Thread: U.S. Effort in Afghanistan

U.S. Effort in Afghanistan Worse Than ‘D-Minus,’ Watchdog Says

16 January 2020, 04:42 GMT+7

Taliban forces continue to strengthen, target American troops

U.S. has spent about $900 billion since the 2001 invasion

U.S. efforts to rebuild Afghanistan after almost two decades of fighting have been plagued by insecurity, personnel issues and politically-driven time lines, according to the Pentagon’s watchdog for Afghanistan reconstruction.

“The constant turnover of U.S. personnel, or what we have euphemistically called the annual lobotomy, negatively impacted all of our reconstruction efforts,” Special Inspector General John Sopko told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

The U.S. effort was further undermined by a lack of understanding of the “historical, social, legal and political traditions” of the country, he said.

Sopko delivered a blistering critique of American efforts to rebuild Afghanistan. At one point in the hearing, he said that if the U.S. had done more than just “showed up for class” or achieved a “D-minus,” reconstruction efforts would have worked a lot better.

The U.S. has spent nearly $900 billion on the Afghan conflict, the longest in American history. Yet the Taliban are at their strongest since being overthrown in 2001, civilian casualties remain near a record high and attacks by insurgents make it impossible for Afghan forces to secure much of the country.

The U.S. and Taliban are holding talks in Doha, Qatar, where the Taliban has a political office, as President Donald Trump looks to draw down American forces. The two sides have been unable to reach an agreement so far that would set terms for an American withdrawal.

As the two sides try to keep negotiations alive after they broke down in September, the violence in the country continues. Two U.S. troops were killed and two injured when an explosive device hit a military vehicle earlier this month. The Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack.

For years, Sopko’s office has released a series of quarterly reports detailing deteriorating conditions in Afghanistan, even as U.S. forces remained and new strategies were employed to defeat Taliban forces or bolster the government in Kabul.

A recent series by the Washington Post published detailed interviews by Sopko’s office with key U.S. military and political leaders providing far more pessimistic views about American efforts in Afghanistan compared to official public statements.

Trump Visit
In a surprise Thanksgiving trip to Afghanistan in November, Trump said peace talks with the Taliban had resumed amid a push for a cease-fire and said he would be in favor of reducing troop levels to about 8,600 from 12,000. Trump regularly complains about the cost and duration of U.S. military operations abroad.

A month after Trump’s visit, the Taliban said it wouldn’t accept a nationwide cease-fire proposed by the U.S. government.

The Pentagon at various points refused to provide Sopko with figures on Afghan force casualties and the amount of territory the Afghan government controlled compared with the Taliban. He addressed the classification of data during his hearing.

“A lot of the facts that you need, you’re not being given,” Sopko said. “They are over-classified or they’re not being collected or they’re just ignored. Turns out that everything that’s bad news has been classified over the last few years.”

U.S. Effort in Afghanistan Worse Than ‘D-Minus,’ Watchdog Says - Bloomberg

echoes of the soviet effort in afghanistan, comrade.

neither is anything to be proud of.

Yup, whether the Brits, Soviets or Americans - the result remains the same

A month after Trump’s visit, the Taliban said it wouldn’t accept a nationwide cease-fire proposed by the U.S. government.

Art of the Deal.

Originally Posted by raycarey

echoes of the soviet effort in afghanistan, comrade.

Damned Ruskies...
(Before had to clean up after the Froggies...)

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Damned Ruskies...
(Before had to clean up after the Froggies...)

So much idiocy in one person

Originally Posted by raycarey

echoes of the soviet effort in afghanistan, comrade.

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Damned Ruskies...
(Before had to clean up after the Froggies...)

The French in Afghanistan before Russia?

Dense and uninformed

Originally Posted by panama hat

The French in Afghanistan before Russia?

Any other idea where the mess after French had to be cleaned up? (also very successfully...)

Louisiana ?

Originally Posted by panama hat

Yup, whether the Brits, Soviets or Americans - the result remains the same

...and no one learns from historic precedent.

The losers are smiling all the way to the bank. The corruption and waste (and incompetence) surrounding foreign military contracts is astonishing. Only the People suffer. When will the great American unwashed finally realise this?