US soldiers watching as others prepare artillery for wounded veterans to shoot during 'Operation Proper Exit' at Forward Operating Base Shank in Afghanistan's Logar Province, May 2014. Photo: AFP / Brendan Smialowski
The Conversation: After Afghanistan, US military presence abroad faces domestic and foreign opposition in 2022
In August 2021, the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan after fighting a war there for nearly 20 years.
In addition to Afghanistan, the U.S. has reduced its military presence in several other conflict zones in recent years. It has lowered troop levels in Iraq from 170,000 in 2007 to 2,500 in 2021, and in Syria from 1,700 in 2018 to around 900 today. While these reductions may seem like a U.S. military withdrawal from the world stage, its presence overseas remains vast.
As political scientists, we examine the costs, benefits and perceptions of U.S. military deployments abroad. Our research shows that though the scope and location of its deployments may change, the U.S. military remains an influential global player.
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WNU Editor: The fall of Afghanistan should be a wake-up call for everyone who believes that the US military and America's foreign policy establishment can make a difference. That maybe spending hundreds of billions of dollars to change the culture/economic/and security needs of a country is money not well spent.
Unfortunately, while I do see some debating the need to keep a US military presence abroad at the levels that they are today, I do not expect any change. There are too many powerful special interest groups in the US who are very happy with the status quo.
4 comments:
Many of us figured out last century that this is not money well spent. It is nice to see more or catching on.
I'm a bit more optimistic than the editor as to change coming. I fully expect this change to come. As always, our foreign partners will hold us accountable for behavior in their countries and I fully expect pressure from them to continue to grow for change. Also, pressure is building in America for the necessary change as well. The current "debate" is only the beginning. I fully expect us to get this right in the end. I would respectfully ask foreign countries to have some patience with us as we get this right. It will take time but in the end it will occur. Also, I would respectfully ask foreign countries, their leadership, and their citizens to make a distinction between the American people and our leadership class.
"There are too many powerful special interest groups in the US who are very happy with the status quo."
Yes, they go by different names. Democrats, lefists, communists, RINOs, etc. All of whom share the Globalist agenda.
Go home 'Merican useless incompetent cowards who have fucked up everywhere you've been. Stay there too. Vlad and Winnie have you all by the balls and you run scared. Leave it to ze Germans with their broomsticks, to the British social services department('Army') and to the EU fantasy army to save the World.
There, sorted. G&T now please.
I wouldn't say we've "fucked up everywhere." 1.) Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and western Europe have been very successful due in large part to US military assistance. 2.) The Kurds have benefited hugely from our assistance. 3.) Israel is a thriving and free country in the Middle East. It's the only one of it's kind in the region!! Many would suggest America has been instrumental in this!!
I would say these are things we Americans should be proud of!! Admittedly our track record of late has not exactly been the best. As I pointed out before, I would humbly ask citizens of other nations to examine us separately from our leadership class.
Frankly we can't be that bad. Countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and a few others have various interests. They've sought us Americans out to help them!! This is a huge honor to be sought out!! While we will seek to prove ourselves worthy of you and the high trust you've placed in us, these arrangements must not be one sided meaning they must be compatible with our needs and interests.
Trust is a two way process. Many of us Americans are concerned that such arrangements could enable you to suck us into military conflicts that aren't compatible with our needs and interests and may run contrary to them.
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