easyt65
Diamond Member
- Aug 4, 2015
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The United States invaded Afghanistan after 9/11/01 - 16 years ago, eventually 'defeating' the Taliban. The Afghan Forces stood up and began protecting their own country, with heavy support from the US govt and military. The plan was to remain in and supporting Afghanistan until they could protect themselves...and beyond in a political partnership and limited military context.
16 YEARS LATER...
"The U.S. Special Inspector General For Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR) issued a stark report on U.S. progress in Afghanistan, the first report of President Donald Trump’s administration.
The report notes that the Afghan Security Forces only control slightly more than half the country, that pervasive corruption is rife throughout the U.S. backed government, and that drug production is reaching record high levels. The Taliban terrorist movement derives the lion’s share of its income from opium production, which it uses to funds its military offensive against the Afghan government.
SIGAR Inspector General John Sopko highlights that the “two most critical” problems facing the U.S. are “questionable capabilities of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and pervasive corruption.” Worse, the opium production increased by 43 percent in the last year. The surge in production will likely only worsen the global heroin crisis.
“Neither the United States nor its Afghan allies know how many Afghan soldiers and police actually exist,” Sopko noted in May 2016. SIGAR’s assessment is much bleaker than the Pentagon’s official December assessment.
The U.S. resolute support command estimated the Taliban controlled 10 percent of the Afghan population, and contested the U.S.-backed Afghan government for another 20 percent. The report noted that the government was adept at keeping control of the major cities, while continuing to face a “resilient insurgency” in rural areas."
There is no 'End In Sight'....no 'Light at The End Of The tunnel'...in Afghanistan.
- Afghan Security Forces only control 1/2 the country...at best.
- No one knows how many Afghan Fighters there are.
- The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) capabilities are questionable.
- The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) are rife with corruption.
- And despite best efforts to develop business / the economy / alternate jobs in Afghanistan no one would rather work in jobs where they are paid far less than they are growing / selling opium.
Afghanistan is only where it is now...and holding on to that...because of the massive contributions and presence of the United states and its allies.
And there is a current proposal for more troops and more money going forward for the President to consider.
Do we still have more to gain by staying in / with Afghanistan than we are losing? Is there an end at some point? Considering Afghanistan's entire history one could argue 'No'.
...so WHEN is 'Enough'?
No Good News For Trump In First Report As President On Afghan War
16 YEARS LATER...
"The U.S. Special Inspector General For Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR) issued a stark report on U.S. progress in Afghanistan, the first report of President Donald Trump’s administration.
The report notes that the Afghan Security Forces only control slightly more than half the country, that pervasive corruption is rife throughout the U.S. backed government, and that drug production is reaching record high levels. The Taliban terrorist movement derives the lion’s share of its income from opium production, which it uses to funds its military offensive against the Afghan government.
SIGAR Inspector General John Sopko highlights that the “two most critical” problems facing the U.S. are “questionable capabilities of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and pervasive corruption.” Worse, the opium production increased by 43 percent in the last year. The surge in production will likely only worsen the global heroin crisis.
“Neither the United States nor its Afghan allies know how many Afghan soldiers and police actually exist,” Sopko noted in May 2016. SIGAR’s assessment is much bleaker than the Pentagon’s official December assessment.
The U.S. resolute support command estimated the Taliban controlled 10 percent of the Afghan population, and contested the U.S.-backed Afghan government for another 20 percent. The report noted that the government was adept at keeping control of the major cities, while continuing to face a “resilient insurgency” in rural areas."
There is no 'End In Sight'....no 'Light at The End Of The tunnel'...in Afghanistan.
- Afghan Security Forces only control 1/2 the country...at best.
- No one knows how many Afghan Fighters there are.
- The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) capabilities are questionable.
- The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) are rife with corruption.
- And despite best efforts to develop business / the economy / alternate jobs in Afghanistan no one would rather work in jobs where they are paid far less than they are growing / selling opium.
Afghanistan is only where it is now...and holding on to that...because of the massive contributions and presence of the United states and its allies.
And there is a current proposal for more troops and more money going forward for the President to consider.
Do we still have more to gain by staying in / with Afghanistan than we are losing? Is there an end at some point? Considering Afghanistan's entire history one could argue 'No'.
...so WHEN is 'Enough'?
No Good News For Trump In First Report As President On Afghan War
