The War In Afghanistan Must Not Be Continued

The war in Afghanistan has been going on for 10 years now. It started on October 7, 2001 with the forces of the US, UK, AU, and the Northern Alliance launching "Operation Enduring Freedom." The major factor that brought about the invasion were the September 11 attacks on the US. The goals of the war were to dismantle Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, remove the Taliban from power, and to create a democratic state. As of now, the US continues to fight against the Taliban and the war has spread into tribal regions of Pakistan.

According to John McCain, we got this war in the bag. He stated in an interview that, "We know what it takes to succeed in Afghanistan: a resolute commitment to the principles of counterinsurgency, which turned Iraq around during the surge. I am confident that properly resourced counterinsurgency policy, adapted to the unique culture and geography of Afghanistan, can lead to success there. Our entire military chain of command supports this approach, as do our NATO allies, which they made clear at their recent defense ministerial meeting in Bratislava."  McCain also stated that "Success in Afghanistan will emerge, as it did in Iraq, when local leaders and citizens are more and more able to take responsibility for governing and securing their own sovereign country without substantial international assistance." That of course would happen with a counterinsurgency policy. The US did go ahead with the counterinsurgency policy and Obama sent in over 17,000 more troops.



Although McCain tries to prove something, the truth is that winning this war is really not that simple. Throughout  history Afghanistan has been known as the "Graveyard of Empires" for it has never successfully been dominated. What makes the US different from any super power in antiquity that tried to conquer Afghanistan in its specified time? Clearly nothing. The main advantage the Afghan's have is the terrain. Nobody knows the complicated type of earth more than the people in Afghanistan themselves. Any outsider will not be familiar with it and will be disadvantaged when trying to fight. In addition to this, the Taliban keeps growing because of the dysfunctional government in Afghanistan. Without a government in good standing, the Taliban can and will keep getting more soldiers without any problems because the government isn't doing anything about it. Simply put, even if the US wants the war to go on, the job is nowhere near over. In reference to a failed mission by the Navy SEAL Team 6, where 22 of the members were killed, Tom A. Peter from The Christian Science Monitor says that to Afghans the message in this tragedy is that "NATO-led forces have yet to reverse the Taliban's momentum." Also, the mere presence of the US is benefiting the Taliban. When the US wades into battles that kill Afghan civilians, or spends money propping up a corrupt government the people hate, it only strengthens the Islamist insurgents. It is more than obvious that this war needs to end. Obama himself has admitted that the US is not winning the war. In an interview with The New York Times Obama states, " Our troops are doing an extraordinary job in a very difficult situation... But you’ve seen conditions deteriorate over the last couple of years. The Taliban is bolder than it was. I think ... in the southern regions of the country, you’re seeing them attack in ways that we have not seen previously." Plain and simple, the US needs to stop wasting time before things get worse and end the war NOW.

* McCain's Words

FACTS
* The war started on October 7, 2001 with the forces of the US, UK, AU, and the Northern Alliance launching "Operation Enduring Freedom
* Obama sent in over 17,000 more troops in accordance to his counterinsurgency policy
* Obama admits the US isn't winning... "The Taliban is bolder than it was. I think ... in the southern regions of the country, you’re seeing them attack in ways that we have not seen previously."