Withdrawal From Afganistan

[Sanitary Stache]

I have really only absorbed headlines regarding the withdrawal of 7,500 troops from Afganistan, and so I don't have a good frame of reference for what it might mean.

Does anyone have a good resource of what the current and historical state of US involvement in Afganistan is?  I was paying more attention at the beginning. At least enough attention to believe that we were the baddest guy in the neighborhood.  But now, and for the past 10 years or so, what has our involvement really been?

I am wondering what kinds of actions have we been involved in, how many people have we killed, how have we killed them, what kind of resources we have preserved or cultivated (children/crops/roads/water infrastructure), how many weapons we have sold, how much money we have spent and what kinds of achievements have we realized. 

My gut reaction is that murdering people in another country isn't appropriate, but I question whether 7,500 troops is making a noticeable impact to the citizens of Afghanistan either for the good or the bad. I am a little curious as to if this troop withdrawal is the US leaving the country altogether or if personnel not called troops will remain?  I would think we might want to maintain some kind of presence maybe at least to be a target?

Mostly I am wondering if anyone ever came up with a goal and a strategy, or if the past 10 years really has been the war profiteering that I have believed it to be.

[sixwings]

Yeah dunno how much impact the 7,500 troops have, it's probably just a political move while the drone bombings continue.

[Vashy]

I remember reading some takes from retired Russian (then-Soviet) top brass that indicate that you can only control Afghanistan if you're willing to commit full-scale genocide/removal of large amounts of Pashtuns (I think about 25% of the population was displaced and the Soviet Union committed very different amounts of troops and resources).

"Grave of Empires", indeed.

[jrhampt]

IDK about your questions, specifically, but I can't muster up any outrage about this troop withdrawal.  My brother was deployed to Afghanistan at least 15 years ago, and I've had several friends deployed there as well, some multiple times.  I think it's been long enough.  The only argument against withdrawal that resonates with me is that women will suffer there if the Taliban takes over again.