Back To The Future

While many Afghan citizens are excited about the current progress in the country and potential for the future, just as many are also concerned about what the future holds. This is because NATO forces and the U.S. Military announced 2014 would be the end of major military involvement. When the Afghanistan War begin in 2001, constant violence became just as normal as putting shoes on every day. Whether it was sniper attacks, suicide bombings, rocket attacks, kidnappings, poisonings, or executions each day brought the expected unexpected. Civilians across Afghanistan were killed in high numbers weekly, both intentionally and accidentally.

The last couple of year’s significant improvements came about in terms of violence in Afghanistan, when NATO military members successfully trained Afghan men to handle security issues as military personnel and police officers throughout the country. The training provided allowed Afghans to handle various security matters without assistance from NATO. This type of success amongst other things led to the announcement of the 2014 withdrawal date. In addition to the situation on the ground improving, education in Afghanistan also vastly improved. Schools in the country have been rebuilt, renovated, and provided with better curriculum. Some school classrooms have even gained full access to the internet.

Though the overall standing of Afghanistan made a change for the better, the country is still not perfect and continues to have an uncertain future past 2014 once NATO completes a significant troop drawdown. Some Afghans fear that without a strong coalition presence the Taliban will be go back to their old ways and gain control of the country once again. One reason that gives Afghan citizens this type of feeling is because recently 14 Afghan police officers surprisingly joined the Taliban. The period of time from 1996-2001 saw the Taliban run everything from the government to the topics covered inside the classroom. Then once the U.S. and NATO military coalition entered Afghanistan, things in the country changed for the better. After the coalition leaves, will things make a turn for the worse?

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Nobody Is Safe

Looking at current events in Afghanistan, for the people in Afghanistan whether they're Afghan children, women, or men, or a NATO soldier their life can be taken away at anytime, any day. Life on the ground across the country right now is unstable and out of control. The War in Afghanistan is one thing, but there is a lot of random violence happening that is occurring for unexplainable reasons. And even if a reason is given in some shape or form, it doesn't make sense and seems to be pointless violence taking innocent lives or causing serious harm.

Violence has ranged from school children being poisoned, to a woman being executed on video, to a suicide bomber killing 17 people at wedding, to Afghan military personnel and police doing sneak attacks on NATO soldiers. All of these acts are heinous and cowardly. Though, the violence is so random because it can be committed by a single person acting alone, the Taliban, or another terrorist group hanging out in the country.

As a top U.S. Military Commander announced recently that withdrawal of American troops is halfway done, that news still seems to be happening too slow for some people. NATO continues to train the Afghans to handle their own security for the upcoming complete withdrawal of NATO ground forces in 2014. However, five NATO troops were killed, with three of them being American when a person wearing Afghan security force clothing unexpectedly fired upon them. It somewhat seems like NATO is providing training and then being killed with the tactics they taught.

Afghanistan is a hard place to be right now for everyone, especially NATO soldiers. Because they consistently hear that the Afghan people need and want their help, but with certain occurrences it's hard to fully trust them. For now, everyone there has to be cautious while not letting extremists and other terror groups dictate their daily lives. 

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Money Spent Wisely

Most people across the world will all agree that knowledge is power. Although, in a country like Afghanistan many of the citizens will think guns and explosives mean power. To change the mindset of the Afghan people, education in Afghanistan continues to be at the forefront of agendas for this country downtrodden by extremists. Each month schools are being improved with new lesson plans, physical revitalization, and new materials that provide access to the internet.

In Herat, Afghanistan Hatifi High School is an all female school that is benefiting from having by having the internet supplied to the school. Women in Afghanistan already have a difficult time gaining full rights and respect throughout the country, so getting a good education while having access the world wide web will put them in position to made strides in the long term.

Currently, info on Afghanistan states the country already receives significant financial assistance from NATO and the U.S.; the totals are over $4 billion annually to enhance health and education in the country, which has suffered over the years because of the Taliban's rule. In recent news an announcement was made that there is a $16 billion offer in development funds for aid in Afghanistan. These new funds are to be used with direction, and will be closely monitored to make sure they are spent as intended. 

With NATO's help and company's like Film Annex lending a hand, Afghanistan is on a path to moving forward in the global society. Education must remain the primary focus of the citizens, with safety of course to bring the women and country as a whole out of second-rate status.


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