Those who thought they had seen a light at the end of the tunnel seven years ago and who nurtured the hope for a new and prosperous Afghanistan are finding it difficult to accept that the light was only a mirage. It seems that while they were waiting for the bright of the day, they placed their chips in the wrong places. They find it also difficult to justify their waiting. They had hoped that a new and democratic Afghanistan would emerge from the ashes of long years of war and despair. They had placed their hopes in the untested navigational skills of a man, who was chosen by a haphazard meeting in Bonn to lead the broken ship of Afghan politics to the shore of hope. They even voted him in as the leader to shape their destiny in the hard task of nation building. Now not only the Afghans, but also the Western supporters of that leader are questioning his abilities to lead the country out of its present predicament.

Civilian casualties of the war on terror in Afghanistan have risen to an unacceptable number-only last week 90 civilians were killed in one attack in Western Afghanistan. This number was confirmed by the United Nations. The need for regulating the war on terror when it is fought in a foreign land becomes more urgent. Lack of recognition of the right of civilians to security would jeopardize the outcome of the international war on terror in Afghanistan, where many foreign troops also get killed.

Of late in the greater San Francisco Area, where an estimated 40,000 Afghans reside, the issue of the relationship of the young and old in the Afghan community with the objective of getting the youth more involved in the community affairs has gained prominence among groups of concerned Afghan Americans. The complex issue of generation gap and the need to demolishing of the divisive walls between the young and older generations for building of bridges between them is analyzed. It is understood that there is a need also for the Afghans to focus on the effects of the culture of the old country and that of the new one for building these bridges. This speech was meant to lay the grounds for a much needed discussion of the subject. It was delivered at a symposium organized by the Afghan Seniors Afghan Hope Association in Fremont on August 9, 2008. The symposium was attended by prominent local personalities was also addressed by Dr. H Qayoumi, President of the California State East Bay University as well as the Honorable Mayor Wasserman of Fremont. The issue has wider implications as problems of the Afghan Diaspora seem to be similar in America, Europe and Australia.

When Hamid Karzai ascended to the position of the leader of Afghanistan he had no experience of leadership let alone the task of nation building. The US let one of its experienced agents of Afghan stock, Zalmai Khalilzad help Karzai in his monumental task. However, soon Khalilzad, because of his background was needed to serve as the US Ambassador in Iraq. Karzai was left on his own. He was able to show to the world that he was his own man and could survive without Khalilzad. However, now is a time that his ability would be tested once more-could he stand on his own when his main supporter President Bush leaves office at the end of his term this year?

America went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan on the pretexts of preemption, occupation and democracy. Seven years into the war our objectives remain unmet. What went wrong and why? Is there a need for reconsideration?