How the war on terrorism affected the way of life in Afghanistan - Research Paper Example

? How the war on terrorism affected the way of life in Afghanistan. Introduction The term ‘global war on terror’ is widely recognized with the Bush administration following the events after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America. War on terrorism was a term used to describe the struggle for a free society against the threat and acts of terrorism (Stapley, 2006). To this end, terrorists were denoted as enemies of society who were out to access tyrannical power through violent means. The war on terrorism began in earnest on October 7th, 2001 through military campaign in Afghanistan that was specifically designed to capture Osama Bin Laden, topple the Taliban regime and dismantle the Al Qaeda terror cells. The military operation was labeled as Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) by the Bush administration (Graham, 2004). It was later joined by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) led by NATO. ISAF’s primary goal was to promote development, security as well as train Afghan police and soldiers. To this end, the decade long war on terrorism in Afghanistan has caused significant impact. From a general point of view, it should be noted that the war on terrorism, to some extent, has achieved some of its primary objectives. These include the eventual killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan and overthrowing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. However, it is cannot go unnoticed that the war has equally resulted to significant impacts both to America and Afghanistan. Evidently, much focus has always been on how the events and aftermath of 9/11 affected the social, economic, and political spheres of the United States. . However, in most literature and other media fraternities, minimal attention has been placed on the impacts as far as changes to Afghanistan’s’ way of life with respect to the war on terrorism. To this end, the war on terror has resulted to signifanct impacts that touch on the political, economic, cultural, demographic, social and environmental parameters in Afghanistan. Background of the War on Terrorism On September 11, 2001, the world watched in shock and disbelief as two planes hijacked by terrorists were slammed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in United States. The estimated dead casualties were some 3,000 people (Kochler, 2000). The horrific terror attacks elicited a mixture of economic, political and social reactions globally. Anti-Islam and hatred discourse that failed to separate the ordinary Muslims from the despotic, militant terrorists was rife all over. Issues of distrust between Christian and Muslim communities led to increased antagonism and in some instances extremist tendencies. For example, in the West, incidences of Muslim beatings and at times killings were reported. Examples of Muslim extremist tendencies were evident through support of the terrorist activities. Following the 9/11 attacks, it was quite clear that a retaliation response by the American government led by George Bush was eminent. To this end, the greatest fear pertained to what form of retaliation, how it would be enforced and also the potential impacts on the ordinary lives of the Afghan citizens. The impacts on the Afghan citizenry were also being assessed in consideration that they were still suffering at the behest of the Taliban regime. In the period leading to 9/11, the Bush administration had been subject to scathing criticism for its position on various policy issues locally and internationally. These issues ranged from, geopolitics, environmental, economic, defense, inequality among others. However, the ghastly terror attack of September 11 resulted to considerable reduction of criticism towards the Bush administration. On the contrary, support for the Bush administration in light of the terror attacks began to rise significantly. This support was as a result of the announcement of the retaliatory action that the American administration would embark after the terror attacks. To this end, on 20th September, 2001, President George Bush made a televised address in which he declared that United States would embark on a war on terrorism. Furthermore, the war was specifically focused on the Afghanistan nation which was the base of the Al Qaeda terror organization, its leader Osama bin Laden and supported by the Taliban regime (Lansford, 2009). The U.S government declared that Osama Bin Laden was the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks with assistance from his terror organization, Al Qaeda. The Al Qaeda was and still is regarded as the most visible terrorist group, and one that received much attention and focus by the Bush and Obama administration. Evidently, one Osama Bin Laden, up to the time of his death, was regarded as the founding forces and figure of Al Qaeda. Osama Bin Laden was a radical jihadist Islam and extensively wealthy (Mayer, 2008). The US department of State in a report issued on 2001 stated that Al Qaeda acted as an umbrella body for numerous terror groups such as the Sunni extremists and Al Shaabab. Furthermore, the terror group was labeled responsible for past terrorism activities across the globe such as the Tanzanian and Kenyan bombing of US embassies in 1998 and Yemen USS Cole bombing in 2000.Moreover, the terror group network was believed to be operating with the goal of uniting radical Muslims in the toppling of non-Muslim regimes within Middle East, and eradicating Western influences in the Middle East nations. The terror group was also accused of funding and training terrorist cells around the globe from Kashmir to Chechnya, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Furthermore, Afghanistan was identified the central base of the Al Qaeda terror group as well as its leader, Osama bin Laden. The Taliban regime in Afghanistan stood accused of giving extensive support to militant cells around the world as well as offering an operational base for al-Qaeda. The Taliban equally offered training grounds for al-Qaeda soldiers in which bin Laden had a standing force of almost 2,000 troops in Afghanistan. However, the boiling point of these terrorist activities came following the September 9/11 attack on US soil. To this end, the U.S government ordered the Taliban government to capture and surrender Osama Bin Laden as well as destroys Al Qaeda’s training facilities. However, the refusal by the Taliban regime to comply with the demands prompted the Bush administration to launch an offensive military attack. This led to the term ‘war on terrorism’ by President George Bush when he approved the operation labeled as Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) against Afghanistan. The operation was centered on three fundamental goals. First was to capture Osama Bin Laden and bring him to justice. Second, was to dismantle the al-Qaeda operational network in Afghanistan. Third was to topple the Taliban regime that was sympathetic and supportive of al-Qaeda’s terrorist operations. A further need for toppling the regime was drawn out of its retrogressive and oppressive rule imposed against its citizenry. From a military point of view, the Operation Enduring Freedom has achieved significant success in its mandate. For example the Taliban regime was overthrown, Osama bin Laden was killed, and the al-Qaeda group lost its base in Afghanistan as well as the capture or killing of its infamous leaders. However, the war on terrorism has impacted the Afghan way of life significantly. These impacts, both positive and negative, have touched on the social, demographic, political, and economic parameters in Afghanistan Analysis of Social and Cultural Impacts At the beginning of the war on terrorism in Afghanistan, that was targeting the al-Qaeda network and Taliban regime, a number of Afghanistan citizens were either neutral or supportive of the war. This stance was in light of the oppressive Taliban regime and the menace of the al-Qaeda network among the citizenry. To this end, the war inspired hope that it would transform their lives for the better. However, after a decade long war, the aftermath has been the death of many innocent civilians. Furthermore, each person is no longer sure of the future since anyone could be the next innocent casualty. To this end, a growing number of dissents against the war have grown increasingly common. Moreover, a great number of the Afghan population has grown increasingly hostile to foreigners. This has largely to do with frustration from the populaces who have witnessed their streets of Kabul and other towns terrorized and manned by American troops. Furthermore, they are frustrated since most of the American soldiers can access good water, food, and operational facilities. In addition, the war on terrorism resulted to widespread destruction of urban and recreational centers within major cities such as Kabul and Kandahar. This was attributed to the extensive air assault that destroyed vital social structures that were key in the Afghans way of life. On the cultural front, it is positive to point out that girl child education has been positively embraced following the war on terrorism. This has been attributed to the toppling of Taliban regime which had not only banned girl child education but also convinced then citizens that it was a cultural taboo. Analysis of Economic and Political Impacts The economic status of the Afghanistan populace following the war has witnessed significant impacts. Evidently, money has become a rather scarce commodity. This has been precedented by the widespread poverty that has left people living in ruins and rubbles without a permanent home. Furthermore, since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban ban on opium was lifted and consequently led to increase in opium production. The increase of production has risen from 70 percent within the illicit global production to 92 percent. Evidently, this increased was influence by the decline in security standards following the invasion of Afghanistan. According to a report by UNODC in 2007, cultivation of opium increased significantly with incidences over 193,000 hectares (Sais, 2011). The deposing of the Taliban regime by US and NATO forces led to deterioration of security in which the opium economy was reinvigorated. The culmination has been a multifaceted fight against drugs and terrorism in Afghanistan. Consequently, the Afghanis economic way of life has resulted to increased number of citizens engaged in the illicit trade through opium cultivation, processing into heroine and eventually trafficking across the border to countries like Uzebkistan, Iran and Tajikstan. However, despite the fact that majority of Afghanis farmers are engaged in the drug trade, they only get less than 20 percent of the profits. Most of the benefits are taken up by those higher up the food chain such as public officials, warlords, traffickers and remaining pockets of Taliban insurgents. On the political front, the political space for expression and democracy has improved significantly following the toppling of the Taliban regime. Furthermore, there has been a reprieve from the oppressive Islamic Sharia law that was imposed by the Taliban prior to the invasion. Analysis of Demographic impacts The extensive loss of lives following the decade long war is by far the major impact. To this end, thousands of innocent lives have been lost in the course of the war. Evidently, a great number of children have been orphaned following the murder or bombing of their parents. Many more have equally been maimed or left bed ridden after being caught in the line of fire (Stapley, 2006). Conclusion The war on terrorism that began in earnest over a decade ago, has clearly caused profound impacts. These impacts cut across the divide of both pro and anti crusaders of terrorism. To this end, the long protracted war has not only impacted countries targeted for terrorism networks, but also the primary opponents of terrorism such as the United States. Following the September 9/11 attacks, it is clear that the geo-political, economic and social spheres changed dramatically for all actors. In light of the United States, the change of stance pertaining to foreign policy in dealing with terrorism dramatically changed to a military offensive against any threat to its security. Furthermore, the social fabric pertaining to relations among diverse religions was visibly tested. In addition, the astronomical cost of funding the war presented another significant burden on the American citizenry as well as local political intrigues involving pro and anti war protagonists. However, one vital aspect that did not receive adequate attention was the assessment of impacts on the ordinary Afghanis citizens. Evidently, much attention has been focused on America and their justification for the war on terror without due consideration to the Afghani citizenry. To this end, from a military standpoint, the operation could be deemed as successful and contributed to several pros on the Afghani citizenry. These benefits are in reference to the toppling of the Taliban regime, dismantling and weakening of Taliban apparatus, as well as the ultimate assassination of Osama Bin Laden. Despite of this, it is also important to note that the Afghanis way of life was significantly impacted following the war. An intricate assessment of the social, cultural, political, demographic and political impacts suggest more cons rather than pros following the war. However, this does not in any way reflect failure of the war on terror but rather confirms that any war in which the citizenry is caught in the middle, drastically impacts their way of life. Supplemental Material The global discourse surrounding the war on terrorism has always been whether an act of retaliatory violence is the best mode of dealing with the pervasive terror networks. This is in recognition that most of these terror organizations operate within the fabric of innocent citizens as in the case of Afghanistan. It is quite clear that any act of violent retaliatory attack is bound the impact the way of life of the affected citizens. True to this, it is reported that by early December 2001, the US bombings of Afghanistan had claimed the life of approximately 3,500 civilians. It is a fact that such a high number of casualties clearly impacts the way of life of the affected country in such an adverse manner. Furthermore, the perceptions and local support for such military operations is bound to change if it proves detrimental to their wellbeing. To place the issue into better perspective, the words of Martin Luther King offer much insight. To this end, Martin Luther reiterated that violence was descending spiral which only rears the very thing it sought out to destroy. The central focus before embarking on any action against terrors should the assessment of potential changes that would result on the people way of life. In this respect, the changes that result should reflect more positive outcomes than negative outcomes. References Graham, S. (2004). Cities, war, and terrorism: towards an urban geopolitics. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing. Kochler, H. (2000). The "global War on Terror" and the Question of World Order. n.a: International Progress Organization. Lansford, T. (2009). America's war on terror (2nd ed.). Farnham, England: Ashgate. Mayer, J. (2008). The dark side: the inside story of how the war on terror turned into a war on American ideals. New York: Doubleday. Sais, S. Z. (2011). Who Is Winning the War in Afghanistan?. n.a: Xlibris Corporation, . Stapley, L. (2006). Globalization and terrorism death of a way of life. London: Karnac. Read More