Why US Military Bases HaveBecome 'Waste Disposal Sites'

A Western proverb says, “Amateurs talk about tactics, but professional soldiers talk about logistics.” An old Chinese saying goes, “Food and fodder should go ahead of troops and horses.” These two phrases equally illustrate the importance of ensuring military logistics, especially when sending troops on a large scale over long distances, generous provisions, tents, equipment, weapons and ammunition are required. After the war is concluded, these goods and materials still need to be shipped back — this is another immense and onerous project.

Over the past 11 years, U.S. troops in Afghanistan reached over 100,000. America has transported an endless stream of materials for military and everyday use — including military vehicles, weapons and ammunition, military equipment, and even building materials — and installed them across the more than 150 military bases and forward outposts within Afghanistan’s borders. The huge volume of goods and materials is astonishing. To take Base Shank as an example, last July this base, which had 6,200 U.S. soldiers, also had more than 8,000 standard 20-foot containers piled within. The containers hold a wide variety of goods — from flashlights, batteries, safety helmets, snow shovels, brooms and folders of documents, to automobile tires, bulletproof vests, night vision goggles and more.

According to U.S. military estimates, the number of 20-foot containers distributed across Afghanistan— full of various military goods and materials — is over 90,000 units, with the value of the goods inside totaling around $36 billion. The U.S. military must, before evacuating Afghanistan by the end of next year, clear out and sort this multitude of containers. This requires a great deal of time, manpower and material resources; it is known as the largest logistical withdrawal (“retrograde”) in human history. Because the deadline is only 17 months away, and time is running out, the U.S. military is currently working incessantly, day and night.

At present, Afghanistan has two American bases that have already become “waste disposal sites.” Goods transported from all locations are sorted here; high-value items are packed into 4-foot cartons and the price of an individual package may reach $5,000.

Afghanistan is a mountainous, landlocked country. It does not have harbors, its geography is complex, and its mountain roads are rugged, so communication and transportation are very inconvenient. Some of the high-value goods that could still be used need to be flown back to America. It is estimated that shipping costs for these goods and materials are at least $5.5 billion, with subsequent repair costs of about $8 to 9 billion.

Considering the elements of demand and shipping cost, the U.S. military has decided to transport 76 percent back to America, with the remaining military equipment — valued at around $8.6 or more — to be disassembled and destroyed locally. At present, the U.S. military has already destroyed more than 80,000 tons, including military vehicles and 1 million heavy duty MRAP [Mine Resistant Ambush Protected] vehicles — each with a production cost reaching $45 billion.

Some have criticized that this is taking “gold” and selling it as scrap iron. Beijing ladies calculate for a moment: One million U.S. dollars (roughly 6.3 million rmb), can buy how much gold? Some suggest taking these vehicles and donating them to Afghanistan’s government forces. According to the U.S., after its own forces leave, the Afghan Army has no need for this kind of vehicle; moreover, the technology content of these vehicles is too high, and they would not be able to grasp it. In addition, some suggest selling the vehicles on the international weapons market. According to the U.S. military, putting so many high-end vehicles on the market would very quickly pull down the price of weapons, which would not be in the interests of American weapons manufacturers. Therefore, there is no choice left but to smash $1 million worth of army vehicles to pieces, sell them as scrap iron, and let American taxpayers pick up the check.

On July 10, U.S. media revealed that the U.S. military had built a highly modernized headquarters for the Marine Corps. Construction on the headquarters began in 2009 and was finished this year, costing $34 million. Since the U.S. military will be evacuating Afghanistan by the end of next year, this two-story, 64,000 square-foot (equal to 5,946 square-meters) high command center will be left unused. A two-star Marine expressed his surprise after touring the headquarters: This is better than any other Marine Corps command center in the world; its tactical operations center is as large as the U.S. Central Command or European Supreme Allied Command.

Is this newly finished facility to be dismantled or donated to the Afghan military? Donating to the Afghan government forces is virtually impossible. Because this is a windowless, completely enclosed building complex, it has extremely complicated heating and air conditioning equipment that requires the use of a large amount of electricity and a high-power generator and fuel. Besides, its electric circuits are according to U.S. standards, at 110 Volts, whereas the local voltage is 220. At present, it seems that this top-quality facility could very well be demolished. As a result $34 million would be squandered.

In addition, the U.S. military spent $45 million in Kandahar Province to establish a repair garage for armored cars. Because the U.S. military will soon withdraw from Afghanistan, these costly facilities can now only be used as the U.S. military’s waste disposal site.

Also, the U.S. Department of State is still renting a large building in northern Afghanistan to act as their consulate general. The leasing period is 10 years; the rent comes to $80 million. But, because this building’s location does not meet security requirements, making it vulnerable to attack, it has to be abandoned.

The U.S. military’s squandering an extravagant amount of money in Afghanistan has caused strong resentment among American taxpayers. Internet user pinetree2 criticized:

“This isn’t about the war. It’s ‘corporate America’ using the war as an excuse. They are all a branch of Wall Street. Obama has allowed these criminals who brought us financial disaster to once again plunder public funds. On this issue, the Republican Party and Democratic Party are each as bad as the other.”

In 2001, when the U.S. military launched its offensive on Afghanistan, my neighborhood’s bicycle repairman sighed and said:

“The Taliban’s training camp only needs a few pieces of cloth, and they can prop up a tent. But for the United States to launch a cruise missile at that camp, it costs $1 million. It seems that America has so much money, it does not know where to spend it!”

It’s hard for anyone to say just how much money the U.S. has spent in Afghanistan these 11 years. However, the various expenditures add up to no less than $1 trillion, equivalent to 6.3 trillion rmb.