Why America Remains in Afghanistan?

[Ellen Brown]

China has had mining operations in Afghanistan for nearly ten years now.. and they have built a railroad. It makes sense because they share a long border with China and will still be neighbors long after the US leaves. During Bush's war years in Iraq and Afghanistan the Chinese built port Gwadar.

American media tells Americans that we are the center of the World.

 

[sooda]

I don't think I would refer to it as a long border. What is it, maybe 50 miles?

I don't know how many miles it is.. but in that part of Afghanistan businesses have opened up.. Its been 6 or 7 years since I was following this little surge in entrepreneurship.

 

[sooda]

American media tells Americans that we are the center of the World.

I know.. Trump finally learned about Afghanistan's natural resources last year and got on TV to talk American development. Idiot.

 

[Wasp]

Because of Russia, but they might be farming drugs and looking down at the locals at the same time

 

[Ellen Brown]

Western media publishes all sorts of stories where Taliban treat women awfully, making them wear burqa, and constant beating. I wonder if that is true?

 

[sooda]

Western media publishes all sorts of stories where Taliban treat women awfully, making them wear burqa, and constant beating. I wonder if that is true?

Probably.

Afghanistan had a high rate of literacy before the Afghan communists deposed the monarchy in 1974. They even had movie theaters.The Taliban even banned kite flying which was a national pastime in Afghanistan.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

Which brings us back to 9-11.

Even I see the value of giving our military the chance to flex its muscle for it's own sake. We need to keep our military "out there" in order to "stay frosty". Afghanistan seems to be a mess with enough threat potential to cause issues.

If the US presence helps to stabilize that nation then long term if minimal is okay with me. But as the OP suggests we should keep an eye on what major corporate and state interests are doing as they may fuel civil unrest via exploitative labor practices. If we support that even indirectly, then we will create problems rather than solve them.

I... have problems with this.

 

[Shad]

America may need Afghanistan and Pakistan if it picks up a war with Iran.

Gaining access to air space and bases has been a standard policy of the US military for power projection for years. Iran only has one corridor that is free from US power which is the north and Caspian Sea. Iraq to the west, Pakistan to the east. US 5th and 6th Fleets in the Gulf (5th is on duty, 6th is in Naples with easy deployment.) to the south.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I don't think I would refer to it as a long border. What is it, maybe 50 miles?

China does not need a long border. It only needs one point to log in, militarily and/or economically. Then they can build bridges and tunnels, roads and railways, with their 3 trillion + USD foreign exchange reserves.

I don't know how many miles it is.. but in that part of Afghanistan businesses have opened up.. Its been 6 or 7 years since I was following this little surge in entrepreneurship.

The border between China and Afghanistan is a 76-kilometre-long (47 mi) boundary .. Wakhan corridor(Wikipedia)

I... have problems with this.

All governments keep an eye on all things which impact their interests.