It’s been almost 14 years since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan and the war still continues. After spending billions of dollars on military equipment and training Afghan security forces, the Trump administration is reportedly considering a complete withdrawal of American troops from the country. Although the Taliban have made significant advances in the south, the government in Kabul remains fragile and there are fears that the country could once again become a safe haven for terrorist groups like al Qaeda.
Why Are There Still U.S. Troops In Afghanistan?
U.S. officials continue to maintain that there is still no military solution to the Afghan conflict and that thousands of American soldiers are needed to pursue peace negotiations with the Taliban. The government in Kabul has also reportedly been weakened by corruption, with some politicians even dubbing the war as “an American occupation.”
In an effort to convince the Trump administration to keep thousands of troops in Afghanistan for another year, the country’s main security organs and international allies have reportedly begun raising the alarm over the spread of drugs and deadly weapons across the country. According to the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, Afghanistan is the largest producer of opium and the second largest consumer of the drug in the world. Many American soldiers have also become dependent on opioid painkillers and others have turned to drinking problematic amounts of alcohol. Some believe that opium production serves as a cover for the cultivation and sale of narcotics in remote areas of Afghanistan and that the government is complicit in the trade.
Is The Trump Administration Considering Withdrawing American Troops From Afghanistan?
In a recent interview, President Trump stated that he would consider withdrawing all U.S. troops from Afghanistan if the conditions on the ground were reasonable but also added that the military operation was very expensive and that he felt that it was “time for us to come home.” Whether Trump will be able to follow through on this is still unknown but some experts predict that he could launch another Afghan war to keep U.S. military personnel busy. A war that could cost billions of dollars and potentially put thousands of soldiers’ lives at risk.
What Will The Taliban’s Next Steps Be If The U.S. Withdraws Its Troops?
The Taliban launched a major offensive in October 2019 that captured the city of Ghazni and forced the U.S. to withdraw some of its troops from the city. While the group has not made it clear what it intends to do next, some experts believe that it may attempt to expand its territorial control and begin a political process with the United States to end the war.
According to Dr. Joanne Smith, a psychiatrist who specializes in addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder, there is a possibility that the Taliban could reestablish a “caliphate” in Afghanistan and once again become the country’s ruling regime. “They could establish something similar to what we had under the Al Qaeda banner in Afghanistan prior to 9/11,” Smith said. “We don’t know what the Taliban’s plans for Afghanistan are. They might decide to negotiate a settlement, they might decide to fight on.”
Is Opium Production Worth The Risk To Afghani Civilians?
The Taliban have already placed a major focus on eradicating opium production, and experts predict that they will continue to do so once U.S. troops withdraw. Between 2009 and 2016, the crop yield decreased by 75%, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. If the Trump administration pulls out all U.S. forces from the country, opium production is likely to decline even more. Opium is currently legal to grow in Afghanistan and while there is evidence that the crop can be grown in a sustainable manner, there are still major concerns over the negative impact that it has on the country’s citizens. The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime has also reported that between 2010 and 2020, the number of people addicted to opium in Afghanistan increased by 50%.
How Is The Country’s Opioid Epidemic Impacting U.S. Troops?
In the last decade, the U.S. has spent billions of dollars on anti-opioid treatment programs in Afghanistan but has still not been able to prevent the disease from spreading. According to the National Institute of Health, 18% of all active duty personnel have reported using the drug in the last year and 11% of the military community have reported diagnosing opioid abuse or dependence. Several organizations, including the White House, continue to cite the opioid epidemic as one of the major factors contributing to the U.S. military’s increased suicide rate. Some experts believe that the root of the problem lies in the fact that the U.S. has been fighting two wars for more than a decade and that stress related disorders are becoming a growing problem within the military community.
What Other Addictions Are Emerging As A Result Of The Vietnam War?
In addition to drugs and alcohol, the Vietnam War had a major impact on other addictions as well. According to a 2019 report from the National Institute of Health, the prevalence of gambling, shopping, and computer gaming disorders increased in the years following the Vietnam War. The report also noted an increase in adolescents exhibiting attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and an increase in young adults showing signs of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Although the Vietnam War was officially over in 1973, the legacy of the conflict continues to this day. Many veterans and their families are still grappling with the physical, financial, and mental toll the war took on them. The recent emergence of new disorders and addiction problems is a testament to how much trauma and change the Vietnam War wrought upon the country and its citizens.