This past November marks eight years that the United States has had active troops deployed in the Nation of Afghanistan. American forces were first deployed after the attacks on the world trade center on September 11. They entered the country originally as an action in the Bush Administration’s War on Terror. Initially soldiers entered in order to combat Al Qaeda and Taliban forces. As of November 27, 2009 it was reported that a total of4, 528 U.S. troops have been injured while serving in Afghanistan. This past July marks the deadliest month in Afghanistan since troops were deployed with a death rate of over 75 insurgents. Now eight years later America and NATO forces are still struggling to expel the remaining al quida forces still occupying parts of the Middle Eastern country.
On December 1, 2009 President Obama addressed the nation in a speech from West Point Military College outlining his new plan for future U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. Prior to the even President Obama spent three months reviewing the war, due to a request from Stanley McChrystal, the current commanding general, for an additional 40,000 troops. In his Speech Obama stated that Al-Quida was still an American threat, and that their presence in Afghanistan presented a threat that needed to be addressed. "Afghanistan is not lost, but for several years it has moved backwards. There is no imminent threat of the government being overthrown, but the Taliban has gained momentum,” the president said on the situation. President Obama stated that he plans to have an additional 30,000 troops deployed to Afghanistan by this Christmas. “Our forces lack the full support they need to effectively train and partner with Afghan security forces and better secure the population," explained the President. This will increase the total number of U.S. troops to 100,000 located in Afghanistan. This number of U.S. troops is not as high as those who were deployed in Iraq. “I do not make this decision likely,” added the president realizing that he was talking to a majority war tired nation, and that we would lose support from members of his own Democratic party. Instead of speaking of outright victory Obama outlined key goals that needed to be achieved for eventual U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
President Obama stresses that combating the Taliban is not our only goal. About 5,000 of the new troops will be dedicated and qualified police and military tactic trainers. They will be used to help progress Obama’s plan for a self sufficient Afghanistan, by helping to train and strengthen the Afghan police and military.1,500 from an infantry battalion will be deployed this month as the first steps of troop increase. By the end of spring another additional 14,500 troops will have been sent to Afghanistan including 6,200 marines. Obama expressed his desire to give Afghanistan the fortifications, and the means for them to be able to eliminate threats in their own country. “We must strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan's security forces and government," said president Obama in reference to his goals. Obama’s specific target is Al Qaeda, and he has developed several ways to weaken their grip on Afghanistan. Specifically, McChrystal issued battle directives better designed to protect the Afghan people, hopefully resulting in fewer civilian casualties. Officials comment that civilian casualties are the greatest propaganda tool used by Al Qaeda to recruit new followers. Alongside his deployment plan Obama gave details to his extraction strategy for troops. The new troops will be in place by next summer, and Obama believes that with the increased numbers the stability of Afghanistan will be achieved at a sooner date. Obama explained that if all the plans went accordingly he would begin brining troops home as soon as July 2011, only a mere 18 months away from when his term will end. This is an optimistic plan one that Jack Weise, a college sophomore, challenges by saying, “It’s a great goal but it really never works out that way.”
Afghanistan recently went through a difficult and trying election presidential election. Candidates Harmid Kariza and Dr. Abdullah Abudlla, a former foreign minister, ran against each other for the position on August 20, 2009. Millions of Afghans took to the polls to vote for the Provincial council members and President. This was the second democratic election the country has had since the Taliban lost control in 2002. The initial returns from the ballots showed Harmid Kariza as the winner of the election with 54% of the vote in his favor. After the results of the election were given Afghanistan broke down with outraged activists taking to the streets in such a violent manner it was the worst the country had seen in 15 years. Bomb explosions, shootouts, and fights resulted from the election. Eventually due to the large social unrest a recount of the votes was ordered. During the recount hundreds of voter’s ballots were declared invalid due to, “clear and convincing evidence of fraud,” as declaired by the Electoral Complaints Commission. As a result Kariza’s standing in the election dropped to 49% and showed Abdullah with 31%. The country then decided on a runoff election to which kariza agreed to. “It was not important who the winner is, and we need to leave this to the people of Afghanistan to judge who the winner was,” Kariza stated at a press conference. Dr.Abdullah made plans to run in the runoff election but some time before the voting date Abdullah dropped out of the race claiming it was “in the best interests of the country". Abdullah initially asked that the election officials who presided over the first election be replaced, claiming they were too friendly to Kariza. The request was denied and as a result Dr.Abdullah believed the election would still be tainted with corruption. Abudllah did say however that the decision for a runoff election had, “helped restore the faith of the people in the process.” As a result of Abdullah’s withdrawal from the run off election Kariza was declared the new president of Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan governments seemingly lack of control in their own country suggests that the country might deprave into a worse state of affairs if American and International forces are pulled out of the country. However many Americans aren’t in favor of Obama’s plan to send more troops to a country many war-tired American’s consider Afghanistan an unwinnable war. Many have compared the current situation to the Vietnam Conflict as an unnecessary and misguided use of military force. Many older American’s are making the connection because they can remember the Vietnam War and the results it produced abroad and at home. When asked if he saw a comparison between Vietnam and Afghanistan a college sophomore replied, “It’s not the same but it’s [Afghanistan} definitely a fruitless war.” “America has no interest in fighting an endless war in Afghanistan," was the presidents attempt at reassuring the nation. He continues to rebuke the criticism saying that the U.S.’s involvement in Afghanistan is recognized and supported by 43 other countries. Obama asserts that without the addition of more troops we will avoid any situation that would “permit a slow deterioration of conditions there." A college student refutes this saying, “We’re trying to mask the failures in Iraq with new problems.” Obama goes on to remind U.S. citizens that unlike Vietnam the U.S. was viciously attacked in our own homeland. “The American people were viciously attacked from Afghanistan, and remain a target for those same extremists who are plotting along its border. ’’Regardless, a national Poll shows that almost 6 in 10 Americans are opposed to sending more troops to Afghanistan.
The Majority of American’s seem to be more in favor of withdrawing from the country all together. In comparison there is criticism that setting a specific end time in Afghanistan is a whimsical idea. Some have said that the situation in Afghanistan would have to involve a long term plan. Former Vice President Dick Cheney ridiculed Obama’s plan saying he is only “dithering,” when it came to dealing with the country. Obama refutes this idea, of a long term plan, saying it would, “commit us to a nation-building project of up to a decade.” He goes on to say that this course of action “sets goals that are beyond what we can achieve at a reasonable cost.” Obama defends the idea of a timeframe saying that it provides a sense of, “urgency” we need to work with the Afghani government and to accomplish our goals. Obama warns that eventually it will be the Afghan people who must maintain order and balance within their own country and “the days of providing a blank check are over.’’
It is difficult to take Obama’s reassurance easily considering the warnings Afghanistan puts forth about their own ability. As a great portion of Obama’s plan is to begin withdrawing troops and leavening Afghanistan in its own control by 2011 President Hamid Karzai said, "We will try our best as the Afghan people to do it the soonest possible.” Karzai goes on to warn the world that the reality of the Situation in Afghanistan will make following President Obama’s timeline difficult. Karzai instead suggests that Afghanistan would gain some part of the security control of the country in two years. He then believes they could take full control and responsibility towards the end of Karzai’s term as Afghanistan’s president. The Afghani leader believes that through U.S. and allied support he will be able to end internal corruption, and give the country a stronger government control. "Afghanistan is a sovereign country, it has a sovereign government, it's not an occupied country," commented Karzai , in hopes of communicating that the U.S. must work with the government to achieve its goals, not bypass them. Many Americans believe that even if the U.S. does give the Afghans majority control they’ll still need to, “hold their hand and a lot of people won’t like that,” as a college student put it. Holding high hopes for what U.S. involvement would mean, Karzai believes the country will become more simplistic and be improved upon in many areas. Improving the rule of law, the judiciary system, and reducing the amount of beurocrecy imposed on its citizens are part of Karzai’s goals for his country. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton seems to believe that the current Afghan government needs to prove itself. She goes on to warn that the amount of U.S. aid will be "based on a certification of accountability and transparency…"by Karzai’s administration. Afghanistan’s president seems eager for foreign aid in gaining control of his country, but believes the current plans are still ambitions and pleads that, “the international community must have also the patience with us.”
The U.S is not alone in Afghanistan, for the majority of the war our troops have fourteen side by side with NATO forces hailing from many different countries. President Obama’s addition of troops comes some time after Great Briton’s decision to do the same. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated that, “"We must address the terrorist threat at its source." He goes on to warn his own nation as well as others that, “Instability in Afghanistan can only increase the risk of conflagration where the rest of the world cannot afford it.” Briton will be sending as many as 500 more troops to aid in Afghanistan. Secretary of NATO, General Anders Fogh announced their support of Obama’s plan by providing an additional 5,000 troops. Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, praised Obama saying he, “fully supports”, the new strategy calling the decision, “courageous.” NATO has made plans to work alongside Obama’s strategy hoping to increase the number of police officers in Afghanistan to as much as 160,000 by 2013 compared to the current 93,000.
President Obama has laid out a path for America that feels far too familiar to our days before invading Iraq. Most American’s can only hope that they are not being led into another seemingly endless money loosing foreign affair. With promises of a quick withdrawal date in place it will depend on the actions of insurgents and Afghani alike. The Economy has not fully recovered, many Americans have grown tired of the years of war, and the president is losing support. This is a difficult time for the President to make such a large time and money consuming action. Despite this Obama acts nobly confident that his plan for a quick turnover of power to the Afghan government, eradication of Al Qaeda, and attaining a sense of peace within the country will succeed. The decisions have been made and plans put in place. No one can be sure what the future holds but with quick, and decisive action, diplomatic success, and effort the U.S. might be able to accomplish the unimaginable.
How It works: One end of this simplistic glass tube is has a small cup for holding the pot while the other forms a mouth peice. Simply hold, pull, light, inhale directly
Disclaimer: Look despite what your thinking these aren't joints. Joints aren't one of my favorites. Spliffs are an entirely different thing.
How it works: This Pipe has a bowl connected to a stem. These vary in size and shape but the general concept is you light the bowl, it fills with smoke, release carb, take in perfect sized hit. There are many different varieties: bubblers, sherlocks, hammers, metal , disguised.
