Dying More Deaths Than One

For those veterans of the Afghan Wars, both US and Russian, the name Jalaluddin Haqqani should mean something. Haqqani was a significant militant figure over the last several decades and a prized CIA asset in the war against the Soviets. The Haqqani network is officially subsumed under the larger Taliban umbrella organization led by Mullah Omar and his Quetta Shura Taliban, the Haqqanis maintain distinct command and control. Recently, it was reported that Jalaluddin Haqqani died. Again.

Announcements like these make their way into major news sources, working their way around the world and in many ways act as more than just a pronounced obituary. Afghan officials maintain that Haqqani has been dead for over four years, but then again, they needed Haqqani to be dead to show an increased amount of proficiency in handling the ongoing insurgency.

One senior Afghan official said the death announcement now was probably related to a planned visit to Pakistan by senior American officials, including Secretary ofState Mike Pompeo.

Haqqani’s multiple deaths and years of pursuit also hint upon the greater trend of America’s obsession with HVTs in these ongoing wars. Knowing that cutting the head off the snake will kill the snake has long been untrue, we still look for these victories in our ongoing wars. Just as Obama did with Osama Bin Laden, Haqqani’s death was claimed by Afghan officials four years ago when the need to prove their military competency was high. At the end of the day, these “victories” remove a single, albeit symbolic, member off the battlefield.

Haqqani played an important role in the establishment of one of the most sophisticated terrorist networks on the planet but by the time he died, the damage was already done.

This time, let us hope, he stays dead.