Essay 1: The War in Afghanistan
The war in Afghanistan plays a major role in feelings towards national security,
economics and racial tensions. Good or bad, the war is a large part of the current U.S. sub
consciousness and evokes strong feelings in both supporters and protestors in several areas of
today’s society. Supporters point to the decreased amount of attacks on the United States,
improved security of the populace and the influx of money to businesses that have a support role
in the war. Others use the loss of life, increased government involvement in normal day to day
activities and amount of money dedicated to the war as a drain on the U.S. economy, believing it
could be better spent elsewhere.
There has not been a terrorist attack on U.S. soil since the war began. Through increased
awareness, airport security and information sharing the ability of government agencies has been
greatly enhanced by increasing ways to identify, track and arrest personnel involved in illegal
terrorist activities. Being able to stop an attack before terrorist can infiltrate targets or secure
weapons of mass destruction protects thousands of lives. Billions, if not trillions of dollars have
been invested in homegrown U.S. businesses such as Letter Kenny, Osh Kosh and Ratheon to
build better equipment for soldiers and increase the ability of the Afghanistan government to
combat the Taliban through improved infrastructure and weapons. That money assists in creating
jobs at companies involved in the war effort and advancing technologies that better protect
soldiers like kevlar that can also be used here at home. It also infuses money into the U.S.
economy and global economies through spending by employees here and the government
purchase of products on the local economy over in Afghanistan.
As soldiers continue to die on foreign soil, it forces many to question if that loss is
justifiable. Is one life lost worth a feeling of being safer or are we...