Afghanistan: An Avoidable War February 17, 2010

by Will

Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

February 17, 2010

The ongoing siege of Marja in Afghanistan?s Helmand Province is the largest military engagement of a war that has now consumed more than eight years. As the assault on the Taliban stronghold continues, evidence is tardily emerging that undermines the rationale for the war.

A declassified US State Department report publicized in the CTC Sentinel, the journal of West Point?s Combating Terrorism Center, describes efforts by Afghanistan?s Taliban junta, beginning in 1998, to isolate and contain Osama bin Laden in the country?s Kandahar Province.

Two days after an August 1998 U.S. missile strike on Osama?s training camps, Taliban leader Mullah Omar opened a channel to the State Department to request evidence of Osama?s involvement in anti-American terrorist acts. Within a year, the Taliban ? which did not share Osama?s jihadist ambitions ? was considering measures to eliminate the training camps.

Timely action by Washington and a modest amount of diplomatic flexibility in dealing with the Taliban could have eliminated any threat by Osama years before 9-11.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.

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