The Biden administration is looking to end America’s longest war by pulling troops out of the Middle East. His decision is met with both support and criticism from the public.
The attacks on the World Trade Center prompted President Bush to wage a war on terrorism. The United States invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001 to drive the Taliban out of power and deny Al-Qaeda safe base operations in that region.
After the Taliban came out of power in Afghanistan, the United States focused their operations in Iraq by overthrowing the government of Saddam Hussein. Because of the shift in military focus and a failed attempt to build a western-style democracy in Afghanistan, the Taliban rebuilded and became a greater military threat.
It has been difficult for the United States military to end the violence in Afghanistan because of the Taliban’s never ending fight for power. This has resulted in the United States de escalating tensions by pulling out combat troops.
President Biden has made the decision to pull all combat troops out of Afghanistan by September 11, 2021 which is the 20 year anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center.
Senior Ani Pradeep supports the President’s decision. “The wars in the Middle East cannot be won because terrorist groups work underground when they are defeated. The Afghan government is also not strong enough to support itself even with the United States’ aid,” he explained.
Pradeep’s belief that the Afghan government is not stable enough to support itself has led many to worry about its future. PV alumnus, Kaden Cruise, disagrees with Biden’s decision to troops out. “Afghanistan has been ravaged by war since the 1980s, and it cannot sustain itself without the United States’ aid,” he said.
When the Taliban came into power after the Soviet-Afghan war by capturing Afghanistan’s capital Kabul in 1996, they imposed strict rules on women by denying them access to education and forcing them to wear a burqa at all times in public, covering almost their entire face. They even allowed under-aged marriages against a woman’s will.
The Taliban’s harsh treatment of its people worries the Afghan people because they are uncertain of their country’s future when the United States relieves its military operations in the region.
Biden has pledged support for the Afghan government and peace talks to de escalate violence in the region. While Pradeep is in support of the withdrawal of troops, he worries for the country’s future. “The United States cannot save everybody. I hope the US government will aid the Afghan government in case of a potential overthrow of its government, but it cannot come out of the expense of our troops anymore,” he believes.
While the United States brought Osama Bin Laden to justice in 2011, their involvement in the Middle East is a complicated fight. Terrorist groups continue to fight for power despite US military operations in the region. Unlike the end of the Vietnam War, the US public is divided on the ending of the War in Afghanistan.
Michael Carber • Sep 3, 2021 at 11:53 pm
This was a very well written article and I would have to agree with Ani because I believe that pulling the troops out and still giving some aid out east is the best solution because this war has not only taken a toll on the the countries out there, but it has also taken a significant toll on our country financially and it’s people.