President Obama explains the situation of the war in Afghanistan and the efforts that the United States has made regarding the war, but first begins by explaining the cause of the war. The fight in Afghanistan, according to Obama, begun after there was an attack of Americans by the hijacked planes, which killed 3000 people. The orator blames the Al-Qaeda group for the mess. He claims that the group was harbored by the Taliban which overtook Afghan a few years ago. The authorization of use of force against the al-Qaeda and their supporters by the Congress, after the aforementioned attack, marked the first start of a war against the enemies in Afghanistan. The attack on Al-Qaeda was supported by various people and nations around the world, and triggered changes by the United Nations Security Council and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The latter endorsed efforts to respond to the attack on American soils, while the former invoked the commitment that an attack on one nation, would be equivalent to an attack on all nations. Obama, in his speech, seeks to defend the addition of troops in Afghanistan.
The actual sending of troops in Afghanistan was after American acquired international legitimacy to attack the nation, and after the Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden. The troops restored hope and drove away persistent fear which existed in the region, by scattering al Qaeda and taking power over from the Taliban. There arose a need to establish a peaceful government with assistance from the International Security Force. President Karzai Hamid took over the leadership as President. Obama explains the consequences of the war and justifies the sending of troops to Iraq, by observing that several soldiers were engaged, and the war took away diplomacy, and American resources.
President Obama is right on the need to increase troops in the United States. First, because the security of the innocent people in Afghanistan is important under whichever cost because there was a need for stability of the government in Afghanistan, and the need for America to be protected as a country. President Obama makes a case for the need to increase troops in Afghanistan. He observes that there is a need to avoid the al Qaeda build-up in Pakistan, after their escape from Afghan, through the border between the two countries. The buildup of al Qaeda fighters has been blamed for the deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan. Insecurity, poor economy, corruption, and the drug trade have hampered the legitimate government established in Afghanistan. The situation turned worse after the Taliban begun to join forces with al Qaeda with the intent of overthrowing the government in Afghanistan. The Taliban was reported to have gained control of some territories in Afghan, in addition to engaging in terrorism in Pakistan. The American President is right on the strategy needed since it would destabilize the well-established Taliban and the al Qaeda movements.
The decision to increase troops in Afghanistan has been opposed because of the total costs already incurred in the war. Some people have proposed the ending of the war in Afghanistan to bring an end to spending, while others have thought that Karzai’s government should, first of all, bring to end corruption and mismanagement (Reuters, 2009).
Obama proposes the departure of combat brigades and the American troops from Iraq and notices that the country has succeeded despite the extraordinary costs incurred. The leader notices the low level of troops in Afghan than was in Iraq, with the number in Afghan reaching 32,000 at the peak of the war. This is in comparison with 160, 000 in Iraq. Even the service of soldiers is not enough, with support lacking when there is need-re-emergence of the Taliban. Obama defends his decision for allowing requests for more troops on this basis. A change to a strategy that would allow connection between the efforts in Afghanistan and safe-havens in Pakistan was important. Obama recognizes the importance o the troops in Iraq such as to support to avoid stopping a presidential election. The greatest threat at the moment remains the Taliban movement, according to Obama. The problem with al Qaeda is that they have maintained safe-havens along the border although the numbers are lesser than they were before 9/11. The force, according to the leader, lacks the support to train and collaborate with Afghan security forces to achieve the mandates. The situation in Afghan is not stable. Obama reveals that he has considered the options involved in making the appropriate decisions concerning Afghanistan. The leader, therefore, has proposed an additional 30, 000 troops in Afghan. This is to aid the transition in Afghanistan. Obama seems to lure the people to accept the deal by revealing the danger in Afghan, such as new threats of terrorism, and instability of security. The decision would not only help the Americans but also save Afghanistan and Pakistan. Neutralization of the Taliban safe havens would be enhanced by adding troops to the Afghanistan soil (WeCorps, 2010). Additional troops were already received and expected from other nations. One of the goals to accomplish according to Obama was to reverse the possibility of overthrowing the Afghan government by the Taliban, strengthening and empowering the Afghan security and government to enable it to take responsibility. The troops added would boost security for the population, boost the partnering with the Afghan security to contain the situation there, and increase the ability to train Afghan security forces. The step would see the acceleration of efforts to take troops out of Afghan in July of 2011 and enhance the transfer of responsibility to Afghan security. The leader defends the partnership with Pakistan on the notions of mutual trust, respect, and interests. The decision to increase troops to aid the training of insurgents and the Afghan military has been supported by 46% of Americans (Reuters, 2009). The leader outlines support for Pakistan to help fight American enemies, in addition to helping the bringing up of democracy and development in Pakistan. Obama refutes the claim to have his government cutting the costs as early since the war would not come to an end by arguing that history on Vietnam has wrongly been read to arrive at this conclusion (Obama, 2009). Failing to increase the number of troops would allow gradual deterioration of the situation. The cost after the addition of soldiers would reach 30 billion, and Obama notices the need to collaborate with Congress to cut on these costs. In my opinion, an immature departure from Afghanistan would be a great loss, if the goals set were not accomplished. This is in consideration of the fact that it would be difficult to fight extremists from far according to Obama, and that the enemy forces would build up again. 55% of the American people have thought Obama was capable of choosing a strategy that would work, although controversy has revolved around the number of troops that would be added (Reuters, 2009). Some have felt that the number proposed is less.
The decision to increase troops in Afghanistan is justified according to the arguments provided by Obama. There have been posited points against this move by other people, who thought that it was time America cut on costs by an immediate withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Works Cited
Obama, Barrack. Speech at West Point on troop increase in Afghanistan. Delivered 2009 at Eisenhower Hall, West Point MillitaryAcademy, NY.
Reuters. “U.S. divided on troop increase in Afghanistan-poll”. 2009. Web.
WebCorp. “President Obama’s plan for increasing troops in Afghanistan is in the United States’ best interest”. 2010.