Lessons never learnt
The unfolding tragedy in Afghanistan shows us that the West has once again not listened to its experts and has let down yet another failed state. Following on from Iraq this defeat, which has been painful enough for the West, will again mean the slaughter or exile of our allies.
Neither disaster will have the influence Vietnam or Suez did but perhaps they should. The UK, 50 years after the end of the “East of Suez” policy was abandoned as a ridiculous, unaffordable, affectation; is sending ships to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This talk about a “shift” towards the East is a dangerous fantasy for a small Western country with declining armed forces. It will do little to help the UK’s friends and will annoy its enemies, without the ability to actually do anything significant in the area.
This is the opposite of realpolitik but it plays to that dream that the UK can punch above its weight. In real life punching above your weight ends up with you getting a bloody good beating.
You might think Iraq and Afghanistan could teach politicians that? But you’d be wrong.