Bush Reflects On Afghanistan's Cold War Legacy

In the wake of the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush ordered the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, which drove the Taliban from power. In a 2001 address to a joint session of Congress, Bush outlined the U.S.'s objectives in Afghanistan, including defeating al-Qaeda, preventing future terrorist attacks, and rooting out the Taliban government that had sheltered Osama bin Laden. In a 2007 speech, Bush reflected on the progress made in Afghanistan since the invasion, highlighting increased access to education and healthcare, economic growth, and democratic reforms. He also emphasized the importance of staying on the offensive against the Taliban and al-Qaeda, announcing a new strategy that included increasing the number of Afghan security forces and improving intelligence capabilities. Bush acknowledged the challenges faced in Afghanistan, including the resurgence of the Taliban and a thriving poppy cultivation industry, but expressed confidence in the ultimate success of the mission.

The US's longest war

In response, President George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Afghanistan, with the goal of defeating al-Qaeda and removing the Taliban from power. In a speech to a joint session of Congress, Bush outlined the US's objectives:

> "Deliver to United States authorities all the leaders of al Qaeda who hide in your land. Release all foreign nationals, including American citizens, you have unjustly imprisoned. Protect foreign journalists, diplomats and aid workers in your country. Close immediately and permanently every terrorist training camp in Afghanistan, and hand over every terrorist, and every person in their support structure, to appropriate authorities."

The invasion of Afghanistan was part of a broader "war on terror" declared by Bush, which aimed to defeat terrorist groups and prevent future attacks on the US. In his speech, Bush stated that "our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped, and defeated."

The war in Afghanistan lasted nearly 20 years and involved a large coalition of US and NATO forces. While the initial invasion successfully drove the Taliban from power, the conflict dragged on for many years with ill-defined goals and little oversight. The US provided support to the newly formed Afghan government and helped to improve various aspects of Afghan society, including education, healthcare, and women's rights. However, the Taliban remained a persistent threat and continued to launch attacks.

In 2021, President Joe Biden announced the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, bringing an end to America's longest war. Biden acknowledged the sacrifices made by US troops and their families, but argued that the reasons for remaining in Afghanistan were becoming increasingly unclear. He stated that the terrorist threat had evolved and was no longer solely based in Afghanistan. Biden also noted that the US had achieved its original objective of removing Osama bin Laden from power, and that there was no clear path to victory or withdrawal without significant costs.

The withdrawal of US troops was not without controversy, and it sparked a debate about the role of American military force abroad. Some argued that the withdrawal damaged America's credibility and weakened its influence globally. However, Biden and others believed that it was necessary to end the "forever war" and focus on addressing new challenges, such as emerging terrorist threats, great power competition, and global health crises.

The fall of the Taliban

The Taliban, a Sunni Islamic fundamentalist movement, had controlled most of Afghanistan since 1996. They provided sanctuary to al-Qaeda and imposed strict religious laws on the Afghan people, particularly restricting the rights of women and girls.

The U.S.-led invasion began with air strikes on terrorist training camps and Taliban targets. This was followed by ground operations involving U.S. special forces, the Northern Alliance, and ethnic Pashtun anti-Taliban forces. The Taliban regime quickly unravelled, with key cities falling to the U.S.-led coalition.

The turning point came with the fall of Mazar-e-Sharif on November 9, 2001, after which other Taliban strongholds crumbled in quick succession. On November 13, 2001, the Taliban surrendered Kandahar, and their leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, fled the city, marking the official end of the Taliban regime.

Despite the official fall of the Taliban, al-Qaeda leaders, including Osama bin Laden, managed to escape to Pakistan. The focus of the U.S. then shifted to tracking down bin Laden and dismantling al-Qaeda, with the help of Afghan militias.

In 2021, two decades after the initial invasion, the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan as U.S. and NATO forces withdrew from the country. This raised concerns about a rollback of the gains made in the previous years, especially regarding women's rights and access to education. The Taliban's return to power also led to a humanitarian and economic crisis, with the country facing food shortages, soaring inflation, and a collapse of the banking system.

The US's responsibility to Afghan allies

George W. Bush

In the wake of the September 11th attacks, George W. Bush, as president, ordered the invasion of Afghanistan to drive out the Taliban government, which had harbored the terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. While this action successfully removed the Taliban from power, the Afghanistan mission was prolonged due to ill-defined goals and a lack of oversight as Bush shifted his focus to the invasion of Iraq.

Bush acknowledged the responsibility of the US towards its Afghan allies, particularly in a letter released in 2021. He expressed deep sadness at the Taliban's resurgence and defended his decision to launch the war in Afghanistan. He also urged the Biden administration to expedite the evacuation of Afghans and US citizens at risk from the Taliban, emphasizing the need to "secure safe passage for them now, without bureaucratic delay."

Joe Biden

Joe Biden, the current US president, inherited a diplomatic agreement to withdraw US forces from Afghanistan by May 1, 2021. While he initially supported military action in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, his perspective evolved over time. As the war dragged on, he recognized the need to end America's longest war and bring American troops home.

Biden emphasized that the reasons for remaining in Afghanistan were becoming unclear, and the terrorist threat had evolved and spread globally. He believed that keeping thousands of troops in Afghanistan was not a sustainable strategy and that it was time to focus on counterterrorism efforts worldwide.

George H. W. Bush

George H. W. Bush, who served as president from 1989 to 1993, played a crucial role in the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. During his tenure, he supported the Afghan rebels and continued American support so long as they worked towards a stable and responsive government.

In summary, all three presidents recognized the importance of the US's relationship with Afghanistan and its allies. Their actions and decisions were shaped by the evolving global landscape and the need to balance military intervention with other diplomatic strategies.

The threat of terror

The invasion of Afghanistan was a direct response to the September 11 attacks, which brought the threat of terror to American shores. Bush stated that "in Afghanistan, we saw how terrorists and extremists can use safe havens in a failed state to bring death and destruction to our people here at home." He described Afghanistan under the Taliban as a "totalitarian nightmare," where religious police roamed the streets, women were oppressed, and terrorists operated freely.

Bush's administration took a proactive approach to counterterrorism, aiming to disrupt and defeat global terror networks. They pursued al Qaeda and sought to deny them safe havens by working with allies and partners around the world. In his 2007 speech, Bush emphasized the importance of fighting terrorists overseas to prevent facing them at home, stating, "We've got to fight the terrorists overseas, so we don't have to face them here at home again."

The war on terror was not limited to Afghanistan; it was a global effort. Bush acknowledged that the threat had become more dispersed, with terrorist groups like al-Shabaab, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and ISIS operating in various regions. He recognized the need for a comprehensive strategy, stating, "We will reorganize our counterterrorism capabilities and the substantial assets in the region to prevent the reemergence of terrorists and the threat to our homeland from over the horizon."

Bush also highlighted the importance of intelligence and information-sharing in countering terrorism. He mentioned the creation of a Joint Intelligence Operations Center in Kabul, which allowed all forces fighting terrorists in Afghanistan to have a common understanding of the enemy. Additionally, he emphasized the role of financial measures, stating that the US would "starve terrorists of funding" and "turn them one against another."

The former president expressed deep sadness over the Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan and defended his decision to launch the war, stating that US troops had not fought in vain. He argued that they had kept America safe, provided security and opportunities for millions, and made America proud.

In conclusion, President Bush's remarks and actions demonstrate a strong commitment to countering the threat of terror. He recognized the global nature of the threat and took a proactive, multi-faceted approach to address it, working with allies and partners worldwide to disrupt and defeat terrorist networks.

The war on terror

> Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped, and defeated.

The war was fought on multiple fronts, including Afghanistan and Iraq. In Afghanistan, the goal was to defeat the Taliban and establish a stable, democratic state that respected human rights. This involved increasing the size and capabilities of the Afghan security forces, strengthening the NATO force in the country, improving provincial governance, and developing the rural economy. In Iraq, the focus was on fighting extremists and establishing a democratic government.

Overall, the War on Terror represented a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy and marked the beginning of a prolonged military engagement in the Middle East and Central Asia. It reflected President Bush's belief in the use of military force to confront terrorist threats and promote democracy and human rights abroad.

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