Where is your CVC code?
A couple weeks ago, Robert Naiman, Policy Director of Just Foreign Policy and a friend of this site, wrote a thought-provoking piece, in which he asks:
What if Afghans adopted a strategy of nonviolent resistance against the night raids? Could they be stopped?
Unlike US air strikes, US night raids require human contact.
Let’s suppose, for the purposes of our thought experiment, that there were a well organized popular movement in Afghanistan against the night raids. Let’s suppose that this movement went around to respected Islamic scholars and got legal judgments that the night raids are an offense against Islam. Let’s suppose that this movement prepared to defend villages where US night raids are being carried out, and organized committees of unarmed women to implement this defense. And let’s suppose that when a US night raid began, a call would go out from the mosque, and a group of unarmed women would surround the house and say to the US soldiers: you’re not coming in, and if you try, we will not move. And let’s suppose that some Western NGO issued these women video cameras, as the Israeli human rights group B’tselem has issued Palestinians video cameras. And let’s suppose that a group of people in the United States and Western Europe agreed that they would try to support this movement, by vigorously raising their voices in protest whenever US Special Forces tried to break the line of protesters.
Could the night raids be stopped?
I would argue that they could be thwarted by nonviolent resistance, because, despite their training to kill, US soldiers are still human beings whose hearts can be touched by the power of love and nonviolence. In the literature on nonviolence, there are countless examples of soldiers from all over the world being persuaded to disobey orders or even change sides when faced with nonviolent opposition, and members of the US military aren’t an exception. But it would require a level of organization that seems to not exist at the moment. However, that doesn’t mean that Afghans could not or should not start organizing around this goal.
What do you think? Would this type of resistance be possible or effective against the US occupation? And do you have any other ideas about how Afghans might bring an end to not only the night raids, but the entire occupation, through nonviolent action?
This will be fun.
This thought experiment is as realistic as a Harry Potter movie. The thought experiment assumes that the Taliban are nonviolent actors. It assumes foreknowledge of the raids. It assumes the the same Islamic scholars that condone the premeditated murder of civilians in the name of Islam will fabricate a “night raids are an affront to Islam” fatwā. Shall I go on?
Of course the Taliban do not like these raids. They work. Let’s not forget where the intelligence for the vast majority of these raids comes from…local Afghans.
“As recently as early July, Special Operations forces were carrying out an average of five raids a night, mostly in southern Afghanistan. But in a 90-day period that ended Nov. 11, Special Operations forces were averaging 17 missions a night, conducting 1,572 operations over three months that resulted in 368 insurgent leaders killed or captured, and 968 lower-level insurgents killed and 2,477 captured”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/world/asia/16night.html?_r=1&hp
How are night raids any different than raids during the day (other than being more successful)? Technology and training allow the US Military to fight extremely well at night in relation to the enemy, and these raids actually limit civilian casualties.
The next to last paragraph is not very rational or relevant, but if someone wants me to address it, I will.
I think the Taliban will not engage in nonviolent action and the US is not “occupying” Afghanistan.
The article didn’t mention the Taliban even once. Why do YOU assume that Afghans = Taliban?
perhaps it should have..
Mal, I answer to human being. All other labels that I have acquired or being attributed to me, are interesting and may have some utility from time to time, but not as important. The proper assumption to make, which can be easily verified by direct experience, is that all the people of Afghanistan are human beings. They are inherently entitled to human rights.
I am sure that nonviolence would work. I just wonder whether it could be organized. There is only so much terror people can take. That might be taken as violence working, but it is also a loss of human dignity that diminished us all.
Ok, Human Being (person formerly known as wmmbb),
The first paragraph is a shovel full of drivel, so let me get your second paragraph. You are “sure” it would work, but you’re not sure it would work because “there is only so much terror people can take?” Oh-kay. What you’re actually saying is that it looks really nice in fantasy, but not grounded in reality.
Don’t hold back DK. Are you saying that murder and murderers are your reality? Good luck with that my friend because then human values become irrelevant. Whatever those responsible say they are doing, if indeed they know, won’t work, and it is not working. Human decency requires accountability. I identify with the victims of the terror and murder, rather more so than the stupid and brutal perpetrators. What about you?
You may wish to re-examine the contents of the shovel.
Human Being, What exactly am I holding back? I can still smell the contents of the shovel and you keep adding to it. Makes me no difference if contents are from a bull or a horse.
Please try and remember that lucid thought makes discussions much easier. Are you talking about the night raids now?
Yes, I am referring to the death squads, the drone attacks, the destruction of farm buildings which are war crimes. That would be the obvious reference would it not?
Can people engage engage in such behavior in good conscience?
I am wondering why DK you have such an emotional response that we identify as human beings with others. I am sure you identify with others, probably more so that I do. We human beings seem to be susceptible to allowing our “emotions” to get in the way of our better selves.
Thanks for the discussion. I can stand correction. I should be clearer. My purpose was not to create an emotional response. I was attempting to express a principle.
A GREAT idea Eric! It follows in the footsteps of the work of Nonviolent Peace Force. These courageous activities need to happen so that one day we can replace conventional armies and end the horrific outcomes created by them.