Issue 51 - University of Surrey's Student Union

Opinion & Analysis Editor: Justine Crossan | Copy Editor: Emma Fleming Wednesday 14 th November 2012OPINION & ANALYSIS 7Opinion & AnalysisThe Afghanistan conflictSam KingI, as many, remember the eeriescenes just over eleven yearsago of the dark plumes of smokeascending above the World TradeCentre in the United Statesfollowing the devastating strike inManhattan. With this new chapterof international affairs came thedecision of the United States andthe United Kingdom to launchOperation: Enduring Freedom; aninvasion into the unstable and thenTaliban-controlled nation that hasbecome all too familiar withinthe media and wider society:Afghanistan.The key reason as to why theUnited Kingdom is part of ISAF(International Security AssistanceForce), and is therefore allocatingtroop numbers to the Afghantheatre, is summed up clearly onthe British Army Website. The threeapparent reasons provided on thesite are as follows: rid Afghanistanof the Taliban and consequentlyreduce the breach and impact of AlQaeda, develop a secure future forAfghanistan itself, and oversee thetransition of the responsibility ofnational security from ISAF forcesto those of the Afghan Army andPolice. As furtherance to theseaims, the mission in Afghanistanhas also become one of a rebuildingmission, of an infrastructural andalso a social connotation. Rather alot, don’t you agree?The conflict in Afghanistan hasnot been without controversy andscrutiny. For one predominatelyhistorically-based reason;Afghanistan has been a problemcountry for invading forces before.The Persian, British and Sovietventure into the geographicallyhostilenation ended in defeat forthe then superpowers. And so itmay appear appropriate to expectthat a current placing of bootson the ground may play out to asimilar conclusion as previousinterventions before.The death toll is anotherreason for such scepticism ofour nation’s role in Afghanistan.Since the launch of hostilities onthe 7 October 2001, 437 Britishservicemen and women have losttheir lives upon Operation Herrick(the name given to UK ops. in thecountry), the two soldiers from the1st Battalion Royal Gurkha riflesbeing the latest casualties of theconflict.With previous historicalknowledge of past militarymanoeuvres within Afghanistanand the rising death toll, these twofactors can surely only be mitigatedby ISAF fulfilling their missionobjectives. In May 2011, OsamaBin Laden was killed by a US NavySeals mission in Pakistan. This,in my eyes, can be viewed as anaccomplishment. As for defeatingthe Taliban, that objective israther difficult to measure dueto the Taliban being classified asa non-state actor, and not beinga conventional fighting force inuniforms with specific corps,regiments and divisions.In the case of defeating theTaliban, deterioration in violenceand terrorist attacks in Afghanistan1bn Royal Anglian Regiment Afghanistanand the wider world will be thetell-tale sign of this objective, butthis will require a substantial timeframe to determine.With regard to the rebuilding ofthe nation, especially in the barrenand generally underdevelopedred zone of Helmand Province,progress is yet to be seen. Takethe region of Lashkar Gah forinstance. In 2006 and the arrival ofBritish troops, Lash was a volatileand desolate environment. Inthe present day, Lashkar Gah hasmade a hugely positive transitionfrom a highly volatile region toa far more secure and businessorientateddestination, where pastcommerce has returned due to thework of ISAF pushing the Talibanout of such areas. This evolvingsuccess story breathes a sense ofworthwhile-ness into the presenceof ISAF in Afghanistan, and moreprecisely, British troops.The presence of British forces inAfghanistan is a hot bed of publicopinion, and has been even more soof a contentious subject in recentyears. The increasing death tolland a sense of disillusion as to whyBritish servicemen and women arein this nation appear to formulatethe two primary reasons thatcontribute to the foundation ofsuch debate. In such a short pieceas this, I cannot possibly representevery point of opinion concerningthis topic and come to a reasonedconclusion as to whether the forcesof our country are right to be inAfghanistan.Yet I feel it appropriate to statethat good work is being orchestratedin Afghanistan, such as the successstories of the capturing andkilling of Osama Bin Laden, andthe heightened sense of securityin various regions of HelmandProvince. As a final closing piece,and as a potential future officer inthe British Army, I wish to make thepoint that, whilst our troops are inAfghanistan, we should supportthem and be extremely proud ofthe tremendous work that they areperforming under such adverseconditions and great danger. As asubsequent closing note, payingour respects to the fallen soldiersof the Afghanistan conflict is aconsideration to be made. Lest weforget.2014 withdrawal in twenty sixmonths, watch this space…For a first hand insight of BritishArmy actions in Afghanistan, DougBeattie (MC)’s: An Ordinary Soldieris a rather good starting point. Asis Patrick Hennessey’s: The JuniorOfficer’s Reading Club.