Ethics & Religion
Column #2,090
Sept. 2, 2021
U.S. Is Wise to Leave Afghanistan
By Mike McManus
Columnists rarely admit error. However, I believe I was mistaken in
arguing in May that Biden was wrong to announce the withdrawal of all
U.S. forces from Afghanistan by August 31.
I had two concerns. First, I said the 2,500 U.S. troops were not
fighting a war, but were a stabilizing force. Not one American soldier
had lost his life in the previous year. Second, I expressed concern for
women and girls, who were not allowed to go to school or work outside
the home under Taliban rule.
I also argued that if the goal is to cut federal costs, it would be
better to withdraw the 160,000 American troops in Japan and Germany, 76
years after World War II ended.
I still have those same concerns. However, I have to acknowledge that
Biden did an excellent job in not only removing 2,500 U.S. troops and
civilians, but also more than 120,000 Afghan civilians who had worked
with Americans to translate and to stabilize the nation's economy.
President Biden asserted this week, the United States ended 20 years of
war in Afghanistan, "the longest war in American history."
He asserted the war should have ended 10 years ago when the U.S. killed
Osama Bin Laden, who had orchestrated the bombing of the World Trade
Center in 2001 that killed nearly 3,000 Americans. That would have made
sense, and saved many American troops who died in the last decade.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it was time to end a 20-year war," the President
stated.
The war cost American taxpayers $2 trillion and 2,448 servicemen lost
their lives. As did more than 100,000 Afghan civilians. Nearly 800,000
American troops served in the war.
What about the future of girls and women in Afghanistan? Schools have
reopened to both girls and boys, though the Taliban says they will study
separately. The Taliban is no longer threatening to end the education of
females. Nor is it insisting on head to toe coverings of girls and
women, or banning females from leaving home without a male escort.
This is genuine progress. Let's hope the Taliban keeps its word on women
and girls.
When the Taliban last ruled the country from 1996 to 2001, they banned
television, music and even photography. But there is no sign of that
yet. TV stations are operating normally.
The Taliban is facing a massive economic problem. It will lose more than
$3 billion a year if pledged international support is withdrawn.
Meanwhile, the Taliban lacks access to the $9 billion in the Afghan
central bank reserves, most of which is controlled by the U.S. and
international institutions.
Thus, the Taliban has an incentive to treat women and girls properly,
and provide amnesty to those who worked with the U.S. forces.
However, there are hardline Taliban factions who oppose the moderate
leaders. The moderates cannot enforce their will on the extremists. If
the moderates cannot control the extremists, foreign aid will stop and
the economy could collapse.Therefore, let's hope the moderates are
successful in building a healthy future for Afghanistan.
One remarkable achievement of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is
the fact more than 120,000 Afghans who worked with Americans - were
airlifted out of the country and now face a bright future. Americans
should offer them assistance in building new lives. Their loyalty and
assistance to our forces deserves the reward of receiving training and
job opportunities in America.
Therefore, I here acknowledge I was wrong in saying that American troops
should remain in Afghanistan.
However, I do believe it is time to bring more than 100,000 American
troops home from Europe and Asia, where there has been peace for more
than 75 years. It is an excellent way to cut the federal budget deficit.
_________________________
Copyright (c)2021 Michael J. McManus, a syndicated columnist and past president of Marriage Savers. To read past columns, go to
www.ethicsandreligion.com. Hit
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