PERSPECTIVE

President Biden removed the U.S. military from Afghanistan in 2021.

Later he sent them back

This begs the question: Did he execute the removal of U.S. forces wisely? Or was it done too hastily?

The Afghanistan War started on Oct. 7, 2001 following the attack on 9/11. This war, the longest war in American history, ended on Aug. 15.

Or did it? The U.S. military was removed before the civilians in 2021, causing the Taliban to occupy Kabul

This has caused a lot of backlash against President Biden. 

“The reason people are so upset on social media right now is not because the Marine on the battlefield let someone down,” said retired U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller. “People are upset because their senior leaders let them down. And none of them are raising their hands and accepting accountability or saying, ‘We messed this up.’”

President Biden pulling our troops out on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 has sparked a ton of conspiracy theories on what the Taliban or Al-Qaeda have planned for that day. Thankfully, none came true. With the Afghanistan government completely surrendering their country, it will make the job of keeping the terrorists at bay a lot more difficult.

 Afghanistan is one of our allies; if we don’t have their back even if they don’t have ours, or rather if they can’t watch our back, we still have to help them if they request for help or flee their own country.

Not everyone in this school–or even within my own family–agrees.

“We stand at 2 trillion dollars, cost about 2600 lives of the United States, and we gained nothing,” said my grandfather, Gayle Davenport who served as an aircraft crew chief from 1954-‘57 in active duty Air Force and until 1961 in the reserves during the Vietnam and Korean war.

“And what I think we were there for not nation-building,” he said, “but for the oil and the minerals that are in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran.”

I personally disagree with both statements.

While we do stand  $2 trillion and 2,600 lives less, I believe we have gained, if not a victory, a message to anyone who wishes to attack us.

I believe Medal of Honor Recipient David Bellavia stated it best: “We will not be intimidated. We will not back down. We’ve seen war. We don’t want war. But if you want war with the United States of America, there’s one thing I can promise you, so help me God: someone else will raise your sons and daughters.”

He stated that perfectly, and I agree with him 100 percent. We have gained not only a victory but a message, that messing with the United States of America, is not a smart idea. As for my grandfather’s second claim, if we did not help to rebuild Afghanistan and just left, we would be right back in Afghanistan later doing it all over again.

“The terrorist cell, Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden being sheltered there by the Taliban, we requested that they turn them over for justice,” said DM World History teacher Mr. Blankstein, “and they didn’t, it’s national relations; if you get attacked, there has to be some consequence or you invite more attacks.”

If we did not go and strike back, as Mr. Blankstein said, we’re just inviting more attacks.

This issue could develop into a future problem, as more terrorist attacks could happen around the world. However, if we train the Afghanistan government properly, then we should not have to re-enter Afghanistan if we are lucky.

“Mr. President listen carefully, and I’ll say it slowly, just for you,” said Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C. “No man left behind. That’s leadership.”