(HorizonPost.com) Former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump worked toward reducing the United States military presence in Afghanistan in an orderly fashion. The latter signed an agreement with the government and the Taliban terrorist group in February 2020. After Joe Biden took the Oval Office, he extended a deadline for all troops to be out from May 1 to September 11, 2021, in violation of existing agreements and against the advice of military advisors who warned of potentially disastrous results.
Now, the Islamic militant group has gone on a massive offensive trying to reclaim the country for themselves in a reported 26 of 34 provinces in the country, causing a high rate of casualties among Afghan troops. A senior official reportedly claimed, “In the past 24 hours, there were unfortunately 157 casualties…”
Reuters: "Afghan troops suffer 'shockingly high' casualties as violence mounts" https://t.co/1ciQpGALwU
— Evan Kohlmann (@IntelTweet) June 7, 2021
The Taliban is known for its strict adherence to Islam’s Sharia Law which, among other things, severely limits the freedom of women, according to a 1996 CNN report. Some history and military experts warn that a rapid withdrawal could lead to an oppressive regime. Yet, the Pentagon expects American forces to be gone in their entirety by mid-July of this year. This conflict is starting to seem very much like a lose-lose situation for both the U.S. and Afghanistan.
Copyright 2021, HorizonPost.com
