In a country where one has no clear idea who the enemy is, it’s always best to be wellprepared and well-equipped. Such is the case with Afghanistan and the reason why more troops should be deployed to the terrorist hotbed.
Just last week, five British soldiers were gunned down after a member of the Afghanistan National Police, (ANP), went on a shooting rampage.
With the Taliban and al-Qaida running rampant in the country, their extremist leader and mastermind of 9/11, Osama bin Laden still hiding in the Kunar Province, now is the time to put more troops in the country.
Afghanistan has yet to prove itself stable enough for the removal of American troops. Furthermore, Afghanistan just exceeded its previous casualty totals, making October the bloodiest month of all for U.S. troops in the country.
Even those within the military agree that the only way to win the war in Afghanistan is to increase the troop total. Commanding Gen. Stanley McChrystal who is asking for an additional 40,000 soldiers.
President Barack Obama needs to understand that while a decision as important as this one does take time to consider, the longer he waits, the worse it will get.
Even with new technology such as Mine Resistant Ambush Protectant (MRAP) vehicles, the Taliban and al-Qaida are devising new schemes to injure Americans.
At least eight U.S. soldiers have died from attacks in MRAP’s and at least 40 have been injured from these attacks. Taliban insurgents are using more explosives and bombarding troops with rocket-propelled grenades. Without an increase of troops in Afghanistan, the numbers of casualties will only resemble those seen in October. With more troops, there is more of a chance of ending the war.
Obama needs to make the decision now to send in more troops. With support from Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the decision should be relatively easy to make.
After watching five of his own soldiers lose their lives to a rogue policeman, Brown pledged to continue the effort in Afghanistan. Britain already has the second highest number of troops, next to the U.S., with 9,000 soldiers deployed.
It is obvious that the U.S’s greatest ally, the United Kingdom wants to end this war. So why shouldn’t Obama oblige that request?