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The War in Afghanistan. Joel Prushan. Historical Background. 1919: Afghanistan gains independence from the British 1979: The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan through the Khyber Pass 1980: The Mujaheddin, a rebel militant group, fight the Soviets.
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The War in Afghanistan Joel Prushan
Historical Background 1919: Afghanistan gains independence from the British 1979: The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan through the Khyber Pass 1980: The Mujaheddin, a rebel militant group, fight the Soviets. 1992: The Mujaheddin overthrow the Communist government that was installed by the Soviets. 1994: The Taliban become a major political party. 2001: 9/11, the U.S. attacks Afghanistan and the Taliban who were harboring Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. 2009: President Obama commits an extra 30,000 troops and promises to begin withdrawing in July 2011.
Current State of The War • In June 2011,President Obama announced that the US had completed its objectives and would withdrawal all troops by 2014. • The United States will withdrawl 10,00 troops by the end of the year. • Another 33,000 will depart by summer 2012. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/04/16/article-0-0BA5010000000578-805_634x393.jpg
Opposing Viewpoints • Against The War: • Costs too much money • Costs too many lives • No need for nation building For The War: • Fights Terror • Promotes Democracy • Creates Middle Easter Allies http://mittromneycentral.com/uploads/Afghanistan.jpg You can’t really triangulate on these issues. Either you think we’re fighting a war we need to win or you think we ought to bring all the troops home” --- Danielle Pletka, American Enterprise Institute
President Obama's View • US should drawdown U.S. troops • Exceeded expectations defeating al-Qaeda • Killed 20 of its top 30 leaders http://www.alan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/us-obama-in-afghanistan-300x224.jpg
GOP Party Platform • Beacon of Democracy • A split among the party: • This is a war to fight terrorists • This is Obama's war of choice no longer Bush's self-defense war • Nation building is not needed
Herman Cain's Plan to Plan • Has a plan to plan • “There are dozens of experts and military leaders I would need advice from before I could make an informed decision about a real, clear plan for the USA’s involvement in Afghanistan.” http://jroycroft.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/alg_herman_cain_2012.jpg
The Romney Take • Been to Afghanistan • Bring troops home as soon as generals say OK • “Americans cannot fight another nation’s war of independence.”
Huntsman Hunts for an Answer • Bring troops home • Nation Building • No reason to be there anymore http://www.frumforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/china.jpg
Cain, Herman. “I’m Not Going to Shoot from the Lip on Afghanistan.” Editorial. The Daily Caller. N.p., 17 May 2011. Web. 15 Sept. 2011. <http://dailycaller.com/2011/05/15/im-not-going-to-shoot-from-the-lip-on-afghanistan/>. Cary, Mary Kate. “Republicans Are Turning Against the Afghanistan War.” U.S. News Politics. U.S. News and World Report, 21 July 2010. Web. 15 Sept. 2011. <http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2010/07/21/republicans-are-turning-against-the-afghanistan-war?PageNr=2>. Insight on Conflict. “Afghanistan: Conflict Timeline.” Insight on Conflict. Peace Direct, 2011. Web. 14 Sept. 2011. <http://www.insightonconflict.org/conflicts/afghanistan/conflict-profile/conflict-timeline/?gclid=CPm_iI_2nKsCFQw65QodpXHegg>. “Jon Huntsman on Afghanistan: We’ve Got to Bring Our Troops Home.” Huff Post Politics. Huffington Post, 8 Sept. 2011. Web. 15 Sept. 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/07/jon-huntsman-afghanistan_n_953236.html>. Smith, Ben. “Mitt Romney’s Afghanistan Remark Stuns GOP pals.” Politico. N.p., 15 June 2011. Web. 15 Sept. 2011. <http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56988.html>. Stephen, Andrew. “The Costs of Caring for U.S. War Casualties Are Enormous.” Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Gale, 12 Mar. 2007. Web. 14 Sept. 2011. <http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Viewpoints&disableHighlighting=true&prodId=OVIC&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010741212&mode=view>. “The Way Forward in Afghanistan.” The White House. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2011. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/defense/afghanistan>.