Eleven Years and 2,044 Deaths Later

Eleven years, 2,044 deaths, and almost a half-trillion dollars. This Sunday, October 7th, marks the beginning of the US Military's twelfth year in Afghanistan. The war in Afghanistan started October 7th, 2001 when the United States launched Operation Enduring Freedom, or the War on Terror. The original driving force of the invasion was the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Towers and ending Al Qaeda's base in Afghanistan. Since 2001, the US has accomplished its original goals and has  removed a large portion of Al-Qaeda from Afghanistan and killed Osama Bin Laden. Although the US has accomplished all of its initial goals in Afghanistan, we still remain there.  As many years have passed and military deaths have hit the 2,000 mark, many US citizens are wondering why the US is still there while others have simply forgotten about the war. Earlier this year, President Barack Obama's exit strategy was signed off by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that calls for an end to combat operations next year and international military force removal, led by the US, by the end of 2014. (CNN) However, 2014 is two years away, which leaves many wondering why the United States is still in Afghanistan after eleven years, thousands of deaths, and billions of dollars.  Many people have their own opinions about the Afghanistan war, so why do you think the US remains in Afghanistan? Should the US continue to have a presence in Afghanistan?

War in Afghanistan Collage