Today marks the 10th anniversary that the United States and its NATO allies have been involved in military operations in Afghanistan. The entire war has been a complete failure. America has lost. Its time to back up our bags and leave.
After the tragic events of 9/11, the Bush Administration argued that the Taliban and Al Qaeda were perpetrators, yet they had already been planning to invade Afghanistan prior to 9/11. All the attacks did was give them a legitimate excuse to a war-mongering administration. The Americans went in and supported the Northern Alliance, who, while anti-Taliban, were just as bad as them, thus a "government" (and I use that term lightly) of anti-American murderous thugs was overthrown and replaced with pro-US murderous thugs.
After the Taliban had been overthrown, many in the US government thought that we would easily establish a democratic government, without realizing how difficult it would be. Hamid Karzai, a member of the Northern Alliance, was installed as president of Afghanistan and through election rigging he has stayed in power. He continues to have Western backing even though his regime is extremely corrupt as he is nothing but a puppet.
The West has seriously attempted to create an Afghan National Army, however. there are still many problems such as drug abuse and poor discipline, in addition to illiteracy. There were so many problems that the US and its allies had to fight the war essentially alone. However, in recent times, the West have come up with a plan for the "Afghanization" of the war, as to be able to pull out NATO troops. In addition to this, the US government had lost its gung-ho spirit and began negotiating with the Taliban on forming a deal in which the US could somehow salvage a "victory."
Some thought that with the killing of Osama bin Laden, the US would leave Afghanistan since the original goal of US involvement in Afghanistan was to destroy Al Qaeda. Yet that has not changed, even though there are only about 50 or less Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. The fact of the matter is that US troops could be in Afghanistan beyond 2014.
The war has taken its toll in more ways than one. The life of Afghans, overall, has not changed since the Taliban left and they continue to suffer. This is true as well for Americans. The US is now in crushing debt due to its wars abroad and now massive austerity measures are being implemented to pay off the debt. The war has also caused hundreds of suicides and divorces, not to mention wounded soldiers. The war has left shattered families, hearts, and minds on both sides.
The war in Afghanistan must end. We should not do it solely because we are losing, rather it should be done to mend the hearts and minds of our servicemen and women, as well as their families, and to focus inward and invest money to rebuild our own country, rather than to spend money and destroy other nations. It is time that we leave Afghanistan.
After the tragic events of 9/11, the Bush Administration argued that the Taliban and Al Qaeda were perpetrators, yet they had already been planning to invade Afghanistan prior to 9/11. All the attacks did was give them a legitimate excuse to a war-mongering administration. The Americans went in and supported the Northern Alliance, who, while anti-Taliban, were just as bad as them, thus a "government" (and I use that term lightly) of anti-American murderous thugs was overthrown and replaced with pro-US murderous thugs.
After the Taliban had been overthrown, many in the US government thought that we would easily establish a democratic government, without realizing how difficult it would be. Hamid Karzai, a member of the Northern Alliance, was installed as president of Afghanistan and through election rigging he has stayed in power. He continues to have Western backing even though his regime is extremely corrupt as he is nothing but a puppet.
The West has seriously attempted to create an Afghan National Army, however. there are still many problems such as drug abuse and poor discipline, in addition to illiteracy. There were so many problems that the US and its allies had to fight the war essentially alone. However, in recent times, the West have come up with a plan for the "Afghanization" of the war, as to be able to pull out NATO troops. In addition to this, the US government had lost its gung-ho spirit and began negotiating with the Taliban on forming a deal in which the US could somehow salvage a "victory."
Some thought that with the killing of Osama bin Laden, the US would leave Afghanistan since the original goal of US involvement in Afghanistan was to destroy Al Qaeda. Yet that has not changed, even though there are only about 50 or less Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. The fact of the matter is that US troops could be in Afghanistan beyond 2014.
The war has taken its toll in more ways than one. The life of Afghans, overall, has not changed since the Taliban left and they continue to suffer. This is true as well for Americans. The US is now in crushing debt due to its wars abroad and now massive austerity measures are being implemented to pay off the debt. The war has also caused hundreds of suicides and divorces, not to mention wounded soldiers. The war has left shattered families, hearts, and minds on both sides.
The war in Afghanistan must end. We should not do it solely because we are losing, rather it should be done to mend the hearts and minds of our servicemen and women, as well as their families, and to focus inward and invest money to rebuild our own country, rather than to spend money and destroy other nations. It is time that we leave Afghanistan.
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