Ending Obama's War

US intervention in Afghanistan: Justifying the Unjustifiable?

“…However, nowhere in Resolution 1368 is an invasion legitimised. Therefore, the USA bypassed the Security Council and unilaterally initiated military strikes (Cortright, 2011: 13). Also, in efforts to authorise the use of force, the 107th Congress formed a joint resolution, called ‘Authorisation for Use of Military Force’ (AUMF), which legitimised the President to use ‘all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001’ (Congress, 2001).…”

“…Globally, there was also increasing support for imposing democracy on states in need of it, and President Bush embraced the notion of forceful democratisation to counter-terrorism in the Middle East (Downes & Monten, 2013: 95). However, as Cortright (2011: 11) suggests, ‘the Bush Administration never seriously considered an alternative to war in Afghanistan’. Instead of seeking reconciliation, the USA was driven by ideological motivations to pursue the War on Terror, as they favoured regime change in Afghanistan and as indicated, saw little hope and scope for co-operation with the existing dispensation.…”

“…It was not an identifiable entity as Nazi Germany’s armed aggression during World War II. Although countering al Qaeda was perceived as a just cause, ambitions to overthrow the Taliban regime and wage war against a non-governmental terrorist organisation appeared dubious (Cortright, 2011: 10). In the early days after 9/11, public outrage pushed the Bush administration into reacting quickly and forcefully to avoid criticism (Jacobson, 2010: 591).…”

“…This argument may be far-fetched, as the USA and their allies do not intend to kill civilians when they launch an operation. However, what has been witnessed on the ground undermines the ethical standards of war (Cortright, 2011: 12). Civilian deaths also counter the US objective to alleviate the suffering of women, given the consistently high number of female casualties in ground engagements, aerial operations and suicide attacks (UNAMA, 2018).…”

“…The methods involved countering al Qaeda and the Taliban regime, which hosted terrorist organisations such as al Qaeda. Therefore, the combined objectives to counter al Qaeda, suppress the Taliban regime and bring the perpetrators of 9/11 to justice were seen as ‘just purposes’ by the Bush Administration and the general public (Cortright, 2011: 10). At this time, the USA correctly held the Taliban accountable for allowing al Qaeda to be based in Afghanistan.…”