After much of al qaedas base lost its sanctuary in afghanistan and had to relocate to pakistan, the war in afghanistan became a sideshow for the u. American troops have been fighting in afghanistan for nearly as long as direct u. Jack fairweather has shown himself to be a narrative historian of the first order. The real test in afghanistan is still to come foreign affairs. According to investment in blood, a book by frank ledwidge, summations for the uk contribution to the war in afghanistan came to. R arely has there been such an enthusiastic display of international unity as that which greeted the invasion of afghanistan in 2001. Mar 05, 2020 afghanistan war, international conflict beginning in 2001 that was triggered by the september 11 attacks. Why we couldnt win the war or the peace in afghanistan kindle edition by fairweather, jack. They are an opening window to the frontiers of the actions in the middle east. Feb 25, 2008 supporters of the war in iraq support the war in afghanistan.
If tactical differences had sharpened over iraq, they could be resolved in afghanistan. The first phasetoppling the taliban the ultraconservative political and religious faction that ruled afghanistan and provided sanctuary for alqaeda. Three years later, as the chaos in iraq deepened, afghanistan became the good war by comparison. Mar 02, 2020 the good news is that we have never been this close to ending the war. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
In its earliest days, the americanled war in afghanistan appeared to be a triumpha good warin comparison to the debacle in iraq. Support for the war was universal in the chanceries of the west, even before its aims and parameters had been declared. Led war in afghanistan helped its adversary succeed. At least half a million afghansgovernment forces, taliban fighters, and civilianshave been killed or wounded. Jul 14, 2009 guardian columnist in a meeting organised by stop the war coalition and media workers against war. The deal on the table in afghanistan is the culmination of peace talks that began in september 2018. David cortright this article includes video content.
The antiwar candidate of 2008 who had pledged to turn around afghanistan the good war to george w. Afghanistan war, international conflict in afghanistan beginning in 2001 that was triggered by the september 11 attacks and consisted of three phases. Everyone knows that there has been no progress and no development in afghanistan, that the wests efforts there since the overthrow of the taliban have been a gigantic waste of blood and treasure. How the good war in afghanistan went bad new hampshire. Why we couldnt win the war or the peace in afghanistan by. How a good war in afghanistan went bad the new york times. In 1979, a year after a coup, the soviet army invaded afghanistan to support its communist. For anyone seeking an honest appraisal of what went wrong and why, this book is a mustread. Soviet invasion of afghanistan, military action carried out in late december 1979 by soviet troops. The usmade mess in afghanistan has much to do with its failed policies and shootfirstaskquestionslater attitude.
Soviet veterans of the afghan war were amazed to see their mistakes now being repeated by the united states in a war even more inhumane than its predecessor. On the other hand, it was the effort to rebuild afghanistan, a country shattered by 20 years of war, since the soviet occupation in the 1970s. On the one hand, the good war was the effort to get rid of alqaida and remove that threat that had led to 911. Yet, despite the optimistic assumptions among obama administration staffers, the landscape spoke back, and it became quickly apparent that the us strategy was not working, prompting questions over us goals in afghanistan. Us signs a peace deal with the taliban, but is the war in afghanistan. The afghan war and the evolution of obama the new york times. Why we couldn t win the war or the peace in afghanistan. The good war nato and the liberal conscience in afghanistan. While an accord with the taliban entails a number of risks, such dangers are to be expected in a complicated peace process, and they should not obscure the fact that the agreement is washingtons best hope of ending the longest american war. Coin in afghanistan winning the battles, losing the war. Trump inherits the good war in afghanistan the atlantic. The soviet union intervened in support of the afghan communist government in its conflict with anticommunist muslim guerrillas during the afghan war 197892 and remained in.
The 9 best war movies about afghanistan military gurus. In his new book the good war, jack fairweather writes that the war in afghanistan could turn out to be the defining tragedy of the 21st century. Jul 30, 2008 it is the war of necessity, asserts the new york times, to roll back the power of al qaeda and the taliban. For webquest or practice, print a copy of this quiz at the war in afghanistan webquest print page. The good war tackles the issue of nato in afghanistan, exploring natos evolution in the 1990s and blending natos transformation from a reactive defense. Oct 01, 2009 the united states is waging war primarily against the taliban, not al qaeda. If there is a good war in our time, afghanistan is it. It is important not to dismiss this plan categorically, but to consider it on the merits. Unlike the dumb war in iraq, afghanistan was portrayed throughout the 2008 election campaign as the.
The trump administration announced in late february that a peace deal was being negotiated with the taliban and there was intention of recalling u. It is the war of necessity, asserts the new york times, to roll back the power of al qaeda and the taliban. Afghanistan had been in a state of almost constant war for 20 years even before the us invaded. Only a few hundred al qaeda militants are estimated to be active in afghanistan, and they play a minor role in armed attacks against nato forces. Aug 12, 2007 the american sense of victory had been so robust that the top c. Why we couldnt win the war or the peace in afghanistan. Supporters of the war in iraq support the war in afghanistan. Americans tend to think of all their wars in a simplified way in which wars have definite beginnings and. It has since turned into one of the longest and most costly wars in u. The ceo of the blackwater corporation has suggested that the u. In the beginning, afghanistan looked like a good war. Why we couldn t win the war or the peace in afghanistan fairweather, jack on.
Over time, the united states and nato brought about 50,000 troops to afghanistan. The american sense of victory had been so robust that the top c. The afghanistan war started in the early 2000s and while many people wouldnt want to hear the news about the suffering and bloodshed, a peek into the frontlines wouldnt be that bad. The results seemed so impressive that even before the fighting stopped, the bush administration decided to replicate the model in iraq. Opponents of the war in iraq also support afghanistan. Aug 07, 2014 in its earliest days, the americanled war in afghanistan appeared to be a triumpha good warin comparison to the debacle in iraq. Afghanistan had, therefore, good relations with both cold war enemies. When it is, its called that by people who think that it was a very clearcut battle between good and evil. Back home with his family after four tours of duty, however, chris finds that it is the war he cant leave behind. He proposes ending the war in iraq and redeploying u. Good morning, afghanistan documentary of 2002 about the. T he american people have known that the war in afghanistan was a lost cause for quite some time. A confidential trove of government documents obtained by the washington post reveals that senior u.
Mar 19, 2020 nearly 19 years into the afghanistan war, it seems the u. Afghanistan war, international conflict beginning in 2001 that was triggered by the september 11 attacks. Dec 16, 2016 president barack obama, having planned to effectively conclude the afghanistan war during his term in office, now plans to leave more than 8,000 troops in the country into 2017, leaving to trump. War, politics, and the endgame in iraq and one million steps. In its earliest days, the americanled war in afghanistan appeared to be a triumph a good war in comparison to the debacle in iraq. The united states won a quick victory, drove the taliban and al qaeda out, and installed a friendly government. The taliban, which rose from the ashes of afghanistans postsoviet civil war, provides alqaeda sanctuary for operations. Why we couldnt win the war or the peace in afghanistan by jack fairweather.
A strategy that went from a good war to the shorthand afghan good enough reflects the presidents coming to terms with what was possible. After 18 years of war, thousands of lives lost, and hundreds of billions of dollars squandered, the united states accomplished precisely nothing. Danny sjursen, an author and historian who spent half of his life in the army, speaks with. In 1973, while the king was on an official overseas visit, daoud khan launched a bloodless coup and became the first president of afghanistan, abolishing the monarchy. Is it a good idea to privatize the war in afghanistan. Jan 23, 2015 how the good war in afghanistan went bad 08. Afghanistan, escalation and the good war springerlink. Guardian columnist in a meeting organised by stop the war coalition and media workers against war. The war in afghanistan began in 2001 and has cost the u.
In 1979, a year after a coup, the soviet army invaded afghanistan to support its communist government. In the eyes of many, one of the afghan war s virtues has been that nato has participated as an entity. Afghans carry a picture of massood in kabul, afghanistan. Like wine turned to vinegar, the good war in afghanistan has gone bad, creating a political minefield through which candidates will need to navigate carefully. Us signing a historic deal with the taliban americas longest war may finally be nearing an end and could allow for withdrawal of u.
In the eyes of many, one of the afghan wars virtues has. The number grows even more when taking into account increases in the base budgets for the department of defense and the department of veterans affairs. The good news is that we have never been this close to ending the war. According to the pew research center, americans views of. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the good war. Afghanistan was never the issue, and the taliban were a subordinate matter. All the questions on this quiz are based on information that can be found on the page at war in afghanistan. The united states has been fighting a war in afghanistan for over 18 years. As popular support for this good war is falling, american causalities are rising and confidence in the afghan government is declining. Nearly 19 years into the afghanistan war, it seems the u. President barack obama, having planned to effectively conclude the afghanistan war during his term in office, now plans to leave more than 8,000.
Good morning, afghanistan documentary of 2002 about the battle of qala i jangi. Unlike the dumb war in iraq, afghanistan was portrayed throughout the 2008 election campaign as the good war, providing obama a foil to demonstrate his toughness on foreign policy. Whats inside the us deal with the taliban to end war and. Barack obama is making the distinction between the bad war in iraq and the good war in afghanistan a centerpiece of his run for the presidency.