# 13

War-

Today I read an article about the continuing war in Afghanistan. The war continues on and the United States is still there fighting trying to keep the Taliban insurgents from coming back full force as well as Al-Qaeda from regaining power.

The specific goals are still uncertain, but the current adminstration is considering trying to talk to the insurgents who are more moderate instead of the extremists in the hopes of some common goals being defined. The goal seems to be to try to discuss resolutions without letting the Taliban back into power and trying to get more citizens involved with the running of their own country.

We have deployed more troops there in recent months with an additional 17,000 being added to the current 38,000 number of troops deployed there right now. The hope is that with more troops there they will at a minimum keep the Taliban from returning. The ideal goal is to have a greater impact on the economic lives of the people living there and restore development, and of course, get the people to take over their own country.


AFT Interview with Defense Secretary Robert Gates 2009 March,10, 2009.