After 20 years, more than 2,000 U.S. service casualties, at least 100,000 Afghani deaths and trillions of dollars spent, the United State’s Forever War in Afghanistan is winding down. It’s hard to make a case for staying, but that doesn’t make leaving any easier.
The U.S. has maintained a troop presence in Afghanistan, at varying levels, for the past 19 plus years. Despite all that time, effort and money not a whole lot has changed. We helped establish a government, but it’s not exactly stable. We appeared to have diminished the Taliban early on but they are once again a resurgent, powerful, political force. There’s not much political or popular will to launch any kind of offensive that would change that. There’s not much sense in sticking around where you’re not wanted.
Now that we’ve decided to leave, the actual physical withdrawal of troops is tricky. We have a deal with the Taliban to be out by a certain date and President Biden’s pledge to have all the troops out by September 11 misses that deadline by several months. Worst case scenario would see Taliban forces reignite violence against U.S. and NATO forces to an extent that we felt the need to stick around. Nobody wants us out more than they do, so hopefully, that inspires some patience on their behalf while we pack our bags.
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April 18, 2021 at 07:01PM
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Leaving Afghanistan 20 years later | Sheneman - NJ.com
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