Dependency of Afghanistan
By Wonseuk Her
Until 9/11, the United States had no rights or connections to get involved in the Afghanistan war. However, after the assault, the United States decided to get involved in this war due to Al Qaeda’s statement, which declared that they were the one who are responsible for the assault. Since then, the USAID, United States Agency for International Development, has been supporting Afghanistan in various fields such as food, infrastructure, and the farm sector, the foundations for developing countries. Although the United States has been aiding Afghanistan for a long duration, spending trillions of dollars for Afghanistan’s economy and the protection against the Taliban, departure of the United States troops will cause the collapse of the Afghanistan government due to the fact that Afghanistan cannot withstand the Taliban by themselves.
There are many programs initiated for producing a stabilizing force that can withstand and secure safety against remaining the Al Qaeda and warlords. Currently, there are American troops deployed in Afghanistan for raising a new national army at a military school (Sciutto). Ironically, those military schools were targets for bomb assaults before United States and Afghanistan resulted in current relationships (Sciutto). United States has also been assisting Afghanistan through providing military equipment such as transport aircraft (David). However, they still lack in equipment such as developed aircrafts and a surveillance system, which are luxurious items for Afghanistan at the moment (David). Leaving Afghanistan in such conditions would only cause civil war. In a condition that lacks properly trained military, soldiers who were trained would most likely desert their positions, leaving the country in vulnerable conditions and in mayhem.
By Wonseuk Her
Until 9/11, the United States had no rights or connections to get involved in the Afghanistan war. However, after the assault, the United States decided to get involved in this war due to Al Qaeda’s statement, which declared that they were the one who are responsible for the assault. Since then, the USAID, United States Agency for International Development, has been supporting Afghanistan in various fields such as food, infrastructure, and the farm sector, the foundations for developing countries. Although the United States has been aiding Afghanistan for a long duration, spending trillions of dollars for Afghanistan’s economy and the protection against the Taliban, departure of the United States troops will cause the collapse of the Afghanistan government due to the fact that Afghanistan cannot withstand the Taliban by themselves.
There are many programs initiated for producing a stabilizing force that can withstand and secure safety against remaining the Al Qaeda and warlords. Currently, there are American troops deployed in Afghanistan for raising a new national army at a military school (Sciutto). Ironically, those military schools were targets for bomb assaults before United States and Afghanistan resulted in current relationships (Sciutto). United States has also been assisting Afghanistan through providing military equipment such as transport aircraft (David). However, they still lack in equipment such as developed aircrafts and a surveillance system, which are luxurious items for Afghanistan at the moment (David). Leaving Afghanistan in such conditions would only cause civil war. In a condition that lacks properly trained military, soldiers who were trained would most likely desert their positions, leaving the country in vulnerable conditions and in mayhem.
The United States has been rebuilding Afghanistan to repay for the mess they have left behind after the Cold War. After successfully helping Afghanistan from the Soviet, the United States completely retreated from Afghanistan, leaving the country in chaos (Scuitto). Such negative conditions spiraled downward, ultimately causing the country to descend into civil war. Lack of strong central government and military allowed numerous terrorist organizations to thrive (Scuitto). In order to prevent such circumstances, the United States is investing trillions of dollars this time to “not only to get rid of the bad guys, but also to help the good guys” according to lieutenant Col. Jim Gardon (Scuitto). To fulfill such a statement, soldiers are working hard to rejuvenate the food sector, health-care system, and destroyed schools. Supplying electricity, building hospitals, and providing water are other methods the United States took to create a good community. If the U.S. government decides that they have done enough and retreat, what happened after Cold War could occur again. Though troops have been rejuvenating Afghanistan, they only helped one generation. Such a weak foundation will not lead to a stable and secure country. However, due to the fact that the president of Afghanistan is not signing a bill, which allows further involvement and authorization of the United States to remain in Afghanistan, the United States is considering retreating from Afghanistan, which would only bring tragic results (Anna).
Though there are positive predictions about how Afghanistan might be able to hold their line of defense against the Taliban, such predictions are too optimistic. Once the U.S. troops evacuate from Afghanistan, the unstable Afghan government would lose control of its country (“Afghanistan Heading for Crisis”). Sensing chaos and insecurity, the Taliban would slowly advance to Kabul by recapturing and regaining the control of countryside (Ahmed). Lack of advanced weaponry and untrained soldiers would only increase the speed of recapture for the Taliban (David). In order to prevent itself from falling back into chaos, the Afghan government should be able to provide safe environments for civilians, which will allow millions of refugees in Pakistan to return to their country. Then, the government needs to provide people with security, resources, and infrastructures. The fact that the Afghan government can provide those elements only with international funds and supports shows how Afghanistan does not have enough individual power to keep their peace.
As you can see, Afghanistan has been receiving aids in multiple fields and from multiple nations as well. They are about to climb out of a state where everything was destroyed due to the wars, to a state where a steady foundation is about to be set. If troops of the United States retreat at this point, all those efforts would not be able to produce the fruit. For stronger military force and government based on strong foundation, Afghanistan and the United States have to maintain a healthy relationship to overcome this situation.
Though there are positive predictions about how Afghanistan might be able to hold their line of defense against the Taliban, such predictions are too optimistic. Once the U.S. troops evacuate from Afghanistan, the unstable Afghan government would lose control of its country (“Afghanistan Heading for Crisis”). Sensing chaos and insecurity, the Taliban would slowly advance to Kabul by recapturing and regaining the control of countryside (Ahmed). Lack of advanced weaponry and untrained soldiers would only increase the speed of recapture for the Taliban (David). In order to prevent itself from falling back into chaos, the Afghan government should be able to provide safe environments for civilians, which will allow millions of refugees in Pakistan to return to their country. Then, the government needs to provide people with security, resources, and infrastructures. The fact that the Afghan government can provide those elements only with international funds and supports shows how Afghanistan does not have enough individual power to keep their peace.
As you can see, Afghanistan has been receiving aids in multiple fields and from multiple nations as well. They are about to climb out of a state where everything was destroyed due to the wars, to a state where a steady foundation is about to be set. If troops of the United States retreat at this point, all those efforts would not be able to produce the fruit. For stronger military force and government based on strong foundation, Afghanistan and the United States have to maintain a healthy relationship to overcome this situation.