The War In Afghanistan Is Becoming Truly Endless

(This image of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan is from fcir.org.)

George Bush started the war in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001. That means it has been going on for over 14 years now. We still have about 10,000 troops on the ground in Afghanistan, and although we had been told there would be a "draw-down" of troops at the end of this year (leaving about 5,800 troops there), it now won't happen.

Yesterday, President Obama said that draw-down won't happen for at least another year -- the end of 2016 (and maybe not even then). This is truly becoming a war without end -- and a war that has accomplished basically nothing (except to kill too many Americans, Europeans, and innocent Afghans).

All we are presently doing is propping up a corrupt government in that country -- and doing that for an additional year won't keep it in power once we leave (if we ever do leave). If we haven't accomplished our goals in 14 years of war, why should we think that will magically happen after 15 years of war (or 16 or more)?

It is time we realized that we cannot "save" Afghanistan, or force them to do our will through the use of our military power. The Afghans will have the government they want to have, and there's nothing we can do to prevent that. If they want the Taliban to rule them, then that will happen -- and if they don't, then that will happen. It's up to them -- not us.

I know that our government is claiming we are there to stop terrorism. That is absurd. The terrorism will continue whether we control Afghanistan or not -- and it cannot be stopped by military action in that country (since terrorism doesn't need a country to exist). Terrorism can only be stopped through a combination of law enforcement, intelligence activities, and diplomacy. Keeping our military in Afghanistan only insure that we create more enemies (who will become terrorists).

Fourteen years is more than enough. It's time to end this "endless" war. It's time to bring ALL of our troops back home.