US troops return to fight, but who cares for Afghans?

Terrorists are losers. We agree on that count with US President Donald Trump who wants to take the heat off his presidency. On Monday, he said the US would stay put in Afghanistan and ‘win the war’ that has dragged on for 16 years — the longest in its history. Previously, the United States hung around but failed despite a troop surge of 17,000 ordered by former president Obama in 2009. To add to the massive failure of the occupation, Obama decided to draw down soldiers which are now down to 8,400. Trump now wants to keep the Taleban and elements of Al Qaeda guessing, which is the right strategy unlike Obama telling his foes that Afghanistan is theirs to steamroll. There was no spirit for a fight, and Washington gave the game away to its foes. Trump is changing tack and serving up some morale — he can be a streetfighter when the chips are down. “From now on, victory will have a clear definition: attacking our enemies, obliterating Daesh, crushing Al Qaeda, and preventing the Taleban from taking over Afghanistan,” he bellowed.

The president may have a “comprehensive plan” which he isn’t willing to disclose, but his generals are on the job. But isn’t it too late in the day? After Washington’s apparent lack of interest to battle it out under Obama, terror groups are running riot in the country. Iran is spreading its influence, Russia is making stealthy moves at a comeback after a humiliating exit in the late nineties. Pakistan is another major player that wants to shape the course of events in the country, while India is dabbling in development projects of its own. Half of Afghanistan is controlled by terrorists. More than 100,000 people have died since the war began in 2001, 32,000 of them being Afghans who are tired of burying their dead. Conflicting interests now converge in the country and Afghans have been left out of the process. Peace remains elusive as the contestants fight for the spoils. The war economy demands it. This is one big fight the world is set to lose.