Unsettled war: Afghanistan drags on despite the discontent

One aspect of the discussion among Americans over whether their country should intervene militarily in Libya has been the growing distaste for involvement in Afghanistan.

The sources of discontent are numerous. First is that the U.S. war there is almost 10 years old. While no one would argue that the United States should not have hit Afghanistan after 9/11 for the Taliban government's having hosted al-Qaida, it's hard to say what the war has achieved.

Second is the cost, an estimated $2 billion a week for the United States. When Americans look at the wrangling in Washington and in states over cuts in key programs that could be mitigated by using a "peace dividend" from winding up the war in Afghanistan, the question becomes, "Why are we still there?"

The third reason is the very rationale for continuing the war. It is generally agreed that al-Qaida fighters have been largely driven out of that country. The Afghans themselves -- the government, the Taliban and others -- can see the disadvantages of hosting them again. Most Afghans do not want to see 100,000 U.S. troops in their country, wrecking the place with fighting and bombing, and the destructive behavior that provokes by other Afghans.

Civilian deaths in 2010 were up 15 percent from 2009. Last week U.S. helicopters killed nine Afghan boys who were gathering wood. Gen. David H. Petraeus apologized to President Hamid Karzai, but the Afghan leader said the apology was not adequate. He wants one in Kabul from Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates.

Although U.S. officials and Afghans responded with optimism to Mr. Gates' questions about the U.S.-NATO campaign, the Taliban are preparing a large spring offensive. One result could be many casualties.

The withdrawal of U.S. forces set to begin in July should proceed rapidly to an end to the war. The idea that the fighting should continue for years has little support in the United States. The Afghans are tired of it, Americans are tired of it, and the rationale for it is long gone. Only the cost and the deaths remain.

First published on March 11, 2011 at 12:00 am