US Troops Withdrawal - A Pressing Necessity - Essay Example

?US TROOPS WITHDRAWAL: A PRESSING NECESSITY The invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq by a coalition of s under the banner of the United s of America are considered as the major international conflicts of the 21st century. Effecting to the destruction of life and property, apart from several other detrimental effects as would later be discussed in detail, the two invasions have proven to be one of the most controversial and divisive wars in this day and age. Still continuing at present, the US- initiated conflicts beg the question on whether or not the United States should still continue on sending its troops to both countries and conflicts. The war in Afghanistan and Iraq is perceived as questionable and challengeable in several grounds by the international community, the Afghan and Iraqi population, and even by American citizens themselves. Accordingly, this paper would be divided into several categories wherein reasons for the cessation of troop deployment to the Iraqi and Afghan warzones would be in the best interest of all the stakeholders, including alternative policies currently undertaken and feasible proposals by respective governments. First and foremost however, a factual backdrop would be necessary regarding troop deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq. In February and March 2009, respectively, the Obama Administration declared its strategy to amplify troop deployment levels in Afghanistan, while providing for the decrease of troop deployment levels in Iraq. In Afghanistan, 30,000 more troops are deploying this year while in Iraq; troops will gradually decline to 35,000 to 50,000 by August 31, 2011 with all troops to be out of Iraq by December 31, 20111 (Belasco, 2009). The possibility of increase in troop deployment in the aforementioned warzones has been met with reluctance, and even expresses political disapproval by several of the stakeholders. Conversely, the counter-proposal of withdrawal is constantly gaining support, from the US and the invaded countries themselves. In the case of the United States of America, public support for the war has constantly waned. Both public opinion and government policy require the means to cease or at least lessen further war expenditure and troop deployment. Recent events relative to the conduct of the war continually depreciate popular support at home for the United States. US military causalities in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom total to 6049 soldiers killed in action, further fanning public outrage against the conflicts, apart from hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq2 Accordingly, the economy of the US is also one of the major concerns. The financial cost of the war for the US has reached almost $845 billion to the U.S., while the entire cost to the U.S. economy is projected to amount to $3 trillion, a majority of which to be shouldered by American taxpayers.3 The conflict has also disrupted Iraqi oil production, which has spawned energy security concerns such as significant increases in the price of oil, thus disrupting the world economy. 4 The conflicts also have had adverse effects for international political relations. These include the circumstances of the legality and morality of the invasion, including the refusal of the US to comply with UN Security Resolutions and international law. Public opinion of several countries and diplomatic relations with Middle Eastern countries and their allies has also been severely affected. The US has been portrayed as imperialists and hegemons, effecting to massive protests not only in the Middle East, but also in Europe and even the US itself, drawing comparisons of the war to the Vietnam War 5. With regard to Afghanistan, political analysts have asserted that the democratization and development of the country has been obscured by a “lack of agreement on objectives, a lack of resources, lack of coordination, too much focus on the central government at the expense of local and provincial governments, and too much focus on Afghanistan instead of the region.6 Translated in the current situation of the grassroots in Afghanistan, the UNICEF, in a November 2009 reports the deplorable situation of the country even after eight years after the ouster of the Taliban and the political interference of the United States. Accordingly, Afghanistan is the most dangerous country for a child to live and grow, whereby it has the highest infant mortality rate globally, which is translated to 257 deaths in 1,000 live births and 70% of Afghans are faced with difficulty in accessing clean water.7 Voicing opposition to increase in further deployment and strongly advocating US withdrawal from their country is Malalai Joya, formerly a member of the Afghan Parliament. In her assertive book, “Raising my Voice”, the suspended lawmaker expressed concern for the state of her country, still riddled with American military presence. In eloquent language, she states, “Eight years ago, the U.S. and NATO — under the banner of women’s rights, human rights, and democracy — occupied my country and pushed us from the frying pan into the fire. Eight years is enough to know better about the corrupt, mafia system of President Hamid Karzai. My people are crushed between two powerful enemies. From the sky, occupation forces bomb and kill civilians ... and on the ground, the Taliban and warlords continue their crimes. It is better that they leave my country; my people are that fed up. Occupation will never bring liberation, and it is impossible to bring democracy by war.” 8 A revised and alternative strategy by US President Obama is the transfer of responsibility to Afghan security forces for the country’s security. The plan to transfer security responsibility to Afghan forces is the centerpiece of U.S. President Barack Obama's revised Afghanistan strategy9. The policy sought to increase the size of the Afghan National Army to 134,000 by October 2010. On May of the same year, said goal was accomplished, with the ideal number of soldiers projected by 171,000 in 2011. Given this substantial increase in Afghan troops to manage security issues in the country, it is projected that US can begin withdrawing its troops on July 2011. However, the dilemma is constantly present that the transfer of the mantle of security responsibility in Afghanistan is contingent on the progress of recruiting and providing training for these soldiers. This increase in Afghan troops would allow the U.S. to begin withdrawing American forces in July, 2011, as now planned.10 In the case of Iraq, both the United States of America and Iraq have expressed their commitment to self-reliance and independence for the beleaguered state. In 2007, legislators, numbering more than half of Iraq’s Parliament have rejected further American occupation of their country. 144 of 275 lawmakers created a legislative petition which would mandate that the Iraqi government to garner approval from Parliament, to prevent it from requesting an extension of the UN mandate for foreign forces to continually remain in Iraq, ending in the year 2008. This is in accordance with the UN Security Council mandate for U.S.-led forces in Iraq will expire and lapse "if requested by the government of Iraq." The petition also calls for a timetable providing for troop withdrawal and limits on the foreign military forces.11 In preparations for independence and self-reliance in terms of military security, the Iraq Defense Ministry is conjuring an amount of $13 billion for the purchase of American military weapons, which would aid the transformation of Iraq’s substandard military forces into a well-developed and adequately prepared military and police force. Under the agreement, the US would provide technical support such as pilot training, following the purchase of aircrafts.12 In a historic moment, on August 31, 2010, Obama declared the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom, concluding officially the conflict that has begun since 2003. In the same note, Obama revealed the strategy to be employed in 2011 for operations in the respective conflicts, such as troop withdrawal, the feasible turnover to the Afghanistan government, and the current state of the war and its effect on the United States economy. In his address, he eloquently and emotionally details, “The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people. We have sent our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home. We have persevered because of a belief we share with the Iraqi people—a belief that out of the ashes of war, a new beginning could be born in this cradle of civilization. Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it is time to turn the page.” 13 BIBLIOGRAPHY: Belasco, Amy (2009). Troop Levels in the Afghan and Iraq Wars, FY2001-FY2012: Cost and Other Potential Issues. US Congress, Congressional Research Service. US Department of Defense (2011). Afghanistan and Iraq Casualties. Retrieved on June 2, 2011 from http://www.defense.gov/news/casualty.pdf Trotta, Daniel (2008). Iraq war hits U.S. economy: Nobel winner. Reuters New York, March 2, 2008 Light Crude Oil (CL, NYMEX) (2008). Monthly Price Chart, September 10, 2008)". Retrieved on June 2, 2011 from Futures.tradingcharts.com. Farrell, S. & Karim, A. (2008). Drive in Basra by Iraqi Army makes gains. The New York Times, May 12, 2008. Bajraktari, Yll and Peter Roady. "Afghanistan: Changing the Frame, Changing the Game." Discussion Paper #09-02, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School, March 2009. World Bank (2005). Afghanistan National Reconstruction and Poverty Reduction — the Role of Women in Afghanistan’s Future, March 2005. Malalai Joya. Statement on NATO’s Mission. Retrieved on June 2, 2011 from http://www.malalaijoya.com/dcmj/index.php?start=195 Pessin, Al (2009). Afghan Forces Could Start to Lead Soon, Big Challenges Remain. Voice of America, December 9, 2009. The Washington Post (2009). What Mr. Obama changed. Editorial, December 3, 2009. Partlow, Joshua (2007). Iraqi Lawmakers Back Bill on U.S. Withdrawal. Washington Post, Washington Post Foreign Service, May 11, 2007. Michaels, Jim, (2010). Iraq to spend $13B on U.S. arms, equipment. USA Today, September 1, 2010. Barrack Obama (2010). "President Obama's Address on Iraq". The New York Times. August 31, 2010. Read More