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Lucas Jackson / Reuters, file
Paratroopers from Chosen Company of the 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry rest towards the end of a helicopter assault mission to improve their biological database, near the town of Ahmad Khel in Afghanistan's Paktiya Province on July 16.
KABUL, Afghanistan -- It was once President Barack Obama's "war of necessity." Now, it's America's forgotten war.
The Afghan conflict generates barely a whisper on the U.S. presidential campaign trail. It's not a hot topic at the office water cooler or in the halls of Congress — even though more than 80,000 American troops are still fighting here and dying at a rate of one a day.
Americans show more interest in the economy and taxes than the latest suicide bombings in a different, distant land. They're more tuned in to the political ad war playing out on television than the deadly fight still raging against the Taliban. Earlier this month, protesters at the Iowa State Fair chanted "Stop the war!" They were referring to one purportedly being waged against the middle class.
By the time voters go to the polls Nov. 6 to choose between Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney, the war will be in its 12th year. For most Americans, that's long enough.
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'Bumper sticker deep'
Public opinion remains largely negative toward the war, with 66 percent opposed to it and just 27 percent in favor in a May AP-GfK poll. More recently, a Quinnipiac University poll found that 60 percent of registered voters felt the U.S. should no longer be involved in Afghanistan. Just 31 percent said the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting there now.
Not since the Korean War of the early 1950s — a much shorter but more intense fight — has an armed conflict involving America's sons and daughters captured so little public attention.
"We're bored with it," said Matthew Farwell, who served in the U.S. Army for five years including 16 months in eastern Afghanistan, where he sometimes received letters from grade school students addressed to the brave Marines in Iraq — the wrong war.
Hoshang Hashimi / AP
More than ten years after the beginning of the war, Afghanistan faces external pressure to reform as well as ongoing internal conflicts.
"We all laugh about how no one really cares," he said. "All the 'support the troops' stuff is bumper sticker deep."
Top US general's aircraft hit by rocket-fire in Afghanistan
Farwell, 29, who is now studying at the University of Virginia, said the war is rarely a topic of conversation on campus — and he isn't surprised that it's not discussed much on the campaign trail.
"No one understands how to extricate ourselves from the mess we have made there," he said. "So from a purely political point of view, I wouldn't be talking about it if I were Barack Obama or Mitt Romney either."
Ignoring the Afghan war, though, doesn't make it go away.
According to the defense department's latest tally (updated on August 21, 2012 at 10 a.m. ET), 1,972 Americans have died in Afghanistan since President George W. Bush launched attacks there in October 2001 to rout al-Qaida.
The terrorist group used Afghanistan to train recruits and plot the Sept. 11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 Americans.
If casualties in other countries are included, the number of Americans killed since the start of the war is 2,091.
According to an analysis of U.S. forces killed in the war by The New York Times, three out of four who died were white, nine out of 10 were enlisted service members and the average age of those who died was 26. Half of the deaths were in Afghanistan's Kandahar or Helmand provinces — in the country's Taliban-dominated south, the Times reported.
The war drags on even though al-Qaida has been largely driven out of Afghanistan and its charismatic leader Osama bin Laden is dead — slain in a U.S. raid on his Pakistani hideout last year.
Strangely, Afghanistan never seemed to grab the same degree of public and media attention as the war in Iraq, which Obama opposed as a "war of choice."
Unlike Iraq, victory in Afghanistan seemed to come quickly. Kabul fell within weeks of the U.S. invasion in October 2001. The hardline Taliban regime was toppled with few U.S. casualties.
But the Bush administration's shift toward war with Iraq left the Western powers without enough resources on the ground, so by 2006 the Taliban had regrouped into a serious military threat.
Get an intimate view of the lives of infantry soldiers with the 10th Mountain Division, as they encounter danger and then have down time in Logar Province, Afghanistan.
Candidate Obama promised to refocus America's resources on Afghanistan. But by the time President Obama sent 33,000 more troops to Afghanistan in December 2009 in a policy known as the "surge", years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan had drained Western resources and sapped resolve to build a viable Afghan state.
Army casualties during the surge were heaviest at Fort Campbell in Kentucky (home to the 101st Airborne Division) and Fort Drum in New York (home to the 10th Mountain division), according to the Times' analysis of deaths. Units at both bases were frequently deployed to Afghanistan during the surge, the Times reported.
Panetta intervenes after 10th US service member killed in 2 weeks in Afghanistan
Over time, Obama's administration has grown weary of trying to tackle Afghanistan's seemingly intractable problems of poverty and corruption. The American people have grown weary too.
While most Americans are sympathetic to the plight of the Afghan people, they have become deeply skeptical of President Hamid Karzai's willingness to tackle corruption and political patronage and the coalition's chances of "budging a medieval society" into the modern world, says Ann Marlowe, a visiting fellow at the Hudson Institute, a policy research organization in Washington.
"With millions of veterans home and talking with their families and friends ... some knowledge of just how hard this is has percolated down," said Marlowe, who has traveled to Afghanistan many times.
The Pentagon issues new guidelines to U.S. troops in Afghanistan following a deadly week. NBC's Atia Abawi reports.
It has also been hard to show progress on the battlefield.
World War II had its Normandy, Vietnam its Tet Offensive and Iraq its Battle of Fallujah. Afghanistan is a grinding slough in villages and remote valleys where success is measured in increments.
The Afghan war transformed into a series of small, often vicious and intense fights scattered across a country almost as large as Texas.
What's leading Afghan troops to turn on coalition forces?
In July, 40 U.S. service members died in Afghanistan in the deadliest month for American troops so far this year. At least 31 have been killed this month — seven when a helicopter crashed during a firefight with insurgents in what was one of the deadliest air disasters of the war. Ten others were gunned down in attacks from members of the Afghan security forces — either disgruntled turncoats or Taliban infiltrators.
Many argue that bin Laden's death justifies a quick U.S. exit from Afghanistan. Others say it's important to stay longer to shore up the Afghan security forces and help build the government so that it can stand on its own. An unstable Afghanistan could again offer sanctuary to militants like al-Qaida who want to harm American and its allies, they say.
"Those of us who have been at this for a long time continue to think that it's important, and that we have a chance now of a path forward with a long-term perspective that will produce the results," said James Cunningham, the new U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.
US forces in Afghanistan ordered to keep weapons loaded at all times
The U.S.-led coalition's combat mission will wind down in the next few years, leading up to the end of 2014 when most international troops will have left or moved into support roles.
Military analysts say the U.S. envisions a post-2014 force of perhaps 20,000 to hunt terrorists, train the Afghan forces and keep an eye on neighboring Iran and other regional powerhouse nations.
Americans aren't likely to know the number until later this year. But will anyone other than families of service personnel take note?
As NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports, US military officials are investigating whether or not the Taliban was in fact involved in deadly Black Hawk helicopter crash that claimed the lives of seven US soldiers and four Afghan troops.
"I have heard others say that the danger that their spouses or children are serving in is just simply not being cared about," said Fred Wellman, a 22-year Army veteran who did three tours in Iraq. "I think a lot of veterans feel it is just forgotten."
Political satirist Garry Trudeau captured the apathy about the war in a comic strip this year showing a U.S. servicewoman stationed in Afghanistan calling her brother back home.
After he complains that his children have the flu and how he's struggling to keep up with their hectic hockey schedule, he asks her where she's calling from. She tells him she's in Afghanistan.
"Oh, right, right ..." her brother replies. "Wait, we're still there?"
The Associated Press and NBC News staff contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
To use the term "Forgotten" is nothing short of an insult to our men and women who are fighting this war. It isn't forgotten its simply become common place. We've been fighting this war for over 10 years with no clear "winning" strategy. We're fighting the Taliban who did NOT attack us on 9/11 we went there to rid the country of Al-Queda and we've done that, Osama Bin Laden is dead and the Terrorist group is no longer viable thanks to President Obama and his drones and Seal Team 6. Our troops need to come home and let the Afghans deal with their own internal issues. We no longer have the right to be in that country our enemies are no longer there and now all we are doing is policing a nation that doesn't want us there.
Yep, no balls, but Hussein has his "death list" and his Drones and his Nobel Peach Prize. All make believe. To him it is all Hollywood, cool shades and make believe. T
Yes, forgotten indeed, Especially in the Media, Support our Troops has became a "feel good" slogan, which contributes to more deaths, because our politicians do not care either.
I frequently go to Walter Reed, I meet so many young men with no arms, no legs, wounds so horrible it is difficult to bear. They joke about their CiC, President Hussein never comming to see them. They know that no one cares. They also joke about Code Pink, realizing the movement was nothing about them, just politics. Sad
It won't be the forgotten war when Romney wins the election in November the slime bag mainstream media will once again have the war on the news everyday.
The quickest way to end a war is to lose it.
- George Orwell
Just a few ???. How do these bastards in Washington sleep at night? Why do these young people fall for the SCUM'S (in DC) line "your fighting for "our" country"? YOUR FIGHTING FOR PEOPLE THAT HATE THE USA! Young people WAKE-UP. Hell no I won't go, relive the 60's. How many of the Romney's went over their? The Bush girl's? Clinton's daugter? Obama's girls will never see combat in the middle east either. Get a grip, your life or limb means NOTHING to the D.C. or Middle East SCUM. I know I've there!
Larry
I disagree with the articles statement that "no one really cares". We all care about this war.....ending already. Bring our troops home.
If we all really cared we the people would be marching on Washington like never before but like the people of Germany during World War II it is easier to look the other way as long as we are comfortable. Actually we are worse the the people of Germany during World War II because we have the ability to vote these traitors out of office.
I and the many that have served WILL NOT forget those that served before and after us!!!!!!!!!
We MUST NEVER forget the sacrifice of the servicemen and their family's.
I have never openly been opposed to war until now and only now because we have been there already! When we were attacked on our own soil then we had the right to retaliate, but this is different. I agree with helping our fellow man to an extent, to get the gorilla off his back and teaching them how to keep it off, but when they refuse to stand up for themselves then it's time to stop. The saying "beating a dead horse" comes to mind here. We tried to teach the people how to fight and stand up for themselves. Apparetnly they didn't learn. My son fought in that war, as well as help clean up Bosnia and they haven't learned either. There is unrest there again, also. When do we say enough is enough? When do we let them fight their own battles? We would all like to see peace all over the world and everyone getting along, but face fact, there have been wars since the beginning of time and always will be, as long as the human race is on this earth. One group of people always wanting to have power over another. One wanting what the other has even though they have the same in their own back yard. Greed is the power that rules and eventually distroys.
Deb, it is not the politicians fault, it is the fault of the voters. They voted in someone that sits on his throne and with a flick of his finger can send thousands to their death. He relishes that power, a power the corrupts, absolutely corrupts. We can play the blame game and blame everyone else, but it is our fault. We elect them.
You Dems and Repubs are pitiful. Both parties gave the OK to go into the war and now you play blame games about the outcome.
America needs real leaders who are not from the two "it's not our fault" parties.
I care!!Get them out now!Been saying it for years now!No one is listening!!!
Sign-just a Vet
Does nobody remember what happened when the last time we pulled support out in a quick and unorderly fashion? (1979 after the Soviets left). The power vaccum built the Talaban. Also how can (almost) everyone here blame Obama for Afganistan? It started over 10 years ago. We at least now have a timeline for an exit. We did exit Iraq. That ONLY 2000 (US) soldiers have died in 10 years is amazing, compared for example to the about 10,000 that died in 9 years of war with the USSR. Also to put it in perspective about the same number of soldiers that have died in Afganistan have committed suicide in the same time period, with a majority of them being non-deployed soldiers. Talk about the human cost of war, THOSE are the forgotten soldiers. The President gets a daily breifing about Afganastan and once your in it you have to stay and complete the job. Next time we rush to war rember that. Obama inherited the job and so will the next President even after Obama leaves (in four years).
We the people are 4% of the worlds overpopulation: Communist China is l/5 with billions: and we pay the UN to do what? Have their UN Troops seated safe and sound while we dispose of our own and have Open Borders Criminal Illegal Alien Invaders WELCOMED and REWARDED while we prosecute US Miltary and kids on skateboards.
We are no longer worthy of our blessings and anyone who would send US Military to die while welcoming an illegal is EVIL vs One Nation Under GOD
Which president will stop it?
B L O O D is permanently on all those who would even consider sending US Miltary to Afghanistan after the Russians went bankrupt doing so--just like Vietnam after the Frency all all: while we have Open Borders and this administration now welcomes and rewards The Race=666=LaRaza ills, aka illegals, illegitimates ove 80-90% illegitimacy via illegals who walk right into the USA's biggest Catholic border hospitals with the CEO being the former Mexican Presidente...they deliver and receive auto welfare citizenship from womb to tomb on the backs of dimiinishing working US Citizens of Generations...all while right NOW this admins is giving awaythis is the current Kenyan god kings Admin PRIORITY the ILLEGALS, JIHADIST appointed Whtie House Direct to Homeland Insecurity!
SEATS in our USA's TAXPAID U N I V E R S I T I E S to illegals, illegitimates where our US D E AD S O L D I ER S should be seated...
B E T R A Y A L to each and every laaw abiding US Citizen of Generations and our sons, daughers, father,s mothers, uncles, aunts, sisters , brothers, grandmothers, and grandfathers as US Military each generation systmatically sacrificed on foreign soil so our COWARD TRAITORS WITHIN could give away our nation
EVIL vs One Nation Under GOD
You seriously need a Valium, dude!
Hey, I was just going to write the same nonsensical rant, word for word, but you beat me to it. Great minds think alike.
Seems this article is several years overdue. Bush/Cheney and the GOP abandoned our military in Afghanistan in 2003, when they cherry-picked their way to war in Iraq.
War, especially big, prolonged war, was once glamorous, glorious, and profitable. WWI and WWII did wonders for our economy - especially when "Rosey the Riviter" had to step up and fill the work force, because so much of the male populace wanted to be soldiers.
It's just not like that any more, and there has been no great and noble cause to fight - no "stop the spread of fascism/communism' to rally behind. Instead, we have our men and women on the ground fighting for what? To defend corporate profits? To lash out against an idea? Our soldiers don't give a $hit about corporate profits, and fighting an idea is like trying to hold moonlight in your hand - and everyone knows it.
Good, rational post. Thanks.
You're welcome. I remember many stories from the WWII era as told by friends and family members, of young men 16 and 17 years old, lying about their age, just for the opportunity to stand up and be a part of the war effort. Many I'm sure were turned away, but some did manage to "slip past" the recruiters and actually enlist.
I can't recall a war, operation or even a skirmish since that time that faced that kind of "problem" - in fact, quite the opposite: the demand for soldiers is there, but no one's signing up to line the pockets of a "broken" war machine.
Times have changed indeed, but it seems far too many minds, in Washington and Wall Street, like me remember 'the good old days', when war was profitable, soldiers were heroes, and the entire nation stood behind them.
But now, with so many jobs outsourced, and so many more automated away by robotic processes, even when the cause is just and good (Operation: Desert Storm/Desert Fox) or Operation: Let's Get Those Alkayduh Bastards... in the first few weeks, we need so many fewer soldiers 'over there' and even fewer workers back home to support them than we did back then.
So the money just isn't there, and short of a true global WWIII, it never will be again.
I do not care which president started it. Which one is going to finish it? Enough already. Bring them home, and leave that country along. Point a bomb at it and shoot if they scew with the U.S. again.
As a iraq vet who has sent two sons to the war i only wish to say "i detest all war" please bring them home.
There's no reason to have troops in Afghanistan. Never was. Maybe people just see it for what it is, which is a fabricated conflict.
I feel badly that kids are getting killed and maimed over there for nothing, but in my opinion there is nothing heroic or patriotic about it. Just politics as usual.
Forgotten? 2,000 combat deaths is exactly 2,000 too many. Our leaders seem to like having our troops equip and train the very same people who at first opportunity turn the weapons on US and coalition forces. We should have been out of there the day Bin Ladens death was confirmed. I will not forget and I will remember on election day to make it clear at the ballot box. Bring our troops home and let them eat each other for all I care.
the Iraq war was fought for lies,this war is being fought for the most corrupt gov in the world(next to ours) where they grow and supply the worlds heroin. Why wouldnt people want to forget it? This isnt about patriotism or anything else its about corporate profits. You dont hear anyone talking about it because they dont want to admit that they are dumb enough to let it go on for 10 years not to mention the fact that it wrecked the economy. My son did a tour in Iraq and afghanistan as a force recon Marine, he went to military school,was at the top of the class and couldnt wait to be a Marine.On top of that he's smart so it didnt take him long to see thu the bs and say''remember all the things you told me about why Vietnam was a waste? Same thing here,we arent doing any one any good,we cant win this,its all about just keeping it going''. Its a shame because there are many like him,he's the one you want in the Corps,but he got out and will never wear anyones uniform again. And thats fine with me. And the way the Vets are treated that need help in this country is a National disgrace,we've turned an entire generation against us,and we dont even know it. Let Romneys sons fight the next war,he talks big enough about sending yours to fight for Israel or against Iran.
Generation? we have turned nations against us and we don't even know it.
US lifes wasted. For what? To protect their country. Our troops should be here protect our land not everyone elses.
People were told BY Obuma he declared "The War Is Over" and they believed his stupid crap. I haven't forgot it and neither has The Families of All out Troops. The war never ended it was Obuma talking out Both sides of his mouth. He hasn't been bringing troops home he's been sending More and for anyone who thinks otherwise they are just as stupid as him.
I want Obuma Out but the only other choice is Rottney, who's Just as bad or worse than Obuma. They both are lying thieves, Both are an embarrassment.
There are no obvious good choices but we know what Obama is....Romney can't be worse since we are already scraping the bottom. At least with Romney we have a chance and getting jobs and fixing the economy so we can pay the higher taxes that will have to be paid for Obamacare. After four years of Obama there is no way to go but up.
Greed, hate, selfishness, corruption and violence is overwhelming the world, capitalism has become all about making as much money as you can anyway you can. Insurance has become a big Ponzi scheme, it allows an industry to charge more for services then the market would allow. It is based on people paying far more into the system then they will ever get out of it while others take sweet profits from that pay while cutting services to those who paid for them. America anymore it is now controlled by industrialized elitist that only care about profit not who lives or dies. The US goes on with it's own agenda and keeps it's people well divided and conquered. The USA is burning while the career politicians serve their special interest masters,it doesn't matter who gets in as long as big money decides both parties. I'm going to keep voting every incumbent out and for as many independents as I can. If everyone did that it wouldn't change the government in one election but it would sure shake them up to realize that if they do not start serving the people over big money contributions they will be finding temporary employment.The only thing that is going to save the country is putting the pressure on government to serve the people rather then self interests. Unfortunately the people will either vote for Master Obama or Master Romney and we will still all be left out in the cotton fields.
I, for one, have not and will not forget our soldiers. I remember four years ago when Obama promised that as president he would bring our soldiers home and create jobs for us all. Since then, he has taken us deeper into Afghanistan. I have family that are in the military and were sent from Iraq to Afghanistan....he has not created any jobs.....he has driven us further into debt and spent more money than any other president ever....he spent his first year in office taking over healthcare instead of fixing the economy.
This is hardly a forgotten war. I pray daily for all of the the women and men who are in the US military because of this war. May God keep them from harms way!
"The anti-war activists and the new media were active and reported about the war when Bush was in office. So it was in our face everyday and the hatred for Bush grew because of it. Both have become silent now that Obama is in office. That's the difference."
How quickly people forget, Iraq was a war that never should have happened. We went to Afghanistan because that's where Bin Laden was hiding. That's the difference.
we need to get out now our troops are no longer needed ther or wanted there by afghans.What price more do our troops need to suffer.Dying at the hands of so caaled friendlys,GET OUT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!