Instructor: Patty Hanahoe-Dosch
EN 102
December 6, 2009
Essay 3
New Plan for Afghanistan
Panic and chaos flooded the streets of New York City the tragic day Americans remember as September 11. Islamic terrorists took the lives of innocent United States citizens and other men, women, and children from countries around the globe. Following these tragic events, the United States led a coalition in October 2001, with an aim to hunt down Al-Qaeda and overthrow the Taliban government and corrupt leaders of Afghanistan. After the death of several hundred troops and immense spending of billions of taxpayers’ dollars in Afghanistan, the United States has failed to complete the original goal of the Bush Administration, including locating Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. Now, eight years later, the war needs careful reevaluation, and the decision of President Obama could be “wrong and needlessly expensive” (Zenko,9). Rather than continuing to fight counterterrorism, American troops should shift strategy tactics toward the war in Afghanistan by implementing plans to enhance communities and fight counterinsurgency and by protecting citizens from the Taliban, in an effort to establish long-term safety and structure within the country.
After the continued efforts of the United States and the troops currently battling the Taliban extremists, the resulting question is not whether we need a third surge, but whether a third surge is necessary. The war in Afghanistan has been a religious war fought for over fifty years in which citizens within Central and Eastern European nations have endured countless struggles under suppressive principles and restrictions, which destroyed human respect and dignity. Muslim terrorists who continue to kill fellow Muslims and the innocent citizens of other nations have sacrificed themselves; these terrorists continue to “condone murder and claim to be doing so in the name of a peaceful religion” (Bush). In an effort to battle counter-terrorism, 3,000 troops were sent to Afghanistan through an order by President Bush in January of 2009; an additional 17,000 troops were ordered at a request by President Obama in February. extra forces were added to an existing number of U.S. troops totaling 48, 250 in July of 2008. President Obama has recently announced that he will be sending an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan, which is 10,000 less than requested by General McChrystal. He also stated that July 2011 is the target date of U.S. withdrawal. Though security forces within Afghanistan have increased and the Taliban has seemed to disappear for stagnant periods, many Americans believe that deploying additional troops will only provide a temporary solution to the numerous problems at hand.
The original objective of the war in Afghanistan was to fight counterterrorism on a global level, rather than counterinsurgency. Original intentions included toppling the Taliban and Al-Qaeda support, capturing and killing Osama bin Laden, and ending the continued suffrage of the Afghan people (Kobayasha). President Bush affirmed America’s intentions of seeking out the terrorist groups of global reach, not stopping until the terrorists were located and ultimately defeated. Though America declared war on these extremists, President Bush reminded Americans that the United States is in a battle “against evil, not Islam” (Bush). Expanding upon Bush’s reasons to continue America’s role in the war, President Obama recognized that it is a costly and politically difficult effort to keep American troops engaged in Afghanistan. The president ensured American citizens that he would gladly bring troops home safely, if these violent extremists would cease to “kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case” (The New York Times 3). Upon the realization that military power could not solve the issues in Afghanistan, President Obama has spoken of plans to invest several billion dollars yearly to build new schools, roads, and hospitals. President Obama stated that he plans to spend over “$2.8 billion to deliver basic services to citizens” and help institute a stable economy within Afghanistan (The New York Times 4). Following the footsteps of the former president, Barack Obama has implemented several strategies for fighting the war hoping to promote some sort of infrastructure within Afghanistan, though he continues to send troops to fight counterterrorism rather than counterinsurgency.
After the invasion of the Taliban and other terrorist extremists, the citizens of Afghanistan were left with almost nothing. Most Afghans are uneducated and lack basic necessities, including proper nutrition and healthcare. This forced citizens to wear the same clothing for several days in a row and make a minimal income by selling goods on the black market. The poor state of these communities is clearly from a country that “had been at war for twenty-five years; the new government had been in place for only two weeks; there was no electricity between Heart and Kabul, no television and no T-shirts. . .”(Stewart, How to Save Afghanistan). Many military strategists realize that public diplomacy and development is important to the Afghan citizens and community; sending the correct message “across with cultural nuances” and establishing a link between the security of development within communities is very pertinent (Mills).
Although battling counterterrorism has proven somewhat doubtful, there have been several improvements within Afghan communities since President Bush initiated the United States’ involvement in the Afghanistan war. There has been a development in technology and access to health care and education since the United States has been engaged in Afghanistan. Rory Stewart recorded firsthand experiences of the deprived state of Afghan villages in a book titled The Places in Between. As he explained, “more districts that I visited had no schools or clinics…I was surprised by how poor Afghanistan was and how ungoverned” (Stewart, How to Save Afghanistan). Six years following his journey through the country, Stewart recognized the dramatic progress the United States has established within various parts of the country to develop a stable infrastructure. Throughout many communities within Afghanistan, many of the villages now have electricity and have built health clinics and schools. “Since 2001, 6.4 million children have been educated, and there has been a massive increase in access to basic health care” (Stewart, How to Save Afghanistan). Education of the citizens is important to establish and maintain a steadfast infrastructure, which can help citizens increase and actively maintain certain security within smaller villages.
George Bush and President Obama have implemented careful strategic planning for the war in Afghanistan, yet they have failed to offer any optimistic period for full completion of their goals. The question that citizens all over the world are asking is, “What went wrong?” In a careful evaluation of the situation, most concerns include issues involving several problems in previous strategies. The United States needs to lead a war that battles counterinsurgency rather than counterterrorism, because the main problem lies within the terroristic attacks that occur on a daily basis within Muslim communities in Afghanistan. President Bush asserted that these Taliban extremists “have brought only misery and terror to the people of Afghanistan,” which they are continuing to do by terrorizing nations around the globe (Bush). Bush also pointed out that after the Taliban took control, women were denied jobs, basic access to health care privileges and any education. Since the rise of the Taliban, the United States has made various achievements within Afghan communities, including progress in health, education, and development; although citizens living in these villages continue to benefit from the small amounts of investments set forth, “the people remain very poor” (Stewart, How to Save Afghanistan). Many of these issues were recognized by a senior officer in the Combined Joint Task Force 76 based at Bagram Air Base, when he emphasized that America needs to “clear the area from the enemy, hold the territory, build infrastructure and resources, and engage with the local community” (Mills).
President Obama faces a critical decision concerning the war which may prove detrimental to his image. In a 66 page memo to the secretary of defense, General Stanley McChrystal claimed that sending additional troops completely misses the point, because the pressing issue calls for a drastic change in military operation and strategies. General McChrystal produced a report for President Obama asking for an additional 40,000 troops, though he reported that the effort “will likely result in failure” (PBS). Assuring 3,500 military personnel and their families in Florida that he would not be sending them into harm’s way unless it was absolutely necessary, President Obama convinced the American people that he was skeptical of the situation, yet his decision may prove otherwise (Kobayashi). It would be a “political catastrophe” for the commander in Chief to allow General McChrystal to draw up a report, and then refuse his requests (Stewart, How to Save Afghanistan). President Obama’s goals involve rebuilding a nation, which is a long-term commitment that would not require the involvement of as many United States troops.
Rather than focus on accomplishing broad plans in a very small allowance of time, the goals of American troops and military commanders should be limited to several small tasks, which can be efficiently accomplished within an adequate time frame. Cutting down the number of American troops would be an effort towards eliminating unnecessary deaths. Many conspiracies have already formed, as civilians and Afghan military officials become more skeptical and aware of the requirements necessary to avoid continually rising death tolls. It is nearly impossible for the United States to reform a nation with a system which involves extreme terrorists who are prepared to kill their own families or commit suicide. Limiting military objectives creates a more effective strategy, in which the United States would eliminate the tensions of civil war and allow an opportunity for citizens to create and govern a prosperous country by themselves. Trying to fight counterterrorism and ward off the Taliban is a problematic initiative that would take a period of several decades, “hundreds of thousands of troops and a much stronger and more legitimate Afghan state” (Stewart, How to Save Afghanistan). The United States does not have the capability to successfully accomplish its original goals, because it involves the tremendous task of transforming a nation of over thirty million people, which is a job for the Afghan people.
A military mission lead in Nawa, Afghanistan further proves that a smaller and more focused military objective may result in optimistic changes for the future of the Afghans and the war. There are Marines stationed in Nawa, Afghanistan, hoping that the previous development efforts of the United States can positively affect the level of goodwill towards new missions. The latest focus has shifted to combating insurgency in a new way: “Instead of targeting extremist strongholds, they will aim to protect communities from the Taliban” (Chandrasekaran A1). While their efforts have lowered threats and driven terrorists away for now, the focus is keeping the Taliban far from the inner community. The Marines continue to prove their belief that every new day the Taliban ceases to return makes it harder and less effective for them to invade. By maintaining focused strategies, centered on security maintenance, the United States is slowly continuing progress in the constant battle against Taliban insurgents.
Another dilemma of concern for the Marines is the thought of the civilians once their efforts are reached. There is a need for jobs within communities, and the only way to promote stabilizing any community is through establishing programs and initiatives for citizens to obtain work and make money. They are planning to initiate “longer-term reconstruction and governance programs, including a $300 million program to provide agricultural aid to 125,000 farmers through vouchers to purchase seeds and farm equipment” (Chandrasekaran A1). This type of program will help establish jobs for at least six months, employing roughly over 166,000 men. One middle-aged woman commented, “If you leave, everything will be the same. If you guys stay for a long time, everything will be fine” (Chandrasekaran A1). The citizens of Nawa are recognizing the efforts of the United States military, which can similarly be identified by Afghans if the president initiates new military objectives similar to the strategy of the Marines.
For the sake of understanding the past and the future decisions that will be implemented in efforts to control the war in Afghanistan, the president and American people must perceive the situation from an inside perspective. Rory Stewart traveled through the poor villages and kept a first-hand account of the tragedy that struck after the Taliban’s rise to supreme power. It is heartbreaking that the survival of people living in poor Afghan villages have limited access to basic necessities, including food and clothing; Stewart relates the compassion and embrace he felt “in villages because of the filthy, crowded rooms, the illiterate men, the limited conversation” (Stewart, 287). Afghanistan is a country in a deep state of financial jeopardy, which will take a long-term process to help resolve, that involves minimum risk and less money.
“Afghanistan was supposed to be the war that made sense, if any war can be said to make sense” (PBS). To this day, the war still remains an estimate of unpredictable duration, as it continues to prove a difficult struggle for both the United States and the world. Though the United States continues its efforts with good intention, President Bush stated, “We are at the beginning of our efforts in Afghanistan. And Afghanistan is the beginning of our efforts in the world” (Bush). Over the last several years, the United States has established many efforts to help start a system of nation rebuilding, which is a vision that can only be accomplished with the help, focus, and spirit of the Afghan people; So far, the United States has helped Afghans elect a parliament, create a stable central bank and efficient currency, and “establish telecommunications and a credible army” (Stewart, How to Save Afghanistan). Though these efforts have made some good progress, “more than 1400 have been killed among American troops and our NATO allies,” and billions of dollars were spent towards the efforts of fighting Taliban extremists (PBS). Various problems still exist, many of which will remain unsolved no matter how much money is invested or how many troops are deployed. Goals of the United States should shift to “two elements: more effective aid and a more limited military objective,” which would include devoting time and money in the departments of education, health, and rural development as well as providing the nation with a suitable irrigation system, energy, and roads (Stewart, How to Save Afghanistan). Efforts by Marines stationed in Nawa, Afghanistan have already proven effective and affirm support of investing in smaller agendas rather than investing in larger, unattainable programs which may end in failure.
The strategies already developed have only surmounted to partial completion, found in the development of security within communities in efforts to promote stability and improved education and health of the Afghan citizens. Though President Obama may has decided to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan, he is encouraging “the military to work out what they’re going to do with less” (Stewart, How to Save Afghanistan). Rebuilding the entire nation of Afghanistan involves developing a distinct policy which both protects the security of the United States and Afghan citizens, as well as helping Afghan citizens slowly gain a sense of freedom from their long-sustained suppression. “Hopefully, that’ll mean we can have a long-term sustainable relationship, instead of this boom and bust, in and out” attitude that will only result in incompletion and failure (Stewart, How to Save Afghanistan). The best solution for economic restructure involves investing the military for at least 20-30 years in projects that involve careful resource management. Working with fewer soldiers in a broadened time spectrum will focus goals and allow stepping stones for reconstruction of a repressive nation overtaken by corrupt military leaders and terrorists organizations.
Works Cited
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Afghan river valley are waging war on insurgents not by targeting their bases but,
rather, by protecting communities.” The Washington Post 12 July 2005: A1.
ProQuest. Harrisburg Area Community College library, Harrisburg, PA.
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Kobayashi, Athena. "America fighting Afghanistan's civil war." 27 October 2009.
Press TV. 13 November 2009
Martin, David. "Obama's Afghan Plan: About 40K More Troops." 9 November 2009.
CBS. 13 November 2009
Mills, Greg. "The Commandments of Winning in Afghanistan." Foreign Policy Research
Institute. 13 November 2009
PBS. "Bill Moyers Journal." 25 September 2009. 13 November 2009
Stewart, Rory. "How to Save Afghanistan." 17 July 2008. Time. 13 November 2009
—. The Places In Between. Orland: Harcourt, Inc. , 2006.
The New York Times. "Text: Obama's Speech in Cairo." 4 June 2009: 3-4.
The New York Times. 13 November 2009
Zakaria, Fareed. “A Third Surge?; The troops need a smarter vision.” Newsweek, 154.18
(2009). ProQuest. Harrisburg Area Community College library, Harrisburg, PA.
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Zenko, Micah. “Don’t rush the Afghan debate.” The Christian Science Monitor (2009): 9.
ProQuest. Harrisburg Area Community College library, Harrisburg, PA.
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