U.S. occupation of Afghanistan caused Irreversible Damage

After 20 years of military presence in Afghanistan, the U.S. troops, citizens, and allies evacuated the country starting mid-August. Refugees fly to the U.S. from temporary sanctuaries near their former Taliban controlled home. The U.S. started something they couldn’t finish.

Through the occupation of Afghanistan was able to democratically elect leaders, helping women and other oppressed groups to have a say in who their leader is. On the other hand, they created fear by planting themselves in Afghanistan. Many civilians were killed accidentally by the U.S. that where the attack was intended for the Taliban. The dead show the U.S. troops incompetence.

After the terrorist attack by Al Qaeda on 9/11, President George W. Bush vowed to hunt down the people who had organized the terrorist attack. Bush pushed into Afghanistan in October of 2001 by bombing the Taliban, who at the time had political control over the country and were housing Osama bin Laden, the terrorist leader responsible for the attacks. Soon the United States had taken over Afghanistan and Bush presented a new goal: removing the Taliban from Afghanistan and implementing western principles. Sophomore Arden Lillemoe said, “I don’t really think we have the right attitude about it. I’ve seen a lot of people saying that Afghanistan has brought this [war] on themselves.”

As twenty years go by of western control of Afghanistan, the country was molded through new leaders and new United States orders. As of August 30th of 2021, the U.S. troops finished their withdrawal back to America. Junior Cooper Bollinger Danielson said, “It’s a moral question of how much the U.S. has responsibility for ensuring human rights abroad.”

Soon after the departure, the Talbian took back control of Afghanistan, leaving a lot of people anxious about what would happen next.

The Taliban are known for their extremely restricting beliefs and harsh ways of enforcing them. The U.S. can do more to help keep democracy within Afghanistan without putting civilians in danger.

Helping the refugees that were relocated to the U.S. should be the nation’s top priority, while continuing to work with Afghanistan to build them a democratic future.