Flagging Efforts.

Afghanistan.  2011


On one of our last briefs to General Petraeus this morning, the future director of the CIA urged us not to flag in our efforts to bring permanent and lasting security to Afghanistan.  His choice of words gives rise to another one of those delicious ironies that seem to be scattered around out here like so many rocks in the desert.   Did you know that Afghanistan has had more changes of its national flag than any other country in the world?  Is anyone surprised?  Like much in this country, the flag is transitory, subject to change and lacking in stability.  Since 1747 Afghanistan has had at least 20 different flag designs.  7 of these changes occurred in the four years from 1926-30.  The current flag (since January 4, 2004) consists of three vertical stripes - black (for the past), red (for the blood shed in its quest for independence) and green (Islamic faith and hope for the future).  In the centre of the flag is a mosque with its mihrab facing Mecca.  The script surrounding it consists of a date - 1298 - the solar Islamic date that is equivalent to 1919 (year of independence from Britain) and the word "Afghanistan".  Above the mosque is the shahadah.  The Shahadah is the Muslim declaration of belief in the oneness of God and acceptance of Muhammad as God's prophet.  One single, honest, recitation of theShahadah in Arabic is all that is required for a person to become a Muslim.  Bloodshed, history, religion, occupation, independence.  That's quite a lot to put on a flag.  No wonder they can't seem to agree on it's design for long.  Maybe the Taliban had the right idea - their flag was. plain white.  Well, it was for 3 years, before even they could not resist tinkering with it and added the Shahadah.  Even something ostensibly as simple as what the flag represents is pretty fluid.  Since 1926, Afghanistan has been an Emirate, a Kingdom, a Republic, a Democratic Republic, a Republic (again) an Islamic State, an Islamic Emirate, an Islamic State (again), a Transitional Islamic State and finally an Islamic Republic. 

In one of those curious coincidences that make writing these emails a little easier, a change over of senior military members is known as a "Flag change".  With Petraeus due to leave and be replaced by General Allen this month, with 30 000 troops due to leave, with uncertainty over the future security and stability, perhaps it's time for one?