Afghanistan, 13 years later

[Harry Smith]

As you all know the ISAF ( international Security Assistance force) lead by NATO has been engaged in Afghanistan since 2001. This started with small special forces groups and air strikes to dismount the Taliban regime. This was effective and a new government based in Kabul was established. However the Taliban still have a strong control over many of the border regions and the vast terrain surrounding it. This meant that British, American, Canadian and Anzac forces were deployed to help fight the Taliban and train the Afghan army. However this has cost NATO a very large amount of Money and life with over 3,000 casualties.

The withdrawal date is 2014, after that it will be mainly left to people of Afghanistan to fight the taliban. Is this too early? or should we leave now? What do you think about the situation?

[Magus]

If NATO leaves, terrible things will ensue. This will raise the morals of those groups, and they will assume power on those uncovered region. There will be new sub-groups, new leaders, new goals. This will be a save haven to all of the terrorists in the region.

[irishguy123]

we need to teach the people ways to deal with the Taliban but not become overly involved. we should not pull out straight away but instead try and help the people deal with things themselves. an example of this is when Belgium pulled out of the Congo without supporting the people and helping them develop democratically and since then, this has in many ways damaged the Congo