Christian Dorer, editor-in-chief of the Blick Group
The world looks in horror at Afghanistan: within days of the withdrawal of US troops, the Taliban seized power. Women must fear the worst of oppression. The evacuation of western citizens is chaotic. Nobody knows how the situation will develop – but six things are already certain:
1. If the US intervenes militarily, it will end in disaster
If a terrorist regime is currently serving the US, then they are working with it, and human rights are irrelevant. When a regime becomes a nuisance to them, they eliminate it with reference to those very human rights. But: Since the Second World War, practically all military interventions have ended sooner or later in disaster – see Iraq, Libya, Somalia, of course Vietnam, and now Afghanistan.
2. Freedom and democracy cannot be imposed
An injustice regime was overthrown quickly, but that is a long way from creating a democracy. Rather, new villains take over, and people are often worse off than before. Take Muammar Gaddafi, for example: he was a dictator, but since its liquidation Libya has been a failed state and the people are in misery.
3. The USA has embarrassed itself as much as possible – that will have consequences
The US withdrawal from Afghanistan is understandable: after 20 years of war, tens of thousands of deaths, trillion dollars and no prospect of success, 70 percent of the US population are in favor of this step. But the world power assumed that it would have months to leave in peace – in fact, the Taliban conquered the country within days. Nobody will forget that the best army and the best secret service in the world were so wrong.
4. Confidence in the West is permanently damaged
All Afghans who have supported the USA and other Western countries for years as informants, translators and employees fear bloody revenge from the Taliban. There is no rescue plan for them. How the US drops allies when they are no longer needed is shameful – and will take revenge if it seeks new allies in a new conflict.
5. Freedom and democracy are under pressure like they have not for a long time
Laughing third parties are authoritarian states like Russia and China, which shake hands with the new rulers and secure the exploitation of the abundant natural resources. That, in turn, gives a boost to those forces in our country who blaspheme that authoritarian states are economically much more agile than our sluggish democracies.
6. We have to help refugees, but reasonably
The Greens and the SP immediately called for Switzerland to take in 10,000 Afghan refugees, and individual cities are also rushing forward. That sounds humanitarian, but it is above all populist, because no one can leave the country at the moment. If one day refugees seek protection, this will be coordinated internationally by the UN relief agency and according to a specific key – Switzerland will of course also participate without the need for fancy figures.