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WASHINGTON: The US government misleads its public to justify the 17-year-old war in Afghanistan, routinely using inflated data to justify its stay, The New York Times reported on Saturday. The report compares the US government’s data with those provided by various international aid agencies and with NYT’s own research and concludes that Washington does not want Americans to know the real situation in Afghanistan.
While the US government says the Taliban control or contest 44 per cent of districts in Afghanistan, the NYT report claims that the insurgents actually control or contest about 61pc area. Since 2017, the Taliban have held more Afghan territory than at any stage since the American invasion in October 2001.
The report also notes that so far more than 2,200 Americans have been killed in the Afghan conflict, and Washington has spent more than $840 billion. “The war has become more expensive, in current dollars, than the Marshall Plan, which helped to rebuild Europe after World War II,” the report claims. “That investment has created intense pressure for Americans to show the Taliban are losing and the country is improving.”
The report also disputes the US military’s claim that the Afghan government effectively “controls or influences” 56pc of the country. The NYT, however, says that in many districts, the Afghan government controls only the district headquarters and military barracks, while the Taliban control the rest.
Similarly, on paper, Afghan security forces outnumber the Taliban by the ratio of 10 to 1, or even more. But one third of their soldiers and police officers are “ghosts”, who have left or deserted without being removed from payrolls. Many others are poorly trained and unqualified.
Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2018
Comments (52) Closed
Bush deliberately pushed america into this war, 11/9 attacks were preplanned by the govt of America and Osama was held responsible for the attacks which was completely wrong. The only responsible person is bush
I always advocated that by controlling media you can change perception but you cannot change reality. This is exactly what is happening in Afghanistan. You never gave space to Taliban which is a reality in Afghanistan; had you realized this long before, You could have saved billions of dollars and lives.
Why I am not surprised!
When they are not telling the truth it's propaganda. I would trust NYT rather than government fake news.
Very true and I think the people of America have the right to ask their Government to show the achievements of 17 years war in Afghanistan after having spent $840 billions of their tax money.
Americans believe their government and the news reports.
The Great American nation can only be fooled by the Great American President and his Government. No body else has the right to do the same any way.
United States please leave Afghanistan come back and do buisness like you are doing now in Vietnam,"war what is it good for absolutely nothing".
Nothing surprising for us here !
We need that fence as soon as possible. Quarantine Afghanistan. It's never going to improve.
All this time, blaming Pakistan to divert attention to their own illegal war which had devastated the afghanistan. US drew pakistan in to fight their wars and now using it as scapegoat for their failure. If they spent 800bn in helping to build the country they would have won the hearts and minds of all people in the region.
US has done nothing for Afghanistan since 1979. On the contrary they have destroyed the country and Karzai and Ghani are partners of Trump in this destruction.
Indeed Afghanistan is the graveyard for its invaders.
The controlled media dissemates its false information. If US public knew the truth, they would value pakistsn more and hold their own military and government to account. They would also understand why America keeps blameing Pakistan for US having lost the war, because rhey need a way out to save face.
@ARIF US does not allow other media they cant control like Al Jazeera.
And what are the issues on which any government doesn't mislead? None.
It is known fact that countries mislead their own people when it comes to war. Afghanistan has become a place where country as whole is no more US and allied priority. Some limited objective rules the whole country scenario and therefore other forces along with puppets regime installed are calling shots which not doing good for country as whole.
I have no doubt about that statement.
With racist, bigot and biased Donald Trump and his cunning crooked and criminal cronies at the helm in the White House, Washington, D.C., what else can you expect?
It mostly seems like they are trying save face now. If they leave, it will be a huge blow to their ego. They need their people support(and money) to fund this endless war.
@Nimbus pl don't compare Afghans with Vietnamese. Unlike Afghans, who have been killers and looters, Vietnamese are honest hard working people.
The American people will not come out in large numbers to demonstrate against this policy.
New York Times is now owned by Jeff Bezos of Amazon who is in a running battle with President Trump. No opportunity to undermine his decisions and Presidency will be lost. America has a free media.
Fake democracy with largest exporter of bullying .always a liar.
@Sheraz But then how would they justify paying billions to arms corporations in US. They need a war somewhere for these corpirTions to feed off.
According to misleading information to US people, US is winning war, Taliban bad, US puppet government good, US super hero and Nato so,so.
This loss is 10 fold expensive than the misadventure in Vietnam...
Its pleasing to know that these articles have started appearing which in fact is a step towards conceding defeat by US led 42 nations versus the stone aged force....this is what determination and courage can do to defeat the most powerful nations on this earth. Peace should be given a chance
America has lost the Afghan war completely. America is humiliated badly.
Trump should take a bold action and get out of Afghanistan. Sooner the better.
It's good for defence contractors. It's a stimulus for the US economy.
@ Jamil they would never use their resources in development but only on destruction. After destroying everything they will spent little bit on construction to ease their collective conscience (if they have any)
Trump=Fake news.
@Feroz Are you sure that America has a free media?
US government wants to get rid of problems in Afganistan but doesn't want to leave this region.
@Orakzai How do you know, do you have a valid proof, that American govt preplanned or just an assumption.
There are reasons for America to stay in Afghanistan. What better place to keep an eye on China, Pakistan and Iran
Successive American Governments have not misled their own American citizens but Alison the rest of the world, first to make 911 look real and then invasion of sovereign nations necessary!!
Vietnam war was just a picnic. Americans will pay a lot more heavily in this Afghan war. They are trying to blame Pakistan for their failures in Afghanistan but will not succeed.
They pathetical liars... No surprise....
@Wellwisher Staying in your country, is that what you call looters? Afghans did not invade, am I wrong?
Another reason to keep alive American campaign in Afganistan for next decade... When are we going to learn this fact this is same old stories we have been told number of times before.. Nothing is going to change in amercian strategy. People wake up and stand for poor afghan people rights.
@Ramesh yes, they just create the false contexts.
@Umair still in japan and korea, since 1945 and the 1950s respectively, they used lies to justify the invasions. it is funny how the US and Israel follow the lie and lie repeatedly ideas- of the Nazis.
@Youshay you are fooled by the NY Times, a channel used by US governments to mislead the people.
@Simple Logic send afghan refugees home within the next 3-5 years
Does trump want peace. how about arms manufacturers and generals. Money,power,glory and action to much temptation. Arm forces come back to America as heroes doesn’t matter how many life he or she destroyed overseas and how many rape and genocite been committed but the are heroes. Fighting and killing people to bring democracy and peace (American way). Afghanistan is only be in peaceful when every foreign force leave and bring education and investment instead bombs and destruction. 840 billions US dollars could could have brought peace and prosperity in many countries, and love and respect for Americans as world leader. Millions of lives had not been lost and destroyed. No one wants this type of peace or democracy which starts with killing and bombings. No thanks.
@Ramesh so you are accepting Mr. Modi's Govt. of misleading public over situation in Kashmir. Good, finally someone acknowledged the real facts.
Western Media, especially US is a government tool. when it comes to peace time they play positive and fair role but in war time the media sings to government tunes and thats exactly the situation with Afghanistan news.
The worst part is that they have killed million of Afghans and still destroying their houses. Test all kind of nukes, MOAB etc. The great America that believes in Democracy didn't give Afghans a chance for change. The former US president promissed these Afghans that they would build schools, hospitals and invest in their infrastructure. I have found the US a Land Mafia, a nation that has to follow their own interest, they damm care about others, they just do care about themselves only!
A situation not only in Afghanistan but they are doing this with their for all of ME and now suspect N. Korea as well.
Excellent information
let America drown in its own stupidity. by putting in charge people who just want war