I just finished putting together a three-part commentary on the opening statements into the formal investigation of the Dawood National Military Hospital. Now, Alex Ellingboe at PolicyMic is making the case for the end of the war in Afghanistan based on the happenings at this hospital.

“One might wonder how such blatant corruption could exist in a country that is still occupied by over 100,000 U.S. troops and an additional 40,000 international coalition troops. Col. Carozza points to the fact that the international coalition has no jurisdiction over internal Afghan investigations despite providing almost all of the funding for the Afghan government. This leads to Afghan leaders such as Yaftali and Amiri flaunting the rule of law trying to be imposed by the coalition. Carozza goes on to say, “If we ask to look into their investigation or investigate with them, they cry that their sovereignty is being assaulted” (3), as if that sovereignty would exist without international support. 

The Dawood Hospital scandal proves that the Afghan government is riddled with corruption and will ultimately fail completely despite almost eleven years of international support. Furthermore, the fact that Gen. Caldwell actively battled to prevent the investigation of the hospital from taking place is evidence that the facts of the war are routinely hidden from the citizens whose tax dollars fund it. “

 Ellingboe has a very good point here: a general fights to cover up a shady hospital that isn’t receiving supplies because it’s being thwarted by corrupt members of the government, and we continue with our steadfast enthusiasm about the longest war in our history? While I don’t have as much optimism, I do think that Dawood should serve as a stark reminder of the reality of Afghanistan’s government. 

One good way to ascertain whether or not this will get the attention it deserves is if people start bringing up the original accusations from a year ago. Until then – and just like the recent Olympics – I’m afraid that American media outlets are going to do their part to help Uncle Sam look good in the limelight, as usual.