Our sacrifice in Afghanistan provides some options here at home as we figure out how to manage post-Afghanistan war and responsibilities. It was overall a success and our time there has ended but we now have opportunities to focus our resources on innovating our military capacities and managing the integration of a new people. Multiple responsibilities going on at once that range from Post-Afghan war strategies (focusing on innovative tech for a modern war era) and how to become a nation of universal principles and diversified people that can match future challenges.
Military Innovation and Support Structure
All militaries are supported by economic and innovative structures. Our success is often built off of the success of our industries (assuming they don't move overseas to shave their tax liabilities and then allow countries/people to steal their discoveries. 😳 i.e. the need for better infrastructure to retain/attract innovate industries that might fit within an innovative transactional cluster system and the general need to update our data security. ). We use those technologies to create leading edge equipment/products other nations don't have. The better we are at that process the more we can support our military strength in a cost efficient way.
For example, look at poor countries use of light foot fighters with relatively low cost equipment, ideology (method of keeping people focused on certain goals.) and volunteers (low wage or alternative wage) while larger militaries have formal advanced training and higher technology (with formal compensation structures). Naturally they will have different approaches based on the resources available to them and the types of people they have access to. With innovation it will be possible to use micro-robotics, global communications networks, and advanced net gen manufacturing to hedge in both the low tech and high tech environments that lead to greater military reach and economic influence (A silver lining of 20 years of data collection that can be used to design a whole new line of technologies specifically for this purpose. Its not so much about the Taliban, depending on where they choose to go in their developmental direction, but of the ability to handle amebic ground scenarios where "eyes on the ground" can be augmented with better surveillance methods. I don't know...it sounds good! 🤷) .
Our superiority rests in the quality of our training (i.e. human capacity) and the quality of our equipment (leading edge through industry innovation. Some might disagree but I think the general concepts are correct. It takes people and tools to get things done. Whether we are pushing sticks into ant holes or flying supersonic jets its the same concept). This is why developing people from a diverse background (to hedge abilities that increase adaptability) and in turn push our industries to innovate (not only for economic purposes but also because new emerging technologies often help non-military industries and visa versa in a synergistic relationship).
Afghan Refugees-Could They Be Our Victory?
We have new Afghanistan refugees coming and that may not sit well with everyone (I'm not impervious to people's concerns.). I'm not going to get into the discussion if we should or shouldn't and how many because that is not my point. Normal immigration policy is a matter of public debate and different administrations will want to do different things. This is not the same argument, they fought for us, and for their own country, in ways that would show they have our spirit (I'm not saying every one coming will be a 100% success but neither are all the people born here.).
I've done some research on immigrant groups and I will say this, If we want to avoid isolated pockets of communities we will need to do a better job of engaging with them and getting them acclimated to our values as a free society from the moment they step off the plane. It takes a lot to switch people who were born in one culture to another because everything they know is embedded in the symbolism of their rearing (Cultures program people to think and act in certain mannerism but there are universals across cultures and those are the cultural bridges people can us. i.e. Inviting a neighbor over for an event or walking across the street and saying "Hi".).
The next generation of American Afghans can further support this country and can better ensure our success if their progeny take a place in the responsibility to further our freedom values (whether it be work, military, police, doctors, lawyers, etc...) Now that we have decided (Its ok to debate immigration policy/levels but this is a unique situation.) they should come, then we should make it the most welcoming place we can so we can have them engage the economy fully and maximize benefits.(Rudeness and anger will do the opposite and that will defeat not only their hopes but also our long term stability and strength See Iraq Immigration Research).
I'm not sure there is a beneficial strategy in not having them get acclimated and focused on new occupations and lives right away. We just need people to reach out and say "Hi" and ask them to come for dinner, walk a park, or encourage kids play games together. Its not about political stance, its about doing what is beneficial and practical to start their relationships right as their very first American memories (this is important) and getting them connected to people (In turn sharing our American values and better ensuring pro-social societal engagement that fuses us into a single people.)
Think about marketing and how good memories we want to relive and bad memories will be shunned. How we integrate and socialize will determine how new immigrants will view us (Please don't yell at them and throw anti-immigration concepts on this group. This is not the place for that argument and can do a lot of damage for future pro-social maximization.) Their very first memories will determine what kind of anchoring they will use when trying to understand our culture and values. For example, if I step off a bus on a first trip to Spain and become a victim of pick pocketing that memory will stick in my mind every time I remember my trip to Spain (Sorry Spain...its just an example. People really don't pick pocket in Barcelona 🙊).
From a very practical sense I have sort of met a lot of immigrants and people from all over the world and I can say that even very poor immigrants with limited occupation skills are more than willing to see their move to the US as an opportunity to improve their prospects (We just need to know what those skills are so someone might want to ask them and find out what they are good at. Perhaps developing a skills battery to send to employers who volunteer to mentor and train these Afghans for new occupations. It might be a little more intense training with some government tax incentives but workers are hard to find and it sends a positive message to our country, to our international stakeholders, and to our sense of religious freedom. We can keep trying to churn lemons to make lemonade. Always look for the positive in any chaotic situation. Lets win the long term national PR strategies to let our core message get through to other nations and peoples. Got to do what you got to do! 😤.) Let's reduce that lag time between landing and working (needing business community support)so as to acclimate as quickly as possible so we maximize overall benefits to them, us, and assimilation into our collective consciousness.
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