America's Enduring Ambitions: Understanding The Complex Goals Of The Afghanistan War

The US war in Afghanistan was America's longest war, lasting 20 years and costing $145 billion in reconstruction efforts and $837 billion in warfighting. The war began in 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, with the US aiming to eliminate al-Qaeda and prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists. While the US was successful in its mission to decimate al-Qaeda, the war resulted in the deaths of 2,443 American troops, 1,144 allied troops, 66,000 Afghan troops, and over 48,000 Afghan civilians.

The US also aimed to defeat the Taliban, an insurgent group deeply entrenched in Afghan communities, and to build Afghan security forces to deny terrorists a safe haven in the future. However, the Taliban remained a ruthless enemy, and the Afghan government a confounding partner. The US continuously struggled to develop and implement a coherent strategy, and the war became a quagmire.

In 2021, the US decided to end its military involvement in Afghanistan, withdrawing its troops and leaving the country in the hands of the Taliban. This decision was made despite concerns about the ability of the Afghan government and security forces to maintain stability and prevent the Taliban from regaining control. The withdrawal was chaotic and deadly, with a suicide attack at the Kabul airport killing 13 US troops and over 150 others.

The US war in Afghanistan was a tragic and costly endeavour that raised questions about the country's ability to carry out reconstruction efforts and post-conflict stabilization.

To eliminate al-Qaeda

The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. The goal was to eliminate al-Qaeda, the terrorist group responsible for the attacks, and to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a base for further attacks on the US and its allies.

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan was part of a broader campaign known as the "Global War on Terror", which aimed to seek out and stop terrorists around the world. The invasion of Afghanistan was justified as a necessary step to ensure that the country would not be used as a base for future terrorist attacks.

Al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, had been operating training camps in Afghanistan and was provided shelter by the Taliban regime. The US demanded that the Taliban hand over members of al-Qaeda and end its support for terrorist groups. When the Taliban refused, the US launched military strikes against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, marking the beginning of the war in Afghanistan.

The initial strikes targeted al-Qaeda training camps and Taliban military installations. In addition to military action, the US and its allies provided humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan, who had been suffering under the repressive Taliban regime.

The war in Afghanistan lasted for over 20 years and involved international coalition forces, including NATO allies. During this time, al-Qaeda was significantly degraded, and its ability to launch international terrorist attacks was diminished. However, the group remained resilient and continued to pose a threat.

Despite the efforts of US and coalition forces, al-Qaeda maintained a presence in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan. The group adapted to the pressure by localising its operations and relying on affiliates to carry out attacks. While al-Qaeda's ability to launch large-scale attacks was reduced, it continued to plot and carry out smaller-scale attacks.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 raised concerns about a potential resurgence of al-Qaeda. Critics warned that the Taliban would provide safe havens for al-Qaeda and that US counterterrorism capabilities would be weakened. However, others argued that al-Qaeda was far from its pre-9/11 strength and was unlikely to pose a significant threat.

In the end, the US withdrawal proceeded, and the war in Afghanistan came to an end. While al-Qaeda was severely weakened by the war, it continued to pose a persistent terrorist threat that required ongoing monitoring and counterterrorism efforts.

To decimate the Taliban

The U.S. invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to decimate the Taliban and prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups like al-Qaeda.

The Taliban had provided sanctuary to al-Qaeda, the terrorist group responsible for the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. The U.S. demanded that the Taliban hand over al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, but the Taliban refused. This refusal led to the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.

The U.S. aimed to decimate the Taliban and deny terrorist groups a safe haven in Afghanistan. The U.S. also wanted to build Afghan security forces to prevent future terrorist attacks.

The U.S. toppled the Taliban government within two months of the invasion. However, the Taliban regrouped and continued to pose a threat to the U.S.-backed Afghan government. The U.S. struggled to develop a coherent strategy for Afghanistan and failed to understand the country's social, economic, and political dynamics.

The U.S. also underestimated the time and resources needed for rebuilding Afghanistan. There was a lack of coordination among U.S. agencies, and the U.S. military filled the void, even in areas like development aid that should have been led by civilian agencies.

The U.S. failed to adequately train and equip Afghan security forces, and the Afghan government remained dependent on U.S. support. The Taliban remained a formidable force, and the U.S. struggled to defeat them despite a massive influx of troops and resources.

The U.S. eventually negotiated a peace deal with the Taliban and withdrew its troops from Afghanistan in 2021.

To deny all terrorist groups a safe haven in Afghanistan

The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, to ensure that the country would not become a safe haven for international terrorists. The Taliban, which had risen from the ashes of Afghanistan's post-Soviet civil war, had provided Al-Qaeda with sanctuary to operate from. Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda, had guided the group from Afghanistan and, later, Sudan, before returning to Afghanistan in the mid-1990s.

The US military mission in Afghanistan concluded on August 30, 2021, with the last US service member leaving the country. The US had initially planned to withdraw by May 1, 2021, but President Biden pushed the date back to September 11, 2021.

The US spent over two decades attempting to deny all terrorist groups a safe haven in Afghanistan. To this end, the US:

• Provided the Afghan National Security Forces with training, equipment, and funding.
• Conducted counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
• Established Provincial Reconstruction Teams to coordinate redevelopment with the UN and NGOs.
• Supported the creation of democratic institutions and the holding of elections.
• Supported the development of Afghan civil society, including improvements in healthcare, maternal health, and education.
• Attempted to build Afghan security forces capable of denying terrorists a safe haven in the future.
• Supported the Afghan civilian government, in the hope that it would become legitimate and capable enough to win the trust of Afghans.

Despite these efforts, the US was ultimately unable to deny terrorist groups a safe haven in Afghanistan. The Taliban recaptured the country in 2021, following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces. This outcome raises questions about the US government's ability to carry out reconstruction efforts on such a scale and the viability of the entire American enterprise of rebuilding Afghanistan.

To build Afghan security forces

The US and NATO's involvement in Afghanistan was motivated by the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. The primary objective was to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists to attack NATO member countries again.

To achieve this, the US and NATO focused on building and training Afghan security forces to fight terrorism and secure their country. This support included:

• Training, advising, and assisting Afghan security forces and institutions.
• Providing advanced weaponry and equipment.
• Ensuring the capacity of the Afghan Air Force.
• Helping to develop professional, capable, and self-sustaining Afghan National Security Forces.
• Mentoring and operational support for the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police.
• Supporting reconstruction and development through Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs).
• Providing financial sustainment for the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces.

The US and NATO's efforts aimed to enable the Afghan government to provide effective security across the country and develop capable security forces. The transition of security responsibilities from international forces to Afghan forces began in 2011 and was completed in 2014. Despite these efforts, the rapid collapse of the Afghan government and security forces in 2021 raised questions about the effectiveness of the training and support provided.

To help the civilian government become legitimate and capable

The U.S. government's goal in Afghanistan was to help the civilian government become legitimate and capable enough to win the trust of Afghans. To achieve this, the U.S. government aimed to:

• Root out corruption, but also to jump-start the economy by injecting billions of dollars into it.
• Improve formal governance and eliminate a culture of impunity, but also to maintain security, even if it meant empowering corrupt or predatory actors.
• Give Afghan security forces a competitive edge against the Taliban, but also to limit them to equipment and skills that they could sustain after a U.S. departure.
• Direct considerable reconstruction funds through the Afghan government to help officials practice public financial management, but also to prevent waste, fraud and abuse.
• Build a credible election process from scratch, but also to respect Afghan sovereignty.
• Focus on making immediate progress on security and governance, but also to build the long-term capacity of Afghan officials.
• Reduce the cultivation of poppy, but also to avoid depriving the farmers and laborers who depend on it.
• Empower women to become more educated and economically independent, but also to be culturally sensitive and respect Afghan traditions.

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