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Cover Story

Grades 4-6

Why We're in Afghanistan

Nellie G. Cutler

Afghanistan's future is of great importance to the United States. President Barack Obama has promised to fight terrorists there.

Landlocked, mountainous, brutal, beautiful. All of those words can be used to describe Afghanistan. It lies between Iran and Pakistan (see map). Throughout Afghanistan's history, foreign forces have fought to control the land and its people. The U.S. has troops stationed there. On March 27, President Barack Obama announced a new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. "We are in Afghanistan to control a common enemy that threatens the United States, our friends and our allies," he said.

American troops arrived in Afghanistan after terrorists attacked the U.S. on September 11, 2001. The U.S. mission was to overthrow the Taliban (tahl-ih-bahn), the country's brutal leaders. They protected al-Qaeda (al-kye-da), the terrorist group responsible for the attack on the U.S.

Within three months of the U.S. assault, the Taliban was removed from power. A government headed by President Hamid Karzai took over. By 2004, Afghans had approved a new constitution and voted in elections. Harsh laws were abolished. Women gained new freedoms. It seemed as if Afghans were headed toward a brighter future.

Yet the defeat did not wipe out the Taliban. The U.S. is still fighting them. Members of al-Qaeda still operate within the country. Crime and violence have spread across the border into Pakistan.

Building Hope

The U.S. plans to send an additional 17,000 troops to Afghanistan. When those troops arrive, there will be about 55,000 troops there from the U.S., plus 37,000 from our allies. Their goal: to fight terrorism by establishing security, supporting the government and building stronger communities. Elections are set for August 20. If Afghans are afraid to go vote, the elections will not be fair.

President Obama has said that the Afghan people must be involved for the new strategy to succeed. American troops are working hard to gain the trust of villagers. Lieutenant Colonel Brett Jenkison is stationed in the country's dangerous Korengal Valley. "You can't build hope with military might," he told TIME. "You build it through development and good governance."

Captain James Howell agrees. "To win this war," he says, "it's going to take patience."

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