It’s been more than a decade since the US invasion of Afghanistan, yet tens of thousands
of troops still remain in the country.
Although Obama promises to withdraw, the timetable keeps shifting forward.
So, will the US ever actually leave Afghanistan?
Well, the whole conflict began after the attacks of September 11th, 2001.
At the time, the US believed that the Taliban, Afghanistan’s ruling party, was harboring
Osama bin Laden.
The Taliban refused to extradite him, saying that there was not enough proof connecting
Osama with the attacks.
In response, the US began “Operation Enduring Freedom," and invaded Afghanistan in October
2001.
After nearly 13 years, roughly 100,000 casualties, and the death of Osama bin Laden, President
Obama announced an end to military operations in December 2014.
The original plan was a massive troop drawdown, and a transition of power from US forces to
Afghan forces.
However, the original timeline has repeatedly been revised, with soldiers leaving later
than expected.
During Obama’s State of the Union address in 2015, he claimed that Afghan forces had
taken the lead.
Yet, the most recent slowdown was the result of Afghan leaders asking US forces to stay.
Just a month prior to the President’s address, former Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel,
announced that an additional 1,000 troops would remain in the country.
The biggest reason for this slow withdrawal is that the situation in Afghanistan is still
dangerous and unstable.
Although the Taliban government has been ousted, insurgent groups continue to attack US forces.
In fact, despite calling an end to the conflict, 2014 was the deadliest year for Afghan civilians
and armed forces.
More than 3000 civilians were killed, comprising more casualties in a single year than September
11th itself.
Another massive problem is Afghan police and security attacking US and NATO troops, in
what are called “green on blue” attacks.
The rise in these attacks forced all new regulations in training and vetting new recruits.
Despite these setbacks, Obama’s current plan involves shutting down all US military
bases in Afghanistan, while leaving only 1,000 US troops by January 2017.
The remaining troops will be focused on continued training and defense.
However, the slow rate of withdrawal, multiplied by worsening instability throughout the Middle
East, suggests that it is unlikely the US will extricate itself in time.
Even though Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, has a lot of ruins, the locals find creative
ways to enjoy themselves.
Watch this video by Seeker Stories to see more.
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