Is it possible that, when all is said and done, the war in Afghanistan will become a "forgotten war"? An article in yesterday's Philadelphia Inquirer on U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan got me thinking about where that war will end up in the history books--and I couldn't help but think of the Korean War. My knowledge of that war comes primarily from my father, an Air Force veteran who served during the conflict. Ever since I could remember, whenever he talks about Korea he prefaces the conversation lamenting the fact the Korean War receives much less attention than WWII or Vietnam. Korea shows that even a modern war can fade from collective memory.
It's clear that Iraq overshadows Afghanistan in the public consciousness, but it seems as though over the past few years the term "overshadows" has become somewhat of an understatement. Here's the situation over there as told by the Inquirer:
The U.S. military death toll will soon reach 500 in Afghanistan,
where the war has received less media attention than the conflict in
Iraq despite an increasingly violent insurgency, the resurgence of
al-Qaeda, and a growing commitment of troops...
...By the Pentagon's latest count, the armed forces have suffered 489
deaths so far. And still troops arrive: The number in Afghanistan
exceeds 34,000, with 7,500 additional men and women requested.
The U.S. troops are part of a 40-nation force expanded from 40,000
in fall 2006 to nearly 70,000 today. Last year was the deadliest since
2001, according to the United Nations, which reported 8,000 fatalities,
including 1,500 civilians.
As far back as 2004, Time Magazine published a cover story whose online component was titled: "Remember Afghanistan?" And then there was this New York Times 2005 editorial titled: "Afghanistan's Forgotten War." Now, in 2008, we're still wondering if Afghanistan is forgotten. But, why? Is it simply because of less media coverage? Is it because of Iraq? Is it because people don't care, don't understand, or don't have enough energy to follow two U.S. wars at the same time?
Whatever the reason, the violence still continues. Yesterday came word that U.S. Marines recently deployed to Afghanistan, launched a major operation attacking a Taliban-held town in the violent Helmand region. According to the Associated Press, this was the furthest south U.S. forces had operated in years:
The goal is to stretch NATO's presence into an area where illegal opium
poppy fields are plentiful and the Taliban is strong. British troops
man a small base on Garmser's northern edge but insurgents rule the
countryside south of the outpost all the way to the Pakistan border.
Also yesterday, Canada's Globe and Mail Newspaper published an opinion piece by Brigadier General Dennis Tabbernor, deputy commanding general, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. The paper posed the question: "Is Afghanistan Worth It?," and he answered in part:
The spectacle of suicide bombs notwithstanding, violence is not the
rule. Last year, 70 per cent of incidents occurred in 10 per cent of
the nearly 400 districts. The commander of our Regional Command East,
centerd around Jalalabad, reported that more than 90 per cent of
Afghans there enjoy a peaceful life; the violence shown by our media
does not represent the lives of the vast majority of Afghans.
Instead, the lives of most Afghans are lived peacefully, with
increasing access to basic services, the prospect of a representative
and responsive government at the local, regional and national levels.
The economy rewards honest work, and the possibility of education
exists for their children.
As of today, here are the latest casualty figures according to Reuters:
More than 200 foreign troops were killed in Afghanistan last year and 50 foreign troops have been killed so far this year. Here are figures for foreign military deaths as a result of violence or
accidents in Afghanistan since the Taliban government was toppled in
late 2001:
NATO/U.S.-LED COALITION FORCES:
United States 494
Britain 94
Canada 82
Germany 26
Spain 23
Netherlands 16
Other nations 66
TOTAL: 801
So, is Afghanistan forgotten by the average American? You're comments and answers are welcome.
Loading Menu