Where are we going with the war in Afghanistan?

Eight years later, there is still no concrete mission

It has been called an important war by many, but lately, it seems like it has become the forgotten war.
It has been more than eight years since our brave men and women launched an attack on Afghanistan after the devastating events of Sept. 11, 2001.

President Barack Obama has remained forceful yet cautious on the issue of this war. The Iraqi military strategy has been portrayed as an unnecessary distraction from the main issue at hand: Afghanistan.
As we mark the eighth anniversary of the war in Afghanistan, more Americans are beginning to wonder whether this is even a war that should continue to be fought.

A renegade militia’s recent tragic attack on our troops, which killed eight American soldiers, has prompted more attention to the debate on the pros and cons of adding more troops to the already heated conflict.

Obama appeared skeptical during his most recent media round-up, on morning talk shows, when he was asked if he supported an additional buildup of troops given the current political climate in the U.S.
“The job picture is not going to improve considerably and we’re probably not going to start seeing enough job creation to deal with a rising population until sometime next year.”

Obama is aware of the national discontent with the current state of affairs. But the bottom line is that we cannot choose to be internationally active when it appears convenient.

The Afghanistan conflict has several implications. A complete withdrawal at such a critical time would be disastrous for regional allies like Pakistan and India. The probable resurgence of the Taliban in the region, if we withdraw, can cause severe problems for our allies.

The economic debate will continue to be centerfold, as will the health care debacle, but the conflict in Afghanistan cannot be forgotten. It would be a costly decision by this administration.

It is already apparent that this administration has chosen to abandon, at least temporarily, campaign promises like immigration reform in exchange for other, loftier goals.

It has set itself up to very high standards.

The Obama administration will face an uphill battle, as it attempts to either bring the Afghanistan conflict to an end or disengage in a politically friendly manner.

Republicans like Senator John McCain, who can be considered the top GOP members on the Armed Services Committee, have affirmed the need to increase troops to retain control.

Obama commented that “the great danger now is not an American pullout. The great danger is a half-measure” that tries to “please all ends of the political spectrum.”

General Stanly McChrystal has expressed a desire to increase the number of troops or risk the possible failure of strategy.

But some leading U.S. legislators have suggested that the only rise in troops needs to come from within the country, meaning Afghanis need to increase their numbers to counter domestic terrorism.

For veterans across the U.S., this is beginning to seem more like the Vietnam conflict. Our brave men and women are being asked to serve multiple tours in Afghanistan, and until recently, in Iraq. Many are returning to a country where some feel that our presence is unneeded and that it detracts from the real problems.

The strategy debate is coming amidst allegations of fraud in the recent Afghani elections, which are currently being assessed by the United Nations.

The Obama Administration now has to decide on the future of military strategy in Afghanistan and how best to sway public opinion to favor an ongoing military intervention.

Perhaps the most daunting task is how to define victory. What does victory look like to the U.S.? It is a blind path until certain goals are set to define it. No, American military strategist or politician has been able to set a concrete definition of victory.

There is a difficult road ahead for our troops, but it seems that until American leadership can get their act together, our troops will continue to serve bravely toward an unidentified goal.