Obama’s Afghan surge in 2009

On 27 March 2009 President Barack Obama announced the new US strategy for Afghanistan-Pakistan. That included a surge of 4.000 troops to train the Afghan army, and hundreds of civilian US specialists to support development in Afghanistan. He also pledged $1.5 billion annually in aid to the Pakistani government for five years, equalling 1% of Pakistan Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Obama asked other nations “to do their part”, and several NATO countries increased their troop contributions.

During his election campaign, candidate Obama stated in August 2008 “This is not a war of choice. This is a war of necessity. After becoming president he ordered 17.000 combat troops to fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda in February 2009. Later in 2009 another 30.000 troops were committed to go, totalling 51.000 new troops in a “the surge”. And then by in July 2011 they would start to transfer out again. The idea was that the Afghan army would stand on its own and fight the Taliban and deny al-Qaeda the possibility to re-establish bases in Afghanistan. Both the Afghan and Pakistani presidents responded positively to the new strategy. But most analysts knowing Afghanistan called for a political solution and reforming the Afghan state to serve the people better. I still don’t understand why sending more troops made the Norwegian Nobel Committee give Obama the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009. Even Obama seemed puzzled by the decision.

 

President Obama during a joint session of Congress on 24 February 2009.

 

The needs of the Afghan people were not taken much into consideration this time either. They need health, education, safety and justice and a government that is present around the country and well functioning. The corrupt government they had was cheating in elections and providing very little of this. Knowing the Americans would leave and that Taliban was strong and providing some order and justice many choose to accept or support Taliban. The war is going on, and the international forces supposed to leave by 2014.

  Afghan children wait to receive basic medical care and clothing in Khost Province.

Background
After 11 September 2001 the US primarily needed safety for their inhabitants. The invasion of Afghanistan was meant to hinder further attacks by going after al-Qaida. But doing so, they also took on Taliban, which was not involved in 11. Sept. but gave refuge to al-Qaeda. The remnants of al-Qaeda and Taliban escaped over the border to Pakistan, where they continued to get support from parts of the Pakistani military and intelligence agency (ISI).

 

In Afghanistan US forces supported warlords to keep order, but they violently exploited people who experienced the new rule as gross injustice. Taliban regrouped and came back and found willing supporters. In a creeping mission the US and international community increased the goals of the initial invasion to build a new society. But the efforts were not well co-ordinated and took little notice of the needs of the Afghans. A corrupt government with little presence in the countryside lost support. And NATO forces were increasingly seen as invaders and supporters of a corrupt government.

Sources and more information

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-on-a-New-Strategy-for-Afghanistan-and-Pakistan
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/27/obamas-afghanistan-plan-4_n_179892.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/us/obamas-journey-to-reshape-afghanistan-war.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

I am open to your comments and proposals.
Warmly
Bjarte Bjørsvik