Matthew Hoh resigns to stir debate on Afghanistan. Mission accomplished.
By Carol Huang | Asia editor 10.28.09
It was the resignation heard around the world – or at least the blogosphere.
Security and political analysts are abuzz about Matthew Hoh, the former Marine captain and Foreign Service officer who quit his post in Afghanistan after concluding that US efforts there were actually inflaming the insurgency, not putting it down.
Leveraging his credibility as a respected veteran and diplomat, Mr. Hoh went public with his decision in an effort to fan debate about the question that wouldn’t stop nagging him as he studied the insurgency and tried (without much success) to build up local leaders in a remote part of eastern Zabul Province: What the heck are we doing in Afghanistan?
And fan debate he did. Some bloggers have lauded his decision as wise and bold; others say it doesn’t deserve such outsized attention.
Spencer Ackerman, who writes about national security for the Washington Independent, says Hoh’s argument deserves serious consideration.
The concern about the U.S. presence fueling the insurgency — not for what the U.S. does, but merely for the fact of its existence — was raised by Defense Secretary Robert Gates in January, but it has not yet seemed to penetrate most discourse about the war. Gates himself backed away from the critique in September, …
James Fallows at the Atlantic, who seconds Hoh’s perspective on the war, commends him for taking the unpopular path of resignation.
[R]esignations on principle are vanishingly rare in U.S. government practice. It’s much easier to keep your head down, protect your career prospects, and when it’s over say that you had been against [failed policy xx or yy] all along. Apart from the merits of his argument, Hoh deserves respect for taking this step so forthrightly. Each person who does so creates an example for others to reflect upon.
As powerful a move as stepping down can be, though, others say Hoh’s voice shouldn’t now crowd out the many others trying to solve a complex problem. Andrew Exum at the Center for a New American Security writes:
Afghanistan and the U.S. presence there is a wicked problem about which many intelligent people can disagree. But suddenly the opinion of a junior State Department employee — talented and patriotic though he may be — is the only opinion that matters?
Hoh’s opinion certainly matters to many high-level officials. Even as he was still deciding whether to resign, senior figures like US ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry and US special representative Richard Holbrooke met with him personally to hear him out. Next he’s scheduled to talk with the foreign policy adviser for Vice President Joe Biden.
“Hoh is perhaps the highest profile official with a military background to question the wisdom of the war in Afghanistan,” Mark Sappenfield wrote in the Monitor Tuesday. “With President Obama nearing a decision on a new Afghan strategy, Hoh’s words come at a crucial time.”
Hoh, however, says he doesn’t want to be the only voice crying out against the war. As he told the Washington Post: “I want people in Iowa, people in Arkansas, people in Arizona, to call their congressman and say, ‘Listen, I don’t think this is right.’ ”
Click here to read more about pros and cons of the US counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan.
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2. John Gore | 10.28.09
The Taliban are local in origin. They represent a harsh yet familiar school of Sunni Islam. All the drone planes, humvees, smart bombs, etc. will not destroy them. Futhermore, how can we and our NATO allies prevail when the government in Kabul is corrupt and its president wears expensive, London-tailored garments?
3. Police Mentor in Zabul | 10.28.09
Having worked with Matt in Zabul for a few months, I can say that he represents a great number of our opinions well. While not agreeing completely with his statement, his over-all assessment is correct.
The first rule in COIN is to ensure that the local government you are supporting is worth your effort. The Karzai led government fails that fundamental test. He does not enjoy public support in most of Afghanistan. He is seen as an American stooge. The recent elections were believed to be rigged by the local population. Finally, in an effort to be seen as independent, President Karzai blindly parrots the most egregous claims of the Taliban concerning civilian casualties which causes huge PR problems for US and Afghan Security Forces. The recent news that his brother is/was on the CIA payroll is a disastor for the US effort. AWK is widely seen by local Pashtoons as the biggest drug dealer in AFG while local farmers are targeted by drug eradication teams.
I will disagree with Matt on one point. Our presence in Afghanistan does not fuel the insurgency. Our INEFFECTIVE presence does.
4. Robert of Texas | 10.28.09
As retired General Jones, National Security Advisor to the President Obama have said about General McCrystal’s assessment of the war in Afghanistan, Mr. Hoe’s opinion could also be sum as simply just his opinion and not necessarily the opinion of majority of all expert in the field and at State Department of both civilian and military.
Does anyone think that President Obama and Vice President Biden will admit that they were wrong about their position on the war in Afghanistan while campaigning for their respective offices that the war there is very important to our own national security as well as the entire world? If they do change their position now and admit they are wrong, then they could also be wrong about all their positions before being elected.
US military and NATO members should continue maintain stability there in order for the State Department under Secretary Clinto do their job effectively.
5. Richard PhD | 10.28.09
It is time to bring our men, women, money and determination home and dedicate them towards working for a better USA
6. Karlos Waterman | 10.28.09
I am not sure he is a “Foreign Service Officer.” Not everyone on contract to the State Department is an FSO. http://careers.state.gov/officer/index.html There is a difference between ending a contract and a career.
7. Joel Bashore, LCDR, USN (Ret.) | 10.29.09
Matthew Hoh’s comments were spot on and he is to be applauded for his dissent. The concerns and despair he expressed in his resignation letter were many of the same ones I and others had two and a half years ago when I spent a year in the worst provinces in Afghanistan (Kunar & Nuristan) with Provincial Reconstruction Team - Asadabad and the 3rd BCT of the 10th Mtn Division from Apr 2006 - Apr 2007. As bad as it was then, I can’t even begin to image how bad it is now. Wanat, Ganjigal, Bella, Kamdesh - those were all within our area of operation. It is indeed all tribal, and they want only two things: to be left alone and the U.S. out of their ‘country’. If we stay it will not end well. We seem to have this persistent delusion that if we can just find the ‘right’ way to apply American military power, then everything will work out. We shouldn’t spend another drop of blood or treasure there.
8. ER in Maryland | 10.29.09
Mr. Hoh has a right to his opinion and clearly states his reasoning in his resignation letter.
That said he and the Washington Post have willfully and grossly misrepresented Mr. Hoh’s expertise and importance.
Mr. Hoh had only a few very short months in Afghanistan. There are thousands of military and civilian officials with years of experience that that would disagree with his conclusions even if the grant him some of his specific observations.
Mr. Hoh was not a career Foreign Service Officer. He was a contractor with no investment in a career who served in a relatively junior position despite his job title. There was really nothing senior about him. Were a truly senior Foreign Service Officer with years invested in a career to resign that would really mean something. A guy with no previous background in Afghanistan working a one year contract deciding to up and quit for whatever reason is close to meaningless. While his resignation could rate coverage on an interior page of the paper, he certainly didn’t rate above the fold coverage on the front page.
I have three tours in Afghanistan and served almost one year in Zabul. I have almost twenty-eight years in the Army. If I were to resign would the Post care? Probably not.
9. James Hayes | 11.01.09
Early in any officer career, one learns to never present a problem without a recommendation or solution. After reading Mr. Hoh’s resignation letter, he brings up many issues, but fails to make a simple recommendation unless his solution is to cut all funding and immediately withdraw all U.S. forces from ISAF, the U.N.-mandated, NATO-led multinational force in Afghanistan. The strategic implications of such a dramatic move are fairly obvious with Mr. Hoh’s example of insurgent recruitment a perfect illustration. The impact of U.S. presence in Afghanistan on insurgent recruitment would be insignificant to the immediate increase in worldwide extremist numbers following our perceived ‘defeat’. This is just one aspect of this way of thinking.
As for Mr. Hoh, I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt that his motives and intentions are genuine, but the timing, contents, and fact that his resignation letter was released to the media seem to speak for themselves. The contents of the letter and follow up media interviews make strong political statements with strategic implications. I will be disappointed, but not completely surprised, if I Mr. Hoh’s name surfaces in the future in some other fashion.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this entry are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
Major James Hayes, Student, Command and General Staff College, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, KS.
10. Jim Harrigan | 11.01.09
I think that the opinion of a soldier on the ground in the war zones should be given due consideration in the perspective of which it comes. To consider Mr. Hoh an expert in foriegn affairs or even privy to the global picture while stationed in a war zone is remiss. I think this is another example of the media hyping to influence the masses with a dribble of truth and much sensationalization. (”Foreign Diplomat quits over U.S. policy in Afganistan”) I believe a statement on Mr. Hoh’s part would be “A decission was made by Pres. Obama and I do not agree with it so I quit.” This is not the case as the new policy is just being decided upon through consultation with people more informed than Mr. Hoh. The decission makers will need all our support in the policies needed to ensure the security of our Nation and bringing our troups home safely. The decissions that have to be made will affect us all as well as the next generation.
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1. RealNeil | 10.28.09
I believe that the people of Afghanistan want us out of their country.
At this point, our best move would be to restore their sovereignty to them and leave. Our returning troops could hold hands with the troops returning from Iraq. (yes, a pipe dream)
Any politician that thinks it’s drastically important to keep fighting in either country should be issued a helmet and weapon to go with a free ticket to get them there.
Political checks should not be cashed with our Sons and Daughter’s lives.