Support Our Troops, Essay Example

The need for additional troops in Afghanistan remains a contentious issue; yet the administration continues to endure inexorable pressure not to send additional troops as required. When President Obama announced the government’s intention to send 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, the news exemplified an interminable debate on whether the move was actually necessary; more so because of the anticipated financial outlays. But can anyone put a price tag on life? I pose this question to elucidate my position on this issue, essentially because I believe that sending additional troops to Afghanistan is the right move for America. The other issue, which I am perfectly aware of, is the fact that more lives will be put in danger when more troops are sent to Afghanistan. I argue that there is safety in numbers. This is in response to opponents who maintain that sending more troops just means more death for American troops. Would it be better to let the few who are in Afghanistan be killed because they are not strong enough or to reinforce their backup in order to ensure guaranteed success? The realistic response to such a query would be to offer more support to the troops who have already been deployed.

Dealing with the Taliban and Al-Qaida is a matter of national security. Everyone would agree that these terrorist groups pose a significant threat not only to America but to the entire world as a whole. Why then should America restrain from eradicating the possibility of another 9-11? As a largest world power, the United States must act as an example by promoting future world peace. Strengthening the Afghanistan forces will not only eliminate al Qaeda’s possible safe haven but it will also reverse the momentum gained by the Taliban. This will reduce the dominance of the al Qaeda and reduce Taliban’s probability of overthrowing the government. It is notable that opponents of the proposition to send troops maintain that America has already done enough. On the contrary, it is a pity that the administration could not provide the 50,000 troops that had been requested. While the number of troops in Afghanistan is enough to clear the Taliban and al Qaeda from areas, it is not enough to hold the areas clear. Notably, the Taliban and al Qaeda quickly occupy areas where there are no troops as soon as they are cleared from other areas. The war has essentially become a vicious cycle that may never come to an end unless drastic action is taken. The objective must be to win the war once and for all and thereby save America and its ally Afghanistan. More troops would mean better coverage and the capability to clear and hold more areas which would eliminate their ability to provide training camps for terrorists.

It is worth considering that while the Military is holding the south, the Taliban and al Qaeda forces are organizing in the east. Sending additional troops would give them the capability to send units to the east and, along with the help of Pakistani troops, be helpful in disbanding the groups. There are notable incidents where soldiers are relentlessly trying to clear the numerous roadside bombs the Taliban have planted. Unfortunately, just as fast as they are cleared and the soldiers are down the road, new ones are being planted. On their way back down the road, which they thought was secure; many are getting blown away by the new bombs. With new additional troops, they would be able to have soldiers patrolling the roads to prevent the Taliban from planting new ones. It is also known that the Taliban and al Qaeda groups have suffered setbacks and are vulnerable. Additional troops would therefore help crush them.

While there is opposition to sending more troops because there is the belief that much of the plotting done by the enemy is done is cyber space, we also need to remember that they need areas to set up training camps to teach Taliban and al Qaeda members how to kill innocent people. Real training which is done on the ground is therefore what needs to be watched. The dangers from training can be devastating. More troops will help to clear out areas where these groups are likely to train and recruit members. The cyber space is already being taken care of.  While it may not be very well known, we are fighting this in cyber space also. There are different security commissions set up for this sort of protection. Further, cyber space does not necessarily provide the terrorists with war techniques. It is the grounds for such practices that need to be cleared so as to assure the defeat of the Taliban and al Qaeda.

Finally, there is dire need to finish what has already been started. I am aware there is concern about the added costs this will bring during hard economic times. Backing off now however would mean that more financial resources have been wasted for a cause that never was. Again, it is commendable to sit back and visualize how much it would cost if there were more attacks on the US. Terrorism is an awful, awful thing. The kind of loss America would suffer in the event of a terrorist attack like September 11 is indescribable. No one wants to lose their loved ones or their hard invested property to unscrupulous attacks. The solution to such security however can only be possible if the war in Afghanistan is won once and for all. The problem is that more troops are needed to man Taliban and al Qaeda prone areas and to train Afghanistan troops, yet majority of adversaries continue to confront the noble cause of sending the much needed aid. Our soldiers do an awesome job at protecting us, we should, in turn, protect them. Again, can anyone put a price tag on life? They are OUR Military Soldiers. It is a known fact that spending the money is going to save lives, the lives of OUR troops. In closing, and most importantly, I need to ask: Is “Supporting Our Troops” merely a “feel good” statement, or one that will be proven by doing what it states? Is opposing the deployment of additional troops to Afghanistan aligned with our supposed claim of “Supporting Our Troops”? This is the perfect time to eliminate pusillanimous opinions and instead embark on campaigning for the support of our troops in Afghanistan.