Afghanistan Refocused

Afghanistan Refocused

During his Presidential campaign and as he entered office President Obama stated that he would refocus on Afghanistan, which some had called “the forgotten war”. after the Bush administration began to focus primarily on the war in Iraq. Now we find a rise in violence in Afghanistan and a resurgent Taliban. With the costs of war rising many have began to question the future of Afghanistan and America’s role in that country.

Can America win in Afghanistan and if so at what costs? This is a legitimate question. America has spent billions in Afghanistan fighting Al-Qaeda and the Taliban as well as billions trying to rebuild the country and establish a stable government capable of one day handling its own security issues. The financial costs of this war and that of Iraq has undoubtedly been a factor in the American economic collapse. There is, of course, the costs of American lives. If our objective was to eliminate Al-Qaeda many question if American lives should be put at risk for the security of Afghanistan. There is no doubt that Al-Qaeda has not been wiped out and completely defeated. Most in the military and the U.S. intelligence community agree that Al-Qaeda is still attempting to regroup in the Afghanistan and Pakistan region and that they are still plotting against America. With this knowledge we must ask if we can really consider a quick exit from Afghanistan.

History paints a picture of Afghanistan as a region that has been controlled or heavily influenced by many outside governments and rulers. Afghanistan has also shown to fight and outlast these influential powers, most notably in the 1980’s when the Afghans, led by the mujahideen and assisted by the U.S, forced the Soviet Union to withdraw from Afghanistan. Many feel that the U.S. could suffer the same humiliating defeat as the Soviet Union. Many feel that despite the resources that might be pumped into Afghanistan that no clear and certain victory can be attained.

The U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, has declared that despite Afghanistan’s bleak outlook that victory is possible. Many have expected General McChrystal would ask for more American troops, even with around 68,000 American troops already stationed in Afghanistan. General McChrystal has also reportedly recommended placing more troops in populated areas as opposed to pursuing insurgents into remote regions of the country. The newly revised strategy is also believed to call for expanded efforts to train the Afghan military and security forces, better methods to counter opium poppy cultivation, and a rise in civilian commitments.


Violence thus far in 2009 exceeds previous reports and with recent reports of election fraud in Afghanistan sectarian violence could grow. Recently Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff Admiral mike Mullen claims that the enemy (or the Taliban in particular) is doing a better job than coalition forces in providing stability and support to the Afghan people. This assessment has led many to the opinion that America is not at war with Al-Qaeda and not the Taliban. It is true that the Taliban that harbored Al-Qaeda has been somewhat broken. The resurgence of the Taliban has even caused some to ask if America and NATO should seek to cooperate with the Taliban and to allow them some rule over the country. While the Taliban has likely come under new leadership, with former leaders in hiding, one still has to question the idea of allow the Taliban to retake control of Afghanistan. The Taliban, while in control of Afghanistan, did stabilize a country that had been wrecked by fighting and corruption. Despite this positive spin on Taliban leadership the organization was strict in its Islamic rule and was oppressive against women’s rights. With America serving as a beacon of freedom and liberty can we afford to be seen as accepting and even cooperating with a regime that suppresses the rights of women?

Since the end of Taliban rule more and more Afghan children have been given the opportunity to attend school for the first time. This will provide a brighter future for Afghanistan. Without education and liberty the future of Afghanistan seems to be bleak and likely to continue down the violent and bloody path it has been on for several decades.

There are ways in which Taliban strength can be curbed. One of the factors that has led to the resurrection of the Taliban is the fact that Pakistan has not only allowed the Taliban a safe haven along its border regions but elements within the Pakistani government and society have provided support to the Taliban. It is obvious that Pakistani intelligence often aided the Taliban prior to the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and still continues to do so. Now the Pakistani government faces Taliban forces looking to destabilize Pakistan itself. Pakistan seems unable or unwilling to stand against the Taliban which has allowed the Taliban to rebuild its organization. The U.S. and its allies must seek to help and persuade the Pakistani government to stand up against the Taliban.

The Taliban has also been able to regroup in part to the rise in opium production. The Taliban had once been against the cultivation of opium production in Afghanistan now uses funding from opium sales in order to fund its militia groups. Coalition forces have been fighting a losing battle against opium cultivation since the invasion in 2001. Many claim that opium production accounts for as much as half of the Afghan economy. In a land with few resources and little technology opium is one of the few reliable sources of income for many Afghan farmers. Instead of wasting resources in attempts to destroy opium production in Afghanistan in may be more efficient for the U.S. and its allies to redirect where the cash flow of opium production. For many years most of the opium used for medical purposes, like morphine and other drugs used to treat patients, has come from India and Turkey. The U.S and the World Health Organization should seek to incorporate Afghan opium into medical uses. This would allow Afghan opium farmers to continue to profit from the only product they are good at cultivating and still keep the money from flowing into the hands of the Taliban and other insurgents.

Many have already began to name the war in Afghanistan as “Obama’s Vietnam”. This war has lasted for several years and the end to American occupation is unlikely to end in the next twelve to eighteen months. What is clear is that a new strategy must be implemented and goals for withdraw must be met. I would agree with those who call for the accelerated training of Afghan military and police forces who can take on most of the security issues upon themselves. I also agree with those who call for the withdraw of most American ground troops while leaving behind special ops units that can quickly strike at threats posed by Al-Qaeda or other terrorist groups as well as leaving offshore forces in the event that a larger force might become needed to assist Afghan military forces. No matter what strategy the administration might come to take, Afghanistan is no doubt at a critical point and the future of the country hangs in the balance.