Afghanistan: The Forgotten War and the End of the Beginning

More than 10 years ago, Operation “Enduring Freedom” began the war against terrorism. Its first victim was Afghanistan. That war has almost been forgotten.

The Forgotten War

The war in Afghanistan has been displaced in the headlines by the Libyan war, the situation in Syria and the Iranian-American conflict, among others. It only occupies headlines when Barack Obama or any Western leader refers to the withdrawal of troops or the possible dialogues between the U.S. and the Taliban, or when some of the outrages and brutal and inhumane actions carried out by U.S. military forces against the Afghan population are shown on the Internet, among others.

Regardless of whether the war has taken a second or third place in the media’s main focus, this does not mean that what happens there and its implications are minimized.

Some of the actions conducted by U.S. troops in Afghan territory have been recently shown once again in videos on the Internet. However, the most atrocious thing is that those actions are an indication that these proceedings are not the exception, but the rule of the behavior of soldiers in the field, practically.

In all wars, flagrant acts are committed, demonstrating in some way that war is unjust in itself. However, the impunity of the atrocities against soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan also demonstrates the systematization of the violation of basic ethics in wartime. What are the factors that explain this situation? Many could be the reasons, however these stand out:

– The behavior of U.S senior military commanders and politicians ultimately facilitates and justifies this behavior: immunity for their soldiers, approval of torture and secret bases, among others. Digging into the past, the murder of Qaddafi in Libya was virtually applauded by the most important figures of Western governments, including the U.S.

– The propaganda of mass media has become a key ideological factor, where the approach of “civilizing” superiority prevails. Muslims are the enemy: they despise and want to destroy Western culture and its values. This ideology has portrayed each person as a terrorist, no matter if it’s a child. Their culture is barbaric and, therefore, a danger. It has been stipulated that the “superior” Western culture must be saved at all costs. The projection of the “clash of civilizations” is constantly present. This reminds us of Hitler’s concept, and of the concentration camps of World War II: the defense of the purity of the Aryan “race” and the extermination of anyone who was not “classified” as Aryan.

– The army leaders and the heads of the contractors (mercenaries) were in this case professionals that not only allow these actions, but also encouraged and applauded them as a means to create fear in the population. The ultimate goal was not the means but the end of emerging victorious.

– From the psychological point of view, there are signs that express a breakdown in behavior and discipline. To what extent do fear and psychological distress influence these actions? There are no studies on the subject, or at least we have not had access to them, but it seems that this is present.

Contemporary wars have shown changes in terms of destructive power, the handling or violation of international laws and the use of an immeasurable media power, among other features. Everything indicates that the product of the dehumanizing behavior in imperialist wars against populations has assumed a leading role. Regardless of the price these victims face, the American way of life and the interests it represents have to be safeguarded.

All this being said entitled us to ask this question: Are the uncivilized actions committed in Afghanistan the exception, or have they been repeated in Iraq and Libya? The answer is obvious.

Why Afghanistan?

The 9/11 attacks in the United States foreshadowed, among other aspects, the international solidarity with the American people and triggered the proclaimed fight against terrorism. The disclosed objective was the capture of bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida. The place of capture of the former CIA collaborator was Afghanistan. The Taliban government became an enemy. The golden age of the American government with bin Laden and the Taliban came to an end.

After more than ten years of war and after making his own the war in Afghanistan, Barack Obama announced that the withdrawal of U.S. forces would be completed by 2014 along with the capture and killing of bin Laden. The objectives of the invasion of Afghanistan are increasingly more evident.

What Were the Real Objectives of the Invasion?

The region of Central Asia had been a closed reserve of the American presence. However, with the disintegration of the USSR, the U.S. was rushed to a rapprochement with the countries of the area. Perhaps the most concrete answer was given by Colin Powell in February 2002 when, at a hearing before the International Relations Committee of Congress, he suggested America “will have a continuing interest and presence in Central Asia of a kind that we could not have dreamed of before.”[http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/summary.cfm?q=110]

The End of the Beginning

The target selection was not random, it was very well calculated. Proceeding with the war would allow them to take over the heart of Asia. This meant:

– repossessing precious resources

– setting up a settlement near the borders of Russia and China

– obtaining an established location on the eastern border of Iran

It was the end of the beginning. Afghanistan’s location was ideal: the midpoint between eastern Asia and the Middle East, in Russia’s southern flank with immediate access to Central Asian republics.

The United States, by all means, wanted to settle in the area because Russia was coming out of a lethargic period of more than 10 years, China had prioritized its process of reform and liberalization, and key allies, such as Pakistan, are in the area.

It was the first action, which would later serve to complete the siege and eliminate its enemies in the area. Later came Saddam Hussein’s turn, and shortly after was Muammar Qaddafi’s. Today, we observe the imminent pressure on Syria and the offensive against Iran.

It also became the beginning of the systematic implementation of the war with new techniques, high profits for contractors, and above all the systematization of excesses and brutality in the name of democracy, which had already been present in Kosovo. The war on terrorism arose to establish freedom and democracy; however, with Afghanistan as a laboratory, it slaughtered and used fascist mechanisms daily. It institutionalized terror and genocide.

The end of the beginning in itself has caused the U.S. many problems, but in practice the balkanization – the instability in the area – may become an excuse to stay and “create” new friends. It was not for philanthropic reasons that Barack Obama endorsed the war in Afghanistan; he knew that it represented the interests of the country. It had been the end of the beginning, but he gave it continuity.