At this moment in history, there is a major protracted debate between the Obama administration and the military. President Obama is questioning whether a counterinsurgency war is feasible under the existing conditions. Secretary Gates and General McChrystal based on their evaluation of the war want 40,000 more troops in Afghanistan.
The president is being pushed into a corner because he was quoted, as saying the war in Afghanistan was a “war of necessity.” Everyone can argue what the president meant when he made this statement. Nevertheless, the leaders in the military and the members in Congress who support the war believe any delay in the deployment of more troops could result in a failed mission.
This war is entering its ninth year and the major question that everyone is asking, “Why are we there?”
The war started in 2002 as a good war, if there is such a thing as a good war. It was an act of vengeance and punishment for the Taliban having played host to Osama Bin Laden and his generals, for planning September 11, 2001. This was the brutal mass murder of 3000 people in Manhattan, New York, and Washington DC. Al Qaeda is the alleged organization who took credit for these mass murders.
The initial phase of this troop escalation made sense and the Taliban was driven from office. Once this was accomplished, and based on the terrible terrain, the corrupt government, our troops could have left the country. Instead, our soldiers got involved in nation building, elections, and controlling drug traffic.
At this point, Obama and his administration have determined that a comprehensive new strategy is needed in Afghanistan. Obama finds his administration in a “Catch 22” situation in an unpopular war. He needs to defeat the Taliban to build a state, and he needs to build a state to defeat the Taliban. He is in a no-win situation and now the military wants to escalate the troops to an additional 40,000, because the situation has deteriorated.
The amazing aspect of this escalation is that no one is talking cost. Our economy is in a depression and the military leaders are only concerned about defeating the Taliban, and Al Qaeda, which is an ideology and mindset. Our troops could spend the next 10 years fighting a boogyman that exist in the mind.
Obama’s comprehensive new strategy appears to be no different from his predecessor George W. Bush. His plan is to defeat the Taliban, dismantle the al Qaeda network, train Afghans to take over from US troops, and help set up an effective government.
Many of Obama’s advisors are against this new strategy, because this could take another 10 years and waste billions of taxpayer’s money. This group is willing to make a compromise with the government and allow certain Taliban to be part of the government. They understand that culture and heritage will impact people’s beliefs and worldview.
Obama must be deliberate and take his time to make a decision on escalating the level of troops in Afghanistan. The majority of the American public is against this new comprehensive strategy in Afghanistan. Americans feel this is a waste of taxpayer’s money, and do not believe this is a “war of necessity”, but believe this is a war of ego enhancement and making sure that Gen. McChrystal and his boss Gen. David Petraeus are not blamed for defeat.
My personal preference would be for our country to pack their bags, leave Afghanistan, and use some of the money to solve our domestic and economic problems. Nevertheless, I think that Obama will agree with his military leaders and send additional troops to Afghanistan.
Obama is well aware that Americans cannot win this war in Afghanistan. He is caught between a rock and a hard spot and Afghanistan is a “Catch 22.” We must remember that this was a gift from Bush, something that Obama inherited.
