Afghanistan: A Lost Cause?

Hardly. Here are four different viewpoints and plans proposed as to how the US should proceed with the situation in Afghanistan.

Position #1: by Trudy Rubin

Thesis: We should send more US and NATO troops to Afghanistan to supplement a counterinsurgency strategy.

Main Point #1: By sending more troops, we can curtail Taliban expansion, therefore limiting their ability to recruit and take over more areas.

Main Point #2: We need to strengthen Pakistan, and this is most achievable is we focus specifically on strengthening their government against internal terrorist attacks.

Main Point #3: Securing major population centers will allow the Afghan people to begin "self-defending."

Position #2: by Michael A. Cohen and Parag Khanna

Thesis: Our militaries' attention should begin focusing on Pakistan instead of Afghanistan.

MP #1: We should continue attacking with drones, using Pakistani intelligence to improve the accuracy of our strikes.

MP #2: By cooperating with local Afghan leaders, we can hope to have Taliban leaders "flip" and give us valuable information about Al Qaida.

Mp #3: Another helpful project that we should pursue is strengthening support for the Pakistani government and military.

Position #3: by Tariq Ali

Thesis: It would be best for us to encourage regional negotiations rather than try to solve the issue using our military force.

MP #1: All US forces should withdraw immediately from Afghanistan.

MP #2: As we withdraw, a pact between regions should be created to help stabilize Afghanistan if it experiences trouble in the next ten years.

MP #3: Another plan focusing on the reconstruction of Afghanistan's social and economic systems should also be made.

Position #4: by George Will

Thesis: All US and NATO troops should pull out of Afghanistan now.

MP #1: We should offer help to rebuild and support Afghanistan once we have left.

MP #2: Forces in Afghanistan should be reduced to serve a revised US policy on Afghanistan.

MP #3: Whatever we choose to do should all be things we are capable of doing from offshore.

There you are. I think I met the requirements, and I am really trying to keep things simple instead of writing a novel for every point. It's something I need to work on, but I think I did a pretty good job of it here.

The Children Of The Taliban

It is undeniable that the Taliban have Afghanistan and Pakistan in a stalemate. If anyone moves out of turn, the situation could get extremely ugly, extremely fast. And that's not to say that the situation is not already growing out of hand. As seen in the video we watch in class, the Pakistani government has signed a peace deal with the Taliban, allowing them a larger safe haven in a more volatile place. Day by day, soldiers perish, people are executed, and the Taliban gain more momentum. But perhaps even more worrisome than all of that is the effect all of this is having on the children of Pakistan.

1. Why do children join the Taliban?

Many things in Pakistan could cause or provoke a child to join the Taliban. Pakistan is a country that highly values religion, and the Taliban have wielded this to their advantage. Madrasas, or small "religion" based schools, have been created by the Taliban as a means to recruit new members. Some of their primary targets are as young as six years old. Families are attracted to the madrasas by promises of food and shelter, but only if their sons attend school with the Taliban. And religion isn't the only thing they learn about in school. They also are trained in all things military, taught how be a suicide bomber, and schooled in how to safely use weapons. Seems to me like maybe religion and education aren't the top priorities at these so called "schools. They just happen to be convenient cover for a brainwashing operation. The children at these schools are indoctrinated into believing that the only way to prove their devotion to their religion is through violence. Oh, and if you're a girl? You don't get to go school, because your school was just bombed by the Taliban. Have a nice day kids.... have a nice day.

2. How has the war in Afghanistan impacted children?

Pakistani children have been forced to grow up quickly. They have been inducted into a world of violence, blood, and hatred. Education is not a guarantee, and for many children, not even an option. The economy is hot and cold, and the job market isn't exactly bustling. So where do the children turn? To the Taliban, who support their families, offer them direction, and give them cool weapons. It's the sad reality for so many young children, and unless something is done soon, their future isn't looking too bright.

3. Has the military offensive by the Pakistani army/ US military drones been effective?

Not really. First of all, the drone attacks are somewhat less accurate than they need to be. Sure, maybe they manage to take out a Taliban member, who will just become a martyr and be worshipped anyways, but they might also kill innocent civilians or bystanders. Also, the damage and death caused by the drone attacks have only incited the Taliban initiative even more. The destruction just excites them even more, and only adds to their drive.

4. How and why does the Taliban continue to grow?

Because they market themselves so well to children, the Taliban have an almost endless supply of new members. Their intricate process of indoctrination makes use of things such as the madrasas to begin plugging the Taliban future to children as early as possible. In a country facing so many struggles, the allure of the Taliban is a sense of purpose. You have a direction to go in, something to put your heart and soul into. This is why the Taliban continues to grow.

The Afghan War For Dummies

With the situation in Afghanistan escalating, President Obama has devised a plan for how to move forward. Here is the gist of his plan:

Declaring that our nation's "security is at stake," Obama has announced that 30,000 more troops will be deployed to Afghanistan, and he's wasting no time. Most of these troops will be from combat divisions. The Marines are set to be in place by Christmas. With the announcement that all of this is going to cost $30 billion for the first year alone, Obama has promised that the US will be pulling out of Afghanistan within 18 months. The new initiative will be focused on reducing the Taliban's stronghold and strengthening the Afghan government. He also stated that our common enemies are "Islamic terrorists." He is not calling this an "exit strategy", but instead a "transition strategy." With that in mind, I'll now change topics and discuss my opinion of Obama's proposed plan.

First off: my disclaimer. I cannot claim that my opinions will be backed up by numerous facts, figures, or sources. I am going to just try my best to think logically about this and formulate a response. As I said earlier, war is extremely confusing to me, and I'm trying to understand it as best as I can.

I think that no matter what Obama did: whether he pushed for immediate pull out or threw a ton of money at the war, people would be unhappy. People would say he was wrong, or that they had better ideas. But one of the most persistent complaints about this war is that many feel it will be "a war with no end." Perhaps it will, but at least now a path forward has been illuminated. In terms of sending more troops, I don't necessarily like the idea, but I think it is necessary. But not because I feel we need "to win." Because I think our troops who are already in Afghanistan need help, and not only that, but they deserve it. If they are more safe, then I can easily see the justification for sending more troops. At the same time, I think personally that we should pull out of Afghanistan. I think that we have dug ourselves far into a hole that is going to be difficult to climb out of now, and so I suppose one could use that as an argument for why we can't leave. If we leave, two things could happen. The people of Afghanistan and Pakistan (who I believe are just as much a part of this war) could be left to resolve things themselves, and to face the Taliban without us. This could go "smoothly", meaning that in many, many years, some sort of stability would be restored to the region naturally. Or: All hell could break loose. I have no idea which one would happen, and to be honest, the whole entire situation makes me sick to even think about. I entirely respect Obama's decision and see that he is not pursuing this issue as an issue of nation-building, but as a plan built around insurgency. I hope all goes well with his decision, and I guess only time will tell.