Thread on Afghanistan: Many of you have heard the term “fighting season” the last few days in regards to the war in Afghanistan. Some of you may know what this means. But beyond the weather, there are other interesting factors involved. I’ll explain in this thread
Three factors determine the fighting season for Afghanistan: economy, logistics, recruitment. Interestingly enough, many of these factor also dictate our lack of overall success in the war as well.
Economy. The cash crop in afghanistan is the “opium poppy”. That beautiful red flower we consider a memorial blossom in the western world has a certain flare for producing opium. The process of harvesting this opium however, is incredibly grueling and has a relatively small yield
Poppies are planted late fall (october) and harvested in April. The labor required for this leaves little time or opportunity to wage war. Opium is also a lifeline for funding Taliban operations so it’s necessary to stop fight and start farming. 
Logistics: Afghanistan has a harsh winter. The region separating Afghanistan and Pakistan is mountainous and has an endless amount of mountain passes that are impossible to monitor or blockade. The entire region spanning both countries is monolithic culture called Pashtunwali.
Pashtunwali predates Islam in the region and connects the Pashtun of Afghanistan and Pakistan more closely than any national identity. When the winter sets in, many Taliban fighters leave Afghanistan and return to Pakistan through the mountain passes they’ve used for centuries
Recruitment/Indoctrination: Radical Islam is the Taliban creed. Although most who practice Islam are not “radical” the groundwork for radicalism is found throughout the footprint of religious institutions in pakistan and afghanistan.
The Madrassas of Pakistan are a fertile recruiting grounds for the Taliban. These religious schools break in the spring and give way for new blood to enter the fight as Taliban soldiers re-enter Afghanistan through the thawing mountains.
These factors combine to make the summer a “Fighting Season” in Afghanistan. Which begs the question.. “why are we pulling out in July and August?” 🤷🏻♂️🙃
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