Nine years ago on September 11, 2001, the United States suffered a number of attacks from an Afghan-terrorist group known as Al Qaeda. This devastating occurrence resulted in an immense number of casualties as well as the destruction of the World Trade Center (specifically the Twin Towers). Following this mindless attack, the U.S. quickly responded with the deployment of thousands of U.S. troops on October 7, 2001, less than one month after the attack.Thus, it should come as no surprise that when the United States went to war with Afghanistan in 2001, Americans had a great level of support for the endeavor. The recent devastation that U.S. citizens had faced was assertive to Americans’ uncontrollable desire for revenge; the nation needed answers and the war served as just that: an answer. However, as the years continue to pass and United States’ troops remain at war, America’s support has declined greatly. Poll: Waning support for Obama on wars, an article written by Richard Wolf of USA Today, expresses the recent decline in President Obama’s approval rating in relation to his handling of the war efforts. The article conveys the message that Americans are collectively becoming more and more favorable to the retraction of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Wolf states, “Support for Obama's management of the war fell to 36%, down from 48% in a February [2010] poll.”
The reason is mainly due to what Thomas Nagorski chronicles in his article, Editor's Notebook: Afghan War Now Country's Longest. Nagorski explains the change in support for the war, presenting that this war is the longest war the United States has ever been involved in. This long and drawn out war effort has increased American’s desire for the troops to come home, since it was never expected for the war to last this long. Nagorski states, “Surely, it seemed, this would be a brief campaign…And yet here we are, nearly a decade since that October Sunday, and the end of this often-tabbed "Other War" is hard to see, or fathom.”
With this war lasting what seems like an eternity and the wound from September 11, 2001 becoming an old scar, it is time for the U.S. government to begin implementing a plan that will bring this war to a close. America wants their sons and daughters to come home. Husbands miss their wives; wives miss their husbands, and most importantly children need their parents.
Being a son of a army veteran, I've been around military things alot. Whether it was living on base, or chatting with another military brat about joining the army oneday soon. While reading your blog, I discovered that you have a bit of interest in the military yourself. I agree, September 11, 2001 was a sad day for us Americans and a day we'll never forget. Americans are very contradicting about wars. Americans want troops to come home, but they don't understand the process it takes for that to happen. In your article you have a link that describes the declinging rates of President's Obama's support of handling the war, so does this mean that Americans want troops to stay in Afghanistan now? Why are Americans so contradicting? If America would be strong and believe in our commander and cheif to get our troops back home in the quickest and safest way possible, it'll happen. Why would Americans not support the plan that they so long loved? Americans wanted our troops home, but then you disapprove of the way our President wants to bring our troops home.http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2009-12-01-obama-afghanistan_N.htm. I believe that Americans should stop contradicting themselves and decide whether or not they want this war to end.
ReplyDeleteTo begin with, the title of your post immediately drew me in. I have an uncle that has served in the military for many years. Within the past 4, he was stationed in; Djibouti, Afghanistan and Iraq. Having heard far too many stories about soldiers overseas, like you stated, I am certainly a citizen “favorable to the retraction of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.”
ReplyDeleteI must say, you unquestionably informed readers of the events that occurred leading up to the war. On the other hand, I feel like your closing statements are misleading. You said that, “it is time for the U.S. government to begin implementing a plan that will bring this war to a close.” In actuality, Operation Iraqi Freedom was fulfilled about 2 months ago. The last U.S. combat brigade left Iraq on August 19, 2010. That was then followed by President Barack Obama declaring an end to combat operations on August 31, 2010. According to ArmyLive.com, the next action in process is Operation New Dawn. ArmyLive goes on to explain exactly what the operation entails:
During Operation New Dawn, the remaining 50,000 U.S. service members serving in Iraq will conduct stability operations, focusing on advising, assisting and training Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). Operation New Dawn also represents a shift from a predominantly military U.S. presence to one that is predominantly civilian, as the Departments of Defense and State work together with governmental and non-governmental agencies to help build Iraq’s civil capacity.
In view of that, there is plenty being done to bring our men home. For that reason, like you stated, “America wants their sons and daughters to come home. Husbands miss their wives; wives miss their husbands, and most importantly children need their parents.” when reading that, it allowed me to expand on other topics that could be acknowledged. Have you thought about expanding on the effects of parents and children whose loved ones are overseas? Or maybe even the other way around, researching the effects on the soldiers?
More About:
Operation Iraqi Freedom, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War
Operation New Dawn, http://armylive.dodlive.mil/index.php/2010/09/operation-new-dawn/