Skip to main content

Was the Afghanistan War a just war? How did the leaders justify it to their people and to the international community? What were the aims of this war?

First, we need to get a clear meaning of "Afghanistan War" and "just war."  I am going to assume you mean the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in November 2001 after the attacks of 9/11.  By just war, you mean that the reason for going to war was just and the actions taken during that war were proportional to the attack of 9/11.  I will say "yes" to both counts.  The United States was attacked by...

First, we need to get a clear meaning of "Afghanistan War" and "just war."  I am going to assume you mean the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in November 2001 after the attacks of 9/11.  By just war, you mean that the reason for going to war was just and the actions taken during that war were proportional to the attack of 9/11.  I will say "yes" to both counts.  The United States was attacked by a non-state actor in Al-Qaeda which was primarily headquartered in Afghanistan.  Afghanistan was a terrorist state that really had no stable government to speak of after the Soviet-led invasion weakened the government there and opened the door to anti-Western extremists taking over.  America wanted to wipe out the terror leaders Osama bin-Laden and his top lieutenants.  It was necessary to overthrow the government there as this government was aiding and abetting these leaders.  While some of the actions taken during the war have been controversial, such as drone strikes killing civilians, it is impossible to absolutely eliminate all risk to civilians in time of war. America has taken great pains by not turning the war into a war against the people but rather as a manhunt and an attempt at promoting a stable regime in the region so this does not happen again.  While its actions in the region make the Afghanistan War appear to be a long-term project, its actions have been justified by the attack on American soil.   

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more