THE THIRD EYE

May 27th, 2014

As the year of 2014 began with many political issues regarding the United

States’ foreign policies, President Barack Obama announced in February

that a full withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan would take place

by the end of the year if Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai doesn’t sign

the security agreement. Without the security agreement signed, the United

States of America would not have the permission to have its troops in

Afghanistan. Although one could see the clear and very present frustration

of President Obama due to the delay of the signing of the agreement, this

issue is not a joke and clearly not something a President should make a

concluding decision while his state of mind is not clear but rather

frustrated. Although this means good news to virtually any family member

of a U.S. soldier that’s serving in Afghanistan, this issue is much more

complex and impacts a lot more than what it may seem.

U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of 2014

A complete withdrawal of the U.S. troops would mean that approximately 38,000 U.S. troops would leave Afghanistan.

Numbers:

Along with those troops, an estimated number of 120,000 containers of military goods would leave Afghanistan as well.

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Some individuals that use their power to fight

against and delay the full withdrawal plan.

What does the public think of this?

A poll that took place during March 21 to 25, 2012 made through collaboration between CBS and The New York Times asked the question, “Should the U.S. withdraw their troops from Afghanistan prior to the end of 2014?” The poll received 986 responses from American citizens living in the United States ages 18 and older. 3% of the respondents didn’t know or refused to answer, 3% thought that the U.S. should “withdraw now,” 33% of the respondents thought it was a good idea to withdraw by the end of 2014, 44% preferred that the U.S. would withdraw its troops sooner and only 17% of the respondents wanted the U.S. to keep its troops in Afghanistan.

The respondents along with their responses to the poll are inevitable evidence to the superficial understanding that a majority of U.S. citizens have of this crisis. Although philosophers like Aristotle have argued that happiness revolves around one’s

self, others like J.S. Mill have argued that happiness comes not when an individual is happy but rather when the greater majority is happy. While the U.S. may be losing a number of soldiers as they serve in Afghanistan, full withdrawal of the U.S. troops would put a whole country at risk.

Afghanistan is still a developing country that is not yet able to main stability or even stand on its own. According to the Global Humanitarian Assistance website, “Afghanistan received the equivalent of 35% of its gross national income (GNI) as aid (ODA) in 2011.” According to the same website, Afghanistan has received US$6.5 billion in total assistance only in the year of 2011. In total, Afghanistan has received $2,327 million from the United States.

With both its civilians’ and its army’s heavy reliance on the United States’ aid, many have declared that a full withdrawal of U.S. troops would be a disaster to Afghanistan. Some have already made estimates of what might happen in Afghanistan if the full withdrawal plan takes place: a civil war, resurgence of the Taliban along with other terrorist groups and believe it or not, troubles for both Pakistan and India. By

EladhamAli

both reason and controlled power.

keeping Niebuhr’s principles in mind, one must use process in which one makes a decision while power or else that turns into corruption. During a argued that an individual shouldn’t have too much develop their sense of their own worth. Niebuhr also who think other wise are supposed to be helped to dignity and that the disadvantaged and the poor

Niebuhr argued that all people have equal worth and to an end.

and not treat those that they share the world with as means functioning world, they must create a sense of “brotherhood” Niebuhr explained that in order for leaders to create a well-

leaders in the United States when it comes to dealing with the rest of the world. Many of Niebuhr’s principles dealt with Christian principles that were taught and valued by Jesus.

day, his principles are still looked at and considered by had substantial influence on U.S. foreign policies and to this

Reinhold Niebuhr was an American theologian that

What would Reinhold

Niebuhr say?

By Eladham Ali

literal word of “neighbor” but rather he meant those that one shares the world with, in other words Jesus meant all of humanity.

There are those who use their controlled power to perhaps help delay a full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan or even stop it. The top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan (2012), Gen. John R. Allen has suggested three different alternative plans to President Obama that would take place after 2014 comes to an end. The first plan suggests leaving 6,000 troops, the second suggests 10,000 troops and the third suggests leaving 20,000 troops with

Another principle that Niebuhr thought should be used when dealing with foreign policies is to love those you share the world with as yourself. That principle clearly derives from the commandment Jesus explained to be the second most important one, to “love your neighbor as you love yourself.” When Jesus said to love one’s neighbor, he didn’t mean the

must use their controlled power to fight it.that individual means to an end, being treated as oppressed and are a situation in which people are being their opportunities, equality or freedom and/or

and dignity. If an individual in power encounters a situation in which others aren't getting

their worth have a sense of grow, and to flourish,

have the opportunity Freedom is when people

(continued)

In 2012, when the U.S. was planning to withdraw all of its troops by the end of the year and began the plan by withdrawing 23,000 U.S. soldiers during the summer of 2012, Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, second-in-command of all American forces in Afghanistan during that year, advised the Pentagon to maintain its 68,000-man force through the year of 2013.

Even before that, in 2011 when the United States began withdrawing troops from Afghanistan Lieutenant General David Rodriguez, deputy commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, advised the Pentagon and provided proof that a drawdown from Afghanistan with its army barely ready to function, terrorist groups like the Taliban could regain their control in very critical territories among both a dysfunctional and an unprepared army and a fearful population.

Early march, 2014, General Joseph Dunford warned the Pentagon that a full U.S. withdrawal of its troops would aid terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda. For those terrorist groups, knowing that with the U.S. is no longer on Afghanistan’s side, it would be easy to maneuver through the country and regain power and control over territories. With General Dunford as top commander of the Marines in Afghanistan now, it is very possible for the U.S. to pursue a plan that goes beyond 2014, as General Dunford was a supporter of the plans former top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan, General John R. Allen, suggested to pursue.

A picture taken by Ben Anderson while in

Afghanistan of an Afghan soldier preparing for a

special mission in Taliban-controlled territory. If one

looks closely, “Special Forces” is written on the front of the helmet with

perhaps a sharpie marker. This picture captures the

soldiers stood up against

Another individual that uses his talent and the power of his talent is the writer, journalist, reporter and documentarian Ben Anderson. Anderson has spent six years covering the war in Afghanistan pursuing both his writing and filming career. Ben Anderson filmed a documentary for VICE called “This is what winning looks like.” As one could tell from the very sarcastic title of the documentary, Ben Anderson presented the truth about the war in Afghanistan as real as it could possibly get without any sort of sugarcoating. While in Afghanistan, Ben Anderson noticed that a majority of the soldiers had a clear understanding of the American mission in Afghanistan knowing that it is a failed one. None of the

the issues or spoke against it to try to change it. Except for Major Bill Steuber, commanding officer on the police advisory team in Afghanistan. Major Steuber had a very clear and realistic understanding of the crisis in Afghanistan and although he has very limited power to change any of the ethical issues that he encounters, he tries his best.

With a mission already failed in Afghanistan, to defeat terrorist groups in Afghanistan like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, the United States can’t afford to lose another mission that puts a whole nation at risk. Withdrawing all of the U.S. troops not only puts the Afghan army and its civilians at risk, but also neighboring countries like India and Pakistan.

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Written By:Eladham Ali