The Russians are providing weapons to the Taliban in Afghanistan but no one is listening. Our war in Afghanistan is still going on, thousands are dying but people stopped paying attention. Trump is doing bare minimum and Russia is involved.

Carmen Gentile | Opinion Contributor

It’s a problem without an apparent solution, one most Americans have forgotten and the rest wish they could.



While we occupy ourselves with allegations of alleged dalliances with porn stars and the ever-rotating caste of White House characters, the violence in Afghanistan continues leaves thousands dead and maimed every year.



And yes, American troops are among those still killed and injured over there.



Lawmakers in Washington sometimes address the Afghanistan situation, though rarely do enough to make a difference. They’d gladly tackle the one of the more complex conflicts of our time if only it didn’t cost them a red cent of political capital.

More: Don't call it 'meddling.' The Russians attacked our democracy.

More: Afghanistan-Taliban peace talks must include women negotiators defending their rights

To them, there’s no action regarding Afghanistan that favors their political fortunes.

Get behind sending more troops to fight the Taliban, Islamic State and other armed groups, and you could be putting your seat in jeopardy come election time.



Call for a complete withdrawal, and you’re forever branded the lawmaker who’s weak on terrorism.



The same ambivalence goes for the Trump administration, which clearly doesn’t have a well-thought strategy for Afghanistan if you don’t count the president’s occasional bombast about taking on bad “dudes.”



The White House did recently order a few thousand additional troops be sent to Afghanistan, adding to the 11,000 or so strong U.S. forces currently there. However the move will likely do little to reverse the tide of Taliban encroachment across the country and a recent spike in bombings in the Afghan capital, Kabul. If more than 100,000 U.S. troops during the height of the Obama-order Afghan surge couldn’t end the violence there, then a little over 14,000 surely won’t either.



Meanwhile, those American men and women who are risking their lives in Afghanistan right now do so in the name of a largely rudderless mission well into its 17th year with no defined goal other than some vague notion of “peace.”



Think that’s terrible? Oh, it gets worse.



Last month we received official confirmation from the U.S. commander in Afghanistan of a long-held suspicion that Russia is seeking to undermine U.S. efforts in Afghanistan.



"We've had weapons brought to this headquarters and given to us by Afghan leaders and said, this was given by the Russians to the Taliban," said Gen. John Nicholson, who commands U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan in an interview with the BBC.



So, in addition to interfering in the U.S. presidential election, Moscow is also undermining U.S. efforts in Afghanistan by arming those trying to injure and kill Americans in Afghanistan.

More: Pentagon, help stop Afghan child abuse

POLICING THE USA: A look at race, justice, media

What was the reaction in most corners of America to this troubling news? I’ll tell you: the deafening sound of seeming indifference.



Look, I care more than most because I covered the war in Afghanistan for years. I was seriously injured while embedded with U.S. forces, then months later returned to front line reporting. I did it because I thought it was important.



Alas, my efforts seem to have failed. The war in Afghanistan has largely receded deep into the background amid non-stop chatter about boorish presidential tweets and what’s on that disc Stormy Daniels’ lawyer is dangling.



But do me a favor. Carve out a few minutes a week to consider the longest war in U.S. history and those still fighting it. Then ask your lawmakers what they plan on doing about it.



Carmen Gentile is a freelance journalist whose new book Blindsided by the Taliban is based in part on his reporting from Afghanistan for USA Today. Follow him on Twitter: @CarmenGentile