The Gazette-Enterprise

The big debate in the United States is over health care or more specifically, the cost of health care.

Angry citizens are going to town meetings demanding the rejection of something that is not even finalized. Shouts from the opponents of something called health care reform and the supporters of the same have been the highlight of the news since Congress first began to tackle the problem.

While we are sitting in our comfortable homes, enjoying our leisure, and screaming about something that is not even being voted on, there are American and allied troops dying in a far away country.

No one is advocating a discussion of a war that should have been ended seven years ago but wasn’t because the then administration wanted a war in another country. Yes folks, we have been in Afghanistan eight years, attempting to win a war over people who have not ever been conquered.

Going into the mistakes, misjudgments, and pure unadulterated neglect by the previous administration is futile. What we need now is a clear understanding of who are we fighting, why we are fighting, and should we continue. Until there is a clear understanding and reasons for this war, it will not be an issue with the American people.

The history of Afghanistan is a history of tribalism not nationalism. Religion became a major factor in the tribal relationships after Islam was introduced in the country. Currently, the vast majority of the Afghan people adhere to the Sunni sect of the Islamic faith. The Talibs, or “students of Islam,” make up a large portion of the population, hence the Talibans that we hear so much about. The Talibans have now been declared the insurgents in the Afghani war.

We are now trying to overcome the influence and power of the Taliban by using our and allied forces. The object is to stop the Taliban from overthrowing the Karzai government that was elected in 2004.

While the Bush administration began the war, it is generally recognized that Afghanistan is President Obama’s war now. We need to begin asking if we have not already, why are we still there? If the original reason for attacking Afghanistan was to get rid of al Qaeda, we have basically completed that task, at least in Afghanistan. If we are there to stop the Taliban from overthrowing the Karzai government, should we be involved in some other country’s civil war?

If we truly believe what we say about supporting our troops, perhaps we should pay more attention to what is going on. It seems that our personal interests are so much more important than sending American men and women into battle.

We have not seen the costs of the Iraqi war and if the escalation of the war in Afghanistan is any greater, we will be compounding those costs.

The costs I am talking about are not the money, it is the cost of the blood of troops, the loss of life and the terrible wounds of our soldiers. Americans should pay attention to the news programs that list the names and ages of those who have died today, yesterday, or from wounds suffered weeks ago. If those of you who say the soldiers are doing their duty, then you have a duty to support them. Not by tying yellow ribbons or putting little decals on your car, or flying that torn flag are you supporting them.

Find out why we are sending troops to a country that is composed of tribes who have been at war for centuries. While worrying about attempts to change health care costs seem to be the uppermost in many people’s minds, they are failing to remember and think about what they are asking others to do.

A question we should ask ourselves is: Who has the most to lose, me or those troops in that god-forsaken land called Afghanistan?

Jack Linden is a retired history professor and a regular contributor to the Gazette Enterprise editorial page.

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