Afghanistan: worth the effort?

Question

Here’s my premise:
Following the tragedy of September 11, 2001, the immediate objective of the United States of America was to seek out and capture Osama bin Ladin and the terrorist Taliban organization.

Somewhere along the way, it was decided that Iraq was the real threat to world peace.
While events in Iraq certainly are not very promising, the focus of my question is on Afghanistan, not Iraq.

Since 2001, the Taliban has re-emerged in Afghanistan.
Opium fields (and its by-product, heroin) have blossomed (now supplying the world with 80% of the drug).
Afghan soldiers trained are only 25% of what is needed.
Afghans are still a tribal nation, unable to unite in a democratic sense.
And U.S. and allied troops remain there in a fraction of the numbers needed while most of the money and manpower are funneled to Iraq.

And still: no Osama, no peace, and no end to terrorism.

Current war-on-terror statistics (for both Afghanistan and Iraq):
3,100 - number of U.S. Troops who have died since 2001.

$340,387,926,314 - cost of the invasion (and rising every minute)

My question:
Please explain why you believe U.S. efforts in Afghanistan is worth the effort?

Answer 1

Well said. Well, since Osama was hanging out in Afghanistan, and the Taliban was pretty heinous, I would have to say we needed to go in there. Oddly, I was outraged by their destruction of Buddhist statuary, although I am sure I would never have seen them.

Now, HOW this was conducted is another matter.

Answer 2

Yes it was worth it. Interesting statistic here, out of about 19 sectors in Afganistan, UN troops now only class 3 of these as under threat. Its a shame the world community didnt follow through with their promised aid that would have helped prevent the return of the Taliban and its a shame that the constitution was so biased towards Western interests instead of the good of the country but at least this dealt a serious blow to islamic radicals, which i personally do not believe that iraq has done. if only bush had stopped at afganistan

Answer 3

At the very least other Islamic countries are going to think twice before they openly or secretly support Islamic terrorists.

Also we now have two countries in that important and volatile part of the world from which to stage military strikes without the controversial help of Israel.

The oil supply is more secure, Islam is put on notice.

Worth the effort? I think it was a logical choice on the world's chess board.

Are acts of terrorism worth the effort? Is it worth the effort to kidnap civilians, preform a ritual of bloody human sacrifice and display the animistic barbarism of Islam on world TV? Where is the logic?


You know what I think wasn't worth the effort. Stepping in and saving the Muslims in the Czech republics. No good deed will go unpunished.

Answer 4

Iraq, Afghan.. it's all for "OIL" every thing else are excuses.

All this, and more is in a terrific movie called Farenheit 911. See it if you get the chance.

Did you know that:
a.. USA supported Bin Laden and the Taliban for years, and viewed them as
freedom fighters against the Russians?

b.. As late as 1998, the US was paying the salary of every single Taliban
official in Afghanistan ?

c.. There is more oil and gas in the Caspian Sea, but you need a pipeline
through Afghanistan to get that out?

d.. UNOCAL, a giant oil conglomerate, wanted to build a 1000 mile pipeline from the Caspian Sea through Afghanistan to the Arabian Sea?

e.. UNOCAL spend $ 10,000,000,000 on geological studies for the pipeline
construction, and courted the Taliban for their support in allowing the construction to begin?

f.. All leading Taliban officials were in Texas negotiating with UNOCAL in 1998?

g. In 1999, Taliban changed its mind and threw UNOCAL out of the country and awarded the pipeline project to a company in Argentina?

h.. John Maresca, VP of UNOCAL testified before Congress and said no
pipeline should be set until the Taliban was gone and a more friendly
government was established?

i.. After 1999, the Taliban became the most evil people in the world

j. In 2001, Bush declares war against Afghanistan, though not a single
Afghani was involved in the plane hijacking?

k.. Bush blamed Bin Laden, but did not offer any proof, saying it was confidential?

l.. Talibans offered to hand over Bin Laden if there was proof, but Bush
bombed Afghanistan instead?

m.. We now have a new government in Afghanistan, which is friendlier?

n.. That the leader of the new government is one gentleman called Hamid
Karzai, who formerly worked for UNOCAL?

o.. Bush appoints a special envoy (Lakhdar Ibrahimi) to represent the US
to deal with the new government. This special envoy was formerly chief
consultant to UNOCAL?
p.. The US government quietly announces in January 2002 that it will
support the Trans-Afghan pipeline construction?

q.. President Musharraf and Hamid Karzai announce agreement in February
2002 to build proposed gas pipeline from Central Asia to Pakistan through Afghanistan?


And you thought we were fighting terrorism here, didn't you?

It is all about OIL.........

Answer 5

killing is always good