Lexi Webster
The United States has provided extensive foreign aid to Afghanistan, including military aid and civilian assistance. However, the effectiveness of this aid has been questioned, with critics arguing that it has led to economic distortions, fuelled corruption, and undermined the Afghan government's ability to exert control over resources. The US has also been accused of providing subsidies to cotton farmers, with some arguing that this is due to the influence of the cotton lobby. While there is no direct evidence of a link between US subsidies to Afghanistan and the cotton lobby, it is worth examining the role of special interests in influencing policy decisions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for US subsidies to Afghanistan | To provide support for Afghan nationals who helped American forces in Afghanistan |
| Who introduced the bill to protect Afghan allies? | Senator Tom Cotton, along with Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Thom Tillis, and Senator Chuck Grassley |
| Who is opposing the bill? | Senator Rob Portman |
| What does the bill propose? | A path to permanent citizenship for Afghans who evacuated to America during President Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan |
| What does the bill aim to ensure? | American security and better protection for Afghan allies |
| What is the estimated cost of cotton subsidies? | $1 billion a year |
What You'll Learn
The US government's spending on foreign aid in Afghanistan
The US government has spent billions of dollars in foreign aid to Afghanistan since the start of the war in 2001. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and State Department data from ForeignAssistance.gov show that the US spent $4.89 billion in foreign assistance to Afghanistan in 2019. This was a decrease from the peak of $15.3 billion in 2011, when the US spent $11.8 billion on military assistance to the country.
Military aid to Afghanistan has constituted 70% of total foreign aid to the country since 2001, or $91.4 billion. Economic aid, on the other hand, has constituted 30% of total foreign aid, or $39 billion.
The US government has also provided humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, particularly after the US withdrawal in 2021. The US has provided more than $1.1 billion in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan since August 2021, including nearly $812 million from USAID and nearly $320 million from the State Department.
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The US government's strategy for foreign assistance to Afghanistan
The US government's assistance strategy for Afghanistan is also focused on improving security, strengthening local government institutions, and building critical infrastructure such as roads, schools, and clinics through the US counterinsurgency strategy (COIN). The US government has also committed to funding more aid directly through the Afghan government, but stronger measures must be taken to ensure greater accountability of funds.
- Providing security, strengthening local government institutions, and building critical infrastructure such as roads, schools, and clinics through the US counterinsurgency strategy (COIN)
- Building the capacity of Afghan institutions to deliver basic services such as education, health care, and economic development
- Increasing and improving on-budget funding
- Paring back the number of technical advisors
- Standardizing Afghan salaries and working within Afghan government staffing constraints
- Achieving fiscal sustainability for the Afghan government
- Providing humanitarian relief and basic needs support
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The US government's use of contractors in Afghanistan
The US government employed more than 16,000 contractors in Afghanistan, of whom 6,147 were US citizens—more than double the remaining US troops. The number of contractors in Afghanistan has dropped significantly in recent months, with the total number of contractors falling from nearly 17,000 in April 2021 to 7,800 in July 2021.
The use of contractors in Afghanistan has been criticised for being financially wasteful and for undermining the war effort. It has been argued that the US government's reliance on contractors has led to a lack of accountability and oversight, with some contractors engaging in fraud and abuse. On the other hand, others have defended the use of contractors, arguing that they provided essential services and filled gaps in the military's capabilities.
The withdrawal of US contractors from Afghanistan has been identified as a key turning point in the collapse of the Afghan military. With the departure of US contractors, the Afghan military lost access to critical maintenance and support services, particularly for US-supplied air power, which had given them an advantage over Taliban fighters.
The US government's decision to rely on contractors in Afghanistan has been a subject of debate, with some arguing that it allowed the US to obscure the true extent of its military presence and commitment, while others have criticised it for creating a dependency on private companies and diverting resources from the Afghan government and security forces.
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The US government's funding of the Afghan government
The US government has provided billions of dollars in funding to the Afghan government since 2001. This funding has been used to support a range of initiatives, including security assistance, development and humanitarian assistance.
In 2021, the US provided $3.3 billion in security assistance to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces through the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund (ASFF). The US has also provided significant amounts of civilian assistance, including $36 billion between 2002 and 2020, and nearly $1.1 billion in humanitarian assistance since August 2021.
The US government has also supported the provision of vital food, nutrition, healthcare, shelter, and protection to vulnerable Afghans, both within the country and those who have fled to neighbouring countries.
In addition to financial support, the US has also provided military aid to Afghanistan, including equipment, supplies, services, training, and funding for salaries and infrastructure. Between 2001 and 2020, the US provided $72.7 billion in military aid to Afghanistan, with $71.7 billion of this coming from the Department of Defense.
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The US government's support of Afghan refugees
The US government has implemented several initiatives to support Afghan refugees. Here is a detailed overview:
Operation Allies Welcome
The US government launched Operation Allies Welcome, a nationwide effort to evacuate and resettle Afghans in the United States. This operation has helped resettle nearly 43,000 Afghans across 46 states. Those who were evacuated are provided temporary accommodations, food, medical care, and COVID-19 vaccinations at nine "safe havens" across the country. Interpreters are available in 40 languages to assist newcomers with processing and their next steps.
US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP)
The USRAP is a program that continues to receive and process referrals for Afghans eligible for resettlement. This program specifically targets at-risk Afghans, including women, children, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQI+ community, members of minority groups, and journalists.
Afghan Priority-2 (P-2) Program
The P-2 Program was announced on August 2, 2021, as a pathway for qualified Afghans and their eligible family members to gain resettlement. This program is for Afghans who worked with the US government, US-based media organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Immigration Legal Services for Afghan Arrivals (ILSAA)
The ILSAA is an ORR-funded project that provides free immigration legal services to eligible Afghan arrivals. They can request these services through the ILSAA website, email, or a designated phone number.
Welcome.US
Welcome.US is a movement formed by a coalition of international leaders, non-profits, businesses, and philanthropies to address the Afghanistan crisis. They provide a platform where individuals can donate to local resettlement organizations, volunteer, and offer temporary housing for Afghan families.
Sponsor Circles
Groups of five or more community members can directly sponsor refugees through the Sponsor Circles initiative. These groups help with tasks like finding initial housing, stocking pantries, connecting children to schools, and helping adults find employment.
Other Support Services
The US government also provides other essential support services for Afghan refugees. This includes behavioral health support, employment information, education and resettlement guidance, and various resources to help Afghans rebuild their lives in the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
The subsidies to Afghanistan are meant to help with the transition to an Afghan-led security and governance system. The goal is to provide economic development and support civil society, ultimately creating the conditions for a more stable, democratic government capable of resisting attempts by Al Qaeda and other insurgent groups from returning and establishing safe havens.
There are concerns about the effectiveness and sustainability of the subsidies. Some argue that the subsidies may not be achieving their intended goals and could even have negative consequences, such as raising expectations that the Afghan government cannot meet and distorting local economies. There are also concerns about oversight and accountability, particularly in light of issues with contractor fraud and corruption.
The cotton lobby has been a powerful interest group in the United States, advocating for policies that benefit cotton producers. While there is no direct evidence of their influence on subsidies to Afghanistan, they have successfully lobbied for subsidies and other forms of government support in the past.
