There seems to be no end in sight to the U.S.-led Operation: Enduring Freedom.
It looks more like Operation: Never Ending Chaos. I can imagine millions of pages, sound-bytes having gone into the debate in this country on whether this was a war worth fighting at all. On one hand, you have the killings of thousands of "innocent men, women and children," as those opposed to the war say. These people are killed in air strikes, bombings, raids and attacks - mere casualties of the war on evil and terror. On the other hand, you have fundamentalist bigots "heaven-bent" on murder and destruction (excuse the pun) - but yes, clearly unfit to be allowed to live. The events on Sept. 11 were a rather loud, provocative demonstration of their intentions. Eight years into the war, for some, it's still a question of why it happened.
If recent surveys are anything to go by, without delving into the statistics, a clear but not overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens consider the war in Afghanistan to be a necessity, and they would like to see troops deployed until the job is finished. On the other hand, in countries across the globe, the war is seen as an extension of American imperialism and hegemony. Again, without citations, people in most countries view the occupation in Afghanistan as something to an invasion. The U.S. is easily among the least liked countries on the planet, with another invasion in the name of freedom, democracy and liberty a couple of blocks west of Afghanistan. And the pictures leaked from Abu Ghraib wouldn't have helped selling anything thereafter to a skeptic United Nations.
A poll by Gallup International in 2001 found that majorities in only India and Israel supported military action in Afghanistan in the first place. Not surprisingly, these are two nations that have had to face the brunt of violent extremism for years on end. (India continues to do so; its fight lingering on because of having to hold the gun on to a regenerating suicidal enemy.) This support to the U.S. is in part due to the recognition of the fact that American intervention in self-defense is justified - shying away from reality would be cowardice. Unintentional collateral damage and abuse, though unjustified and condemnable, is part of the return packet.
It is also a mature understanding and acceptance of the fact that the U.S. appears to shoulder its responsibility as the moral police of the world, in line with its economic status in the comity of nations. As calls for more soldiers in the battle grow, even the American citizenry is increasingly wary of American blood being shed in the war zone and opinions about troop deployment are now mainly between "bring-'em-back-soon" and "get-the-hell-out-of-there." In the midst of one of the worst economic crises of our times, this superpower is spending $165 million a day to keep guns firing, while nearly a tenth of its workforce is idling at home looking for a pastime.
The more interesting part, however, is usually skimmed over or swept under the carpet. Have these progressive people and their leaders realized the consequences of using nation states and powerful entities as pawns in its foreign policy? The venomous snakes covertly raised and fed to attack the enemy across the street can easily burrow back into your neighbor's household and give you nightmares. Snakes are what they are, after all.
And how about pushing freedom and democracy down their throats - take it, you say? They'll give you a 0.38 bore gunshot to the temple in return, or at least a headache your friends will have to deal with for the rest of their lives.
Emerging economies and powers continue to form all kinds of G-groupings to take on the developed world. If not their technology, enterprise and democratic traditions, they're good at deciding who should go to war with and fighting the war at one-fourth the price, and now they have this country's experience to boot. Now that the U.S. is ankle-deep in muck, maybe it's time to outsource the "war." If not, seriously, give it all the time and patience it can be given and "fix" the screw-up. A half-dead enemy would come back with twice the punch.