The war in Afghanistan…AKA “Operation Enduring Freedom”…I knew this question would come up in The Sorbate one day.

Aaaahhhh….I honestly, have no idea. I’m still so confused why we are even over there. Initially, we entered war with Iraq because they were harboring “weapons of mass destruction” (which were never actually found). Now, we’re in Afghanistan to fight “terrorism” – as if terrorism were a person or one entity. I agree with Norman Wailer who stated “this was, is, so unbalanced in so many ways, so much power on one side, so much hatred on the other, so much technology for us, so much potential terrorism on the other, that the changes cannot be estimated. It is bad to enter a war that offers no clear avenue of conclusion….there will always be someone left to act as a terrorist” (Solomon, para. 11, 2009).

I agree…it’s not enough to say we are at war against terrorism…who in America isn’t?! We could be at war forever if we’re just simply fighting terrorism. There will ALWAYS be someone else to rise up and commit a terrorist act or disrupt world peace. That’s just human nature.

Now, am I saying to stand aside and let a whole nation of innocent civilians and residents fall to their own demise? No. But who picks which war is more important?? What about Africa?? There have been numerous acts of terrorism in Africa that were given very little support. For instance, the War in Darfur and the genocides of Zimbabwe or Rwanda.

Those countries faced horrendous acts of terrorism through mass genocides, and the United States or the UN did little of anything to help. In Rwanda, “despite emphatic demands from the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda commanders in Rwanda before and throughout the genocide, its requests for authorization to end it were refused and its intervention-capacity was even reduced” (Wikipedia, para. 10, 2009).

Therefore, why are these countries' pleas for help ignored, while Afghanistan or Iraq (who don’t even want us over there) are aided? Why?? Oil. And that’s whack.

Therefore, I have to agree with Colin Powell, who told reporters in California last week, “You have to not just add troops. You need a clear definition of your mission and then you can determine whether you need more troops or other resources” (Baker & Bulmiller, para 18. 2009).

I don’t see a clear ending or resolution to the war in Afghanistan. I believe we’re fighting a war that’s been present since biblical times…what makes us think we can win/end it now? With instilling more soldiers and acting on brute force? Yeah, that will work…

Cited Sources

Why Are We Still at War?, truthout.org.

Rwandan Genocide, Wikipedia.

Plan to Boost Afghan Forces Splits Obama Advisers, The New York Times.