Memorandum Afghanistan

TO: President Donald Trump

FROM: Nate Pappas

Date: 15 August 2017

RE: Troop Increases in Afghanistan

Memorandum Troop Influx

Introduction

The United States has been at “war” with terrorism and radical Islam for the past 17 years. We could not sit back and watch as entire nations succumbed to terrible acts, and watched as thousands of innocent people, at home, and abroad die because of those factors. President George W. Bush launched an invasion into Afghanistan with the aim to stop the breeding of terrorism and radical Islam, to stop the senseless killing, However, what has changed since then?

Current Situation in Afghanistan

After the terror attacks on Septemeber 11^th, 2001; the US needed to respond somehow. That response was a full-fledged invasion into Afghanistan to take out the terror forces of Al-Queada and the Taliban. Since the invasion in 2002, over 2,000 American soldiers have been killed in the warring state. As it seems, little has been accomplished, although troop deaths have been on the decrease in the last few years. Despite this, and the withdrawal of troops in the country, the Taliban and ISIS have been coming back and taking control of significant territory. With this has come more civilian attacks and the killings of other Afghans. The country is in no better state now than it was during the invasion, hundreds are killed each month by terror attacks even in Kabul. The real question is what should be done about this ongoing issue, and current hints from the administration point to a new course of action.

Implementation

President Donald Trump, with the guidance of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, has begun the preparations to send more troops into Afghanistan. This move is similar to President Obama's troop surge in 2009. Up to a couple years ago it finally seemed that we had begun to "win" in Afghanistan, but in the last two to three years, it has become apparent that we, in fact, are not close to winning. This has to do with aimless strategy going back to the Bush years and the Obama years. The US had been slowly whittling out soldiers from the country despite ongoing violence.

Up until a few days ago, it seemed like the President’s policy was a continuation of older ones, like the continued removal of troops in the country. But, that changed all of a sudden when it was announced rather shockingly that up to 4,000 more troops would be sent over in the next couple of months with the aim to quell the recent unrest and violence. The aim of this move is to essentially show the Taliban and ISIS, who have taken significant land, that the US was not going to mess around in the region anymore. However, I believe that this is the wrong way to go about things. Enough is enough, we cannot continue to say we are pulling the troops out, then having to send them back in. If we must nation build, then that is all we should do. What should happen in the area is first to have a peacekeeping corps come in, whether from NATO or the UN. While this is happening, begin the process of finding the right fit of government for the area. We have seen too often that not every type of government fits each nation. Look at what has worked in the country in the past, then try to start the implementation process. Next, hold elections and referendums, while the peacekeepers are keeping the peace. Have them stay in the country for a year or two, just to ensure it is stable enough to leave.

Sending more troops might be an option, but it does not solve the problem. The implementation of successful governmental authority and system will drastically help in decreasing the unstable nature of Afghanistan. Having a clear-cut strategy and not one of crushing everything, might go a long way in achieving victory.

Closing Remarks

Afghnatisna along with Iraq has long been a thorn in the last few president's sides. Clearly, the strategy that has been implemented is flawed if no significant changes have been made. Sending in more troops and taking them out has become a revolving door with no continuity whatsoever.It is time to rethink our strategy and to prevent the needless loss of American soldiers lives. After all, we must do best for our country, and establish a stable government might go a long way in ending this situation.