle in Afghanistan, which constitutes America’s third defeat, hopefully has taught America the following significant lessons: 1) democratic values can’t be forced upon a country whose culture is distinctly different using military power; 2) domestic terrorists pose a greater threat to America’s democracy than foreign adversaries; and 3) democracy, in America, as a growing and evolving process of governance can only achieve a more perfect Union when the values of its leaders and citizenry subscribe to the same democratic values for every American.
