The Mia Mystery: Unraveling The Fate Of Afghanistan's Missing Servicemen

There has been a long-running controversy about the fate of U.S. prisoners of war (POWs) and servicemembers missing in action (MIAs) as a result of various U.S. military operations. In the context of Afghanistan, the U.S. military has been accused of withholding information about casualties and the performance of Afghan military forces. While the exact number of MIAs in Afghanistan is not publicly available, it is known that the U.S. has been engaged in efforts to rescue and recover missing personnel. The number of MIAs in Afghanistan is likely to be relatively low compared to other conflicts due to various factors, including improved technology and the nature of the conflict.

The number of MIA US soldiers in Afghanistan is significantly lower than in past conflicts due to new technologies and the nature of combat

The number of US soldiers missing in action (MIA) in Afghanistan is significantly lower than in past conflicts. This is due to new technologies, the nature of combat, and other factors.

The number of MIA soldiers in Afghanistan is in the single digits, compared to almost 8,000 from the Korean War. This historic change in America's ability to locate its soldiers is due to several factors, according to Scott Sigmund Gartner of Penn State. These include revolutionary new communications, information management, and surveillance technologies, as well as total dominance of the air dimension, better training, and the nature of the adversary and geography.

The nature of combat in Afghanistan has also contributed to the lower number of MIA soldiers. Most engagements are small, so there is less opportunity for soldiers to be cut off from their units and surrender. Additionally, the enemy has less ability to pound US forces with mortar and artillery fire, which could lead to surrounded units surrendering.

New technologies have played a crucial role in locating missing soldiers. For example, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency uses ground-penetrating radar, magnetic surveys, and aerial mapping to locate and identify missing soldiers from past conflicts, including World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

The use of DNA to identify remains has also been crucial. The agency has a database of DNA samples from relatives, and even a single tooth can be enough to identify a soldier. Advances in laboratory technology have also allowed scientists to extract DNA from remains that have been chemically treated, which was previously impossible.

The combination of new technologies, the nature of combat, and other factors has significantly reduced the number of MIA US soldiers in Afghanistan compared to past conflicts.

The last MIA US soldier in Afghanistan was Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl, who was freed in 2014

Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl was the last MIA US soldier in Afghanistan. He was held captive by the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network in Afghanistan and Pakistan from 2009 to 2014.

Bergdahl was captured after deserting his post on June 30, 2009. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance and capture have since been the subject of intense media scrutiny. Some sources claim that Bergdahl walked off base after his shift, while others allege that he was captured during a patrol or grabbed from a latrine. Bergdahl himself stated that he fell behind during a patrol.

Bergdahl was released on May 31, 2014, as part of a prisoner exchange for five high-ranking Taliban members. The release was brokered by the American, Qatari, and Afghan governments.

Following his release, Bergdahl was treated by US military medical staff at an undisclosed base in eastern Afghanistan before being transferred to Bagram Airfield and then flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for further treatment. He eventually returned to the US on June 13, 2014, and was taken to the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, to complete his recovery and reintegration.

Bergdahl was tried by a general court-martial on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. On November 3, 2017, he was sentenced to be dishonorably discharged, reduced in rank to private, and fined $1,000 per month from his pay for ten months, with no prison time. Bergdahl appealed his sentence, and on July 25, 2023, a federal judge vacated his conviction and dishonorable discharge.

The US government has been criticised for its handling of MIA data in Afghanistan

The US government has faced criticism for its handling of MIA data in Afghanistan, with accusations of withholding vital information from the public. This lack of transparency has raised questions about the country's longest war and the true extent of US involvement.

In his 37th quarterly report, John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, revealed that the Pentagon's Afghan command withheld information on critical measures of Afghan military performance, including casualty figures, personnel strength, attrition, and equipment readiness. The Pentagon was quick to shift the blame to the Afghan government, claiming that the data belonged to them and had been classified at their request.

However, critics argue that this explanation is absurd, given that Kabul has been under the control of the US Department of Defense since 2002. They believe that the missing data is a deliberate attempt to hide embarrassing information about costs, delays, and failures to achieve promised objectives. This lack of transparency has led to concerns about the effective use of taxpayer dollars and has undermined public confidence in the war effort.

The US military's inconsistent reporting of troop numbers in Afghanistan has further contributed to the controversy. In August 2021, the US government reported 8,400 troops on Afghan soil, but this number quickly grew to 11,000 with the inclusion of short-term deployments. This discrepancy highlights the challenges in obtaining accurate data and raises doubts about the US military's transparency.

The handling of MIA data in Afghanistan has also been criticised for its impact on public perception and support for the war. Withholding information about casualties and military performance makes it difficult for the public to fully understand the situation and make informed judgments about the war's progress. This lack of transparency can lead to a disconnect between the government and its citizens, eroding trust and support for the war effort.

Additionally, the US government has been criticised for its failure to adequately address the issue of missing troops from previous conflicts. There is a long-running controversy surrounding the fate of US prisoners of war (POWs) and missing personnel from various military operations, particularly during the Vietnam War. While there is little belief in a conspiracy to cover up the existence of live POWs, many argue that the US government mismanaged the issue during the 1970s. This has contributed to a broader perception of government incompetence and a lack of accountability.

The US government has also been criticised for abandoning American citizens to the Taliban

The US government has faced criticism for its handling of the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, with some arguing that it abandoned American citizens to the Taliban. This criticism intensified when it emerged that the Biden administration had provided the Taliban with a list of names of American citizens, green card holders, and Afghan allies. The decision to leave Afghanistan was met with disapproval from both the public and political opponents, with an ABC/Ipsos poll finding that 84% of Americans believed that US troops should remain in the country until all Americans were evacuated.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has been described as a "handover to the Taliban", with the Afghan government perceiving that the US had "hung them out to dry". This perception was reinforced by the US decision to withdraw troops by September 11, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the US invasion of Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks. The symbolic nature of this date has been interpreted as a concession to the Taliban, sending a message that the US was ultimately defeated in the war.

The US government's decision to withdraw troops despite the potential consequences for American citizens and Afghan allies has been characterised as outrageous and a failure of American foreign policy. Critics argue that the US had a responsibility to ensure the safety of its citizens and those who supported its military efforts, especially given the Taliban's history of human rights abuses and the suppression of women's rights. The Taliban's rapid advancement and the collapse of the Afghan government also raised questions about the effectiveness of US efforts to train and equip the Afghan security forces.

The Biden administration's initial estimate of 10,000 to 15,000 US citizens in Afghanistan was later revised to 6,000, causing further suspicion and criticism. The discrepancy in numbers led to concerns that the administration was downplaying the severity of the situation and potentially abandoning American citizens to the Taliban. The US government's response to the crisis, including its handling of data and communication with the public, has been described as chaotic and indicative of a lack of transparency and accountability.

There is a long-running controversy about the fate of US POWs and MIAs as a result of military operations

There is a long-running controversy about the fate of US prisoners of war (POWs) and missing in action (MIAs) as a result of military operations. While few people believe that any Americans are still being held against their will in communist countries associated with the Cold War, more feel that some may have been held in the past in the Soviet Union, China, North Korea, or North Vietnam.

The normalisation of relations with Vietnam has exacerbated this debate. Supporters of normalisation argue that Vietnamese cooperation on the POW/MIA issue has greatly increased, while opponents argue that it has been much less than supporters say, and that the Vietnamese can only be induced to cooperate by firmness rather than conciliation.

Those who believe Americans are now held, or were after the war ended, feel that even if no specific report of live Americans has thus far met rigorous proofs, the mass of information about live Americans is compelling. Those who doubt that live Americans are still held, or were after the war ended, argue that despite vast efforts, only one live American military prisoner remained in Indochina after the war.

There is considerable evidence that prisoners from the end of World War II, the Korean War, and "Cold War shootdowns" of US military aircraft may have been taken to the USSR and not returned. The evidence about POWs from Vietnam being taken to the Soviet Union is more questionable. There is evidence that Navy pilot Scott Speicher, shot down on the first night of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, and until recently listed as "killed in action" rather than "missing in action," was almost certainly captured by the Iraqis.

The US government indicates the possibility that Americans are still being held in Indochina cannot be ruled out. Some say Americans may have been kept by the Vietnamese after the war but killed later. Increased US access to Vietnam has not yet led to a large reduction in the number of Americans still listed as unaccounted for, although this may be due to some US policies as well as the level of Vietnamese cooperation.

The POW/MIA issue is not merely one of historical interest. It is a reminder of the human cost of war and the ongoing efforts to account for those missing or captured.

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