A ‘just war’: that was the unanimous feeling of the international community during the military intervention in Afghanistan following the 9/11 massacre, a feeling that was further strengthened after the far more controversial invasion of Iraq by the US-British coalition forces.
Seven years down the line, the positive spin that the general public and political observers put on the operation is, unfortunately, hard to understand. Although the presidential elections were conducted properly and voter turnout was relatively high, the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar remain unknown. Afghanistan is no longer a base for al-Qaeda, but the group has spread widely throughout the Muslim world, from Indonesia to the Maghreb, and it has found a new, unexpected theatre of operations in Iraq. The Taliban are back in an increasing number of provinces, and, despite the courage of the British, Canadian and French troops, the fighting spirit of many contingents of the international force has become inversely proportional to that of their opponents. The poppy, which had been eradicated, is blooming again and now accounts for 90% of Afghan exports (approximately $3.4 billion) and a similar proportion of the heroin consumed in Europe. Held in contempt by the people, the ‘warlords’ continue to control their respective strongholds, and although women have gained the right to vote, there are many who go to the polling booth wearing the traditional burqa. The return on the $32 billion spent by the international community in Afghanistan over the past seven years – three times the country’s annual GDP! – is as disappointing in terms of military results as it is in terms of economic development.
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