The Forgotten War: US Foreign Policy in Afghanistan
-
Upload
teagan-moss -
Category
Documents
-
view
27 -
download
1
description
Transcript of The Forgotten War: US Foreign Policy in Afghanistan
The Forgotten War: US Foreign Policy in
Afghanistan
Esther Lin and Rachel Tang
A History of US-Afghanistan Policy
1940s - 1960s• US established embassy in Kabul, ran
economic/military assistance programs
April 1978- Saur Revolution• Communist People's Democratic Party of
Afghanistan overthrows monarchy• 1979-US ambassador is killed; Soviet Union
intervenes in Afghanistano US terminates all assistance programs, begins
aiding rebels with up to 3 million dollars
A History of US-Afghanistan Policy
1996- Rebels (Taliban) seize Kabul and begin theocratic rule, supported by Al-Qaeda.
1997- Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan recognize the Taliban as legitimate government of Afghanistan
2001- 9/11 occurs, US declares war on Afghanistan with intent to eliminate terrorist havens/reconstruct government (Afghan Investment/Reconstruction Task Force)
Who's WhoPresident Obama: Commander in ChiefGeneral Petraeus: Current commander in AfghanistanEx General McChrystal: Asked for the additional troops for Afghanistan, Obama sent 30,000 more troops Al Qaeda: terrorist group, responsible for the 9/11 crisisOsama Bin Laden: leader of Al QaedaTaliban: terrorist group that houses Al QaedaHamid Karzai: President of AfghanistanAfghan Security Forces: protect the safety of Afghanistan ideally, being trained by US troops
Background on Current Foreign Policy
• Obama's West Point Speech • "Disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al-Qaeda"• Prevent their return to either Afghanistan
o Surge forces, targeting elements of the insurgencySecuring key population centers, major citiesTraining Afghan forcesTransferring responsibility to Afghan partner Increasing our partnership with Pakistanis
(they face the same threat)
Pro: Foreign Policy
• Deadline July 2011o Afghan people deserve to know deadline for
preparationo US combat forces deserve to know when their
mission is overo Open-ended conflicts erode morale
Do not want another drawn out war like Vietnam
o "Taking into conditions on the ground"Afghanistan must be able to assume full
control of country
Pro: Foreign Policy
• Developments are underway to stabilize Afghanistano Was a failed nation o What happens in Afghanistan affects US
national securityo Democracy in election of Karzaio Rebuilding infrastructure
Evidence:
• 73% of Afghans feel that government is more democratic; less corrupt. (Afghan Conflict Monitor)
• Afghan armies are being trained; competency boosts confidence and stability, increases trust in government o Ratio of instructors:students => 1 : 79 in 2009 to
1 : 29 in 2010• Karzai's election and appointment of ethnically
diverse ministers creates balanceo Election was clear sign of rising democracy
75% eligible votes
Con: Foreign Policy
• The war has gone for too longo Original intention : prevent terrorists from using
Afghanistan as safe haven. o Iraq took attention away; Afghanistan lacked
clear policy and resources so the war dragged on for too long.
• The goal should be ousting the Taliban and destroying terrorist groups, not nation-buildingo Legitimacy comes from the people
Con: Foreign Policy
• Surge will not work: o In Iraq, situation turned b/c of al-Qaeda losing
support of Sunni groups, not necessarily b/c of the troop surgeNo such similar groups in Afghanistan
o Pumping money into a 'civilian surge' only fosters corruption, protection rackets for local warlords and Taliban.
Evidence:
• Congressional Report: Warlords, Inc. o In depth congressional report about trucking
companies paying protection fees to local warlords/Taliban
• 1 January to 30 June 2010, 3,268 conflict-related civilian casualties; 31 per cent increase compared to the first 6 months of 2009.
• 321 troops have died so far in 2010--highest since the war began.
Recent Developments:
• Oct. 28, 2010: France announces plans to hand over some districts to Afghan forces and possibly begin pulling out of Afghanistan in 2011. (Currently has 3, 750 troops )
• Oct. 27, 2010: Afghanistan is considering a schedule to terminate security contractors starting Nov. 15.
• Oct. 22, 2010: US proposes $2 billion security package for Pakistan to fight insurgents.
• Oct. 18, 2010: 1.3 mill out of 5.6 mill (over 20%) ballots in the parliamentary elections were canceled due to fraud.
• Oct. 6, 2010: Afghan forces seize 19 tons of explosives being smuggled across the Iranian border. o heightened suspicion of Iran
Interest Groups
Anti- Afghanistan War: Code Pink• The Afghanistan War cannot be won• We spent too many fruitless years in Afghanistan-
no reduction of terrorism threats, no peace in country
• Need an exit strategy, now.
Pro-Afghanistan War: Move America Forward • Support our troops• Supports troops' missions in the war on terror
Public Opinion Polls
Galluphttp://www.gallup.com/poll/124490/In-U.S.-More-Support-Increasing-Troops-Afghanistan.aspx
Galluphttp://www.gallup.com/poll/116233/Afghanistan.aspx
Galluphttp://www.gallup.com/poll/116233/Afghanistan.aspx
What do the parties think?Republicans: • Support the troop increase
Democrats:• Generally do not support the war• Would prefer • Do not want to increase troops or war funding
Socialists:• bring the troops back• not fighting for the Afghanistan citizens• increased threat of terrorists
Kal's Cartoonshttp://www.kaltoons.com/wordpress/2009/12/kal-economist-afghanistan-cartoons/
Kal's Cartoonshttp://www.kaltoons.com/wordpress/2009/12/kal-economist-afghanistan-cartoons/