What Have We Really Achieved In Afghanistan?

U.S. Army soldiers enter Katalai village while on patrol in Afghanistan's Khowst province, June 15, 2011. The soldiers are assigned to the 1st Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. The objective of the patrol is to talk with village elders to try to identify Taliban suspects in the area. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joseph Watson

What Has The War In Afghanistan Really Achieved? -- The Independent

The IoS takes stock after one of the bloodiest months since the conflict began, and a week in which President Obama announced a speeding up of troop withdrawals.

At least 60 people died in a suicide bombing just 25 miles from Kabul yesterday. In a few days' time, a report on Afghanistan from the International Crisis Group will say that violence and the billions of dollars in international aid have brought wealthy officials and insurgents together. As a result, "the economy is increasingly dominated by a criminal oligarchy of politically connected businessmen".

The negatives column in the Afghan war's balance sheet does not get any shorter. So far, the conflict has lasted nine years, eight months and 17 days, cost the lives of 2,547 coalition troops, and between 14,000 and 34,000 civilians, created millions of refugees, and opened up a black hole in Western economies that has sucked in more $500bn dollars. Afghanistan costs the US around $10bn (£6.3bn) a month; and Britain will pay £4.5bn this year.

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