Afghanistan: The Next Forgotten War

Over half a century ago, thousands of young men shipped out half-way across the world to a tiny southeastern Asian country to wage an unofficial war. The enemy was communism, a foe that was to rear its ugly head again in the following decade. Though this three-year conflict claimed nearly as many American lives, the Korean War was long eclipsed by Vietnam. Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom, which began October 7, 2001 in Afghanistan, may face a similar battle in the years to come to the one that beset Korean War veterans.

National attention turned briefly to Afghanistan following the death of former NFL star Patrick D. Tillman, who was killed in a friendly fire incident on April 22, 2004, but since Operation Iraqi Freedom began with the U.S. invasion on March 19, 2003, media coverage of the Iraq war has far eclipsed Afghanistan. Since the onset of the war in Afghanistan, a total of 441 U.S. troops have been killed and 1291 injured, figures with which hardly any Americans are familiar. This may seem paltry compared to the 3792 fatalities and 31,514 injured in Iraq, but not for the soldiers killed or injured in Afghanistan, nor for their families. Coalition casualties in Afghanistan include 251 killed and about 900 injured.

Most Americans saw the strike on the Taliban as just retaliation for September 11, 2001. But many felt a commensurate attack was sufficient, arguing that the U.S. had no obligation to rebuild a nation that was already in ruins from years of Soviet occupation, and internecine fighting. Much like the detractors of the Iraq war, others question the wisdom of attempting to instill democracy and western values in a place unaccustomed to such ideals.

After six years of occupying the 400,000-square mile country, the United States has no immediate exit in sight, and will likely spend untold billions more. Despite valiant efforts by U. S. forces, much of southern Afghanistan still harbors remnants of the Taliban and Al-Qaida.