Essay on US and NATO Role in Afghanistan

Part 1: Outlining 4 main arguments

Position 1) Send more U.S. and NATO troops to Afghanistan for a counterinsurgency strategy.

Author

Trudy currently writes for the Philadelphia Inquirer, in a column on Sundays and Wednesdays. She has a lot of experience in writing about Afghanistan and our occupation in Central Asia.

Thesis

In order for the US to maintain control over the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, troops and NATO forces must remain and prevent more of the country from falling under Taliban rule.

Three Main Points

1) The US must remain in Afghanistan and prevent more of the country from falling under Taliban control.

2) US Diplomacy should aim at strengthening Pakistan against the Taliban terrorist threat.

3) US needs to focus on protecting the people from Taliban intimidation and help them develop their own security forces and improve their living standards.

Position 2) Shift the military effort to Pakistan instead of Afghanistan

Authors-

Michael A. Cohen is a Senior Research Fellow at the New America Foundation where he contributes to the Privatization of Foreign Policy Initiative, where he examines the growing influence and impact of non-state actors. Parag Khanna is director of the Global Governance Initiative and Senior Research Fellow at the New America Foundation, where he writes about America’s involvement in Afghanistan.

Thesis

The Taliban is too unpopular in Afghanistan, US needs to shift its attention to Pakistan, US needs to help build the Pakistan military and police force.

1) The Taliban is too unpopular in Afghanistan to have a chance of taking the country, the US needs to focus on “defeating an enemy that is, for the most part, located across the border” in Pakistan.

2) US needs to assist the Pakistan military, including the Frontier Corps and the police, in order to better secure the Tribal areas, which are known Taliban and Al-qaeda locations.

3) With better intelligence from the Pakistan side, the US can improve he accuracy of the Drone attacks, targeting Al-qaeda leadership is the best military strategy.

Position 3) Focus on regional negotiations instead of a military solution

Author

Tariq Ali is a British-Pakistani Historian, who regularly contributes to the Guardian and the London Review of Books. Ali has always written about involvement in wars, he got his start debating about America’s involvement in Vietnam.

Thesis

The US needs to focus on a diplomatic approach instead of a military one. We need to withdraw most of the troops, and sign a pact to ensure that Afghanistan becomes a peaceful nation.

1) Taliban are gaining strength because of our occupation, the US attacks are counterproductive, because many innocent lives are taken, and this makes the Taliban very appealing.

2) US troops should withdraw and a regional pact should be signed that guarantees Afghanistan’s stability. Other countries can help the government succeed and help Afghanistan become a peaceful nation.

3) Clean up the Afghan Government and help the police, so that Afghanistan can function as a peaceful nation.

Position 4) Withdraw U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan

Author

George Will is a Pulitzer Prize winning writer, he writes for Newsweek, Washington Post, and ABC. His column is syndicated to over 450 newspapers; he is one of the leading experts on America in Afghanistan.

Thesis

The objectives set by the US is unattainable, US needs to withdraw its troops, or else they will never be able to accomplish these goals. America should reduce its troop number, and use offshore tactics, such as Drones.

1) Small Amount of Special Forces troops to watch the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, in order to keep Pakistan safe.

2) Afghanistan has never had a successful central government, US needs to clean up the existing government as well as the opium trade, which is a known method of gaining money.

3) The US needs to withdraw troops, because the US forces are there to prevent the reestablishment of Al-Qaeda bases, but currently there are none.

Part 2 "Children of the Taliban"

1) Many children join the Taliban because it offers a lifestyle better than the one they have. Many extremist preachers offer refuge and food for children who can't afford those. These madrasas teach children the foundations of extremist thought, as well as memorization of the Koran. Children who can't get an education are often drawn to these religious schools, where they want to become Martyrs. The culture of fear that the Taliban has built has affected many families and children. Children want to join the Taliban because it sounds very appealing; to these children it is an escape from the harsh suppression around them.

2) Many of the attacks by the US/NATO forces have killed innocent lives. Many parents and guardians are being killed, leaving the children orphaned and without money, the Taliban has gained a lot of support and soldiers through helping children with nothing, then teaching them about Martyrdom. Many of the children group up with much resentment towards Pakistan and US forces. Many of the attacks have killed innocent lives and have not proven to be accurate in ridding the Taliban from Pakistan. Children are also impacted by the amount of fighting that is taking place. Many children are displaced because the Pakistan Army is attacking whole villages and destroying them entirely. Many children have a lot of resentment towards the Pakistan Army and US/NATO Forces.

3) Much of the drone attacks by the US Army have been a great success, but many are very inaccurate and leave a wake of destruction, often involving innocent lives and homes. Attacks have been successful in the past, but with a high innocent casualty rate. That is partly because much of the Taliban look like the sorrounding population and it is hard to tell who is an innocent civilian and who is a Taliban fighter. When a drone fires a missile into a house with Taliban fighters, the missile could kill many innocent people as well, turning a missile that would help the cause into a missile that is very detrimental to the cause.

4) The Taliban continues to grow, because they offer a better lifestyle and power. Much like the Nazi’s before WWII, the Taliban appeals to poor young men, because it gives them power and a lifestyle that is much better than the one they have. To someone who’s parents might have died in a Pakistan missile attack and who doesn’t have enough money for food, the Taliban offers refuge to this person and a way to get back at Pakistan. To many children, the Taliban is very appealing, they like the notion of suicide bombing, as well as fighting. The US/NATO forces are greatly outnumbered because the Taliban is so appealing.

Obama's Speech

1) In his speech, Barack Obama outlined his plan for the US involvement in Afghanistan. He stated 3 objectives for the War to complete. The first objective was to Disrupt, Dismantle, and Get rid of Al-qaeda. The second was to Reverse Taliban Momentum and stop them from advancing into Pakistan. The third was to strengthen local governments and local security forces, so that when the US leaves, Afghanistan will be able to handle and secure its country. Obama outlined three ways to accomplish this. The first is pursuing a military strategy in Iraq and breaking the Taliban's momentum. The second is to work with our allies and pursue a civilian strategy, we need to show Afghanistan what we expect, we also need to help create an Agricultural movement and secure Afghanistan. The final step is to help Pakistan in their fight against the Taliban and find a solution to both borders. Obama also answered many of the concerns, saying that "Afghanistan isn't another Vietnam, we are supported by a broad coalition of nations." Obama presented a time table that would end the war in Iraq and send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. He also wanted to send a push for diplomacy, saying "America will speak out for human rights across the world."

2) I agree with Obama's plan, because it outlines a strategy that is very legitimate. He plans to send the much needed troops to Afghanistan, which will secure our presence and help fight against the Taliban. His plan is a push for diplomacy, stating that we will end what we had started. Obama knows that the Taliban can't be eliminated, but he wants to hamper their movement forward. Same with Al-qaeda, Obama knows that there will always be extremist groups, but he wants to make sure that much of Central Asia is free from the oppressive rule of the Taliban, and that people can walk the streets safely. I am glad to see that we are moving our forces from Iraq into Afghanistan, I think that with Obama's strategy, we will see a lot of improvement in the good fight.