The Afghan War is a Modern Day Vietnam War

The Vietnam War is famous for having dealt the United States its worst defeat in many years. Half a million US armed forces were sent and deployed to participate in the war. It is during this military conflict where 58,159 American armed forces lost their lives fighting for an uncertain cause. It also showed that a military superpower can be brought down after all and taught America numerous lessons to ponder up to this day.

Today, the US is involved in yet another similar conflict. The War in Afghanistan is foreseen and predicted to be another US setback in the making. Recent figures show the increasing number of US servicemen casualties along with the Afghan insurgency also gaining power. The continuous attacks on US forces and bases in Afghanistan is a testament that the insurgency is very determined to repel the Americans and win back the country.

What makes Afghanistan similar to Vietnam are the policies and decisions done by the government. During the Vietnam War, the US intervened and favored the administration of then President Diem of South Vietnam going up against most of the Vietnam people. In relation to today’s situation, the US has also invaded Afghanistan and trying to impose a US-backed government. But just how sure is the US that the Afghans accept this government? There have been rumors that the Afghan government is corrupt and may have secretly aided the insurgency.

The US has now put a deeper commitment to Afghanistan much more what the US did in Vietnam. The government has pledged more troops for Afghanistan. The addition of 30,000 more troops put intense pressure on the US to generate more favorable outcomes and achieve its goals. But with the continuous increase in military death toll, it is now a big question if the US is still fighting a winnable and achievable situation. It is also good to note that the US has lost sight of its primary reason when it invaded Afghanistan during the year 2001.

Perhaps the most significant similarity between these two conflicts is the lack of political will and support. During the Vietnam War, the US gave up its support and aid to South Vietnam because they lack the will to pursue it and Congress has refused to fund the war. In the Afghan situation, we see more people trying to oppose and condemn the war. The Afghan war is like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode and create another humiliating defeat to the US.

So is Afghanistan militarily winnable? No. The US is again forgetting the lessons it has learned during its failures in the past. How many more US armed forces will risk and lose their lives on a war that is actually unwinnable at all? The government should realize that a military solution in Afghanistan is not viable and may only bring back the horrors of the Vietnam defeat.