Afghanistan kidnappings out of control

Until just a one year ago, the violence in Afghanistan was mostly confined to everything outside the borders of Kabul.  Sounds bad.  But at least the Afghan government had a political center that it used to conduct government business.  This year, however, kidnappings all over Afghanistan, including some in the Kabul capital, are threatening the government's ability to maintain order.  More significantly, because many foreigners are being kidnapped as well, it increases the potential that some members of the coalition will reduce their involvement.

Time's Aryn Baker and Ali Safi explain just how bad it is:

While the abduction of foreigners is a new trend, criminal kidnappingsof Afghans have been going on in the capital for several years. But thepast year has seen a dramatic rise in such abductions, few of which areever reported in the media. "This is going to make news because it's aforeign woman who was kidnapped, but the reality is that it's a dailyoccurrence — not weekly, not monthly — for local nationals," says aKabul-based businesswoman who asks to remain anonymous due to securityfears. "Everyone who works in this town will have it happen one way oranother, be it a kidnapping, a threat of kidnapping or a hold up," sheadds, saying that in the past month there have been two kidnappings onher street, despite a police presence. "Security in this town is ajoke. The Taliban are talked about incessantly, but no one talks aboutthis stuff — this is the real reason Afghanistan can't catch its breath— not the insurgency, but the relentless and unanswered spate ofcriminal activity and corruption."

Yes, it is terrible that many locals are being kidnapped as well.  Although, when it comes to politics, these foreign kidnappings will have a significant impact on the amount of help other nations will give to the Karzai government.  Just recently, a German woman was abducted while eating at a fast-food restaurant in Kabul.  Add this case to the 23 South Koreans who were kidnapped earlier this summer by the Taliban -- yes, the Taliban, the group we lost site of when we diverted our attention to Iraq.  Two of those hostages were killed, and two women were released.

20,000 US troops in Afghanistan.  163,000 US troops in Iraq.  So Afghanistan is one-eighth as important as Iraq?  Let's get real.