As troops pour into Afghanistan, ordinary Americans ending support of war

As the U.S. increases its presence in Afghanistan prior to the upcoming Afghan presidential election, more people are ending their support of the controversial war and speaking out against America’s foreign policy.

This week U.S. Marines stormed a strategic town in Southern Afghanistan that the Talibans held for years in an effort to overtake control of the area and also to provide security ahead of next week’s presidential election in the country. But the operation was met with unexpectedly intense resistance from the insurgents. U.S. Marines suspect Taliban fighters knew the attack was coming.

This news comes amidst an increase in U.S. troop levels on the ground in an effort to secure free movement for the Afghan people so they might reach polling places and cast their votes in next Thursday’s election.

The U.S. Defense Department says there will be more operations in the coming days and they will not stop after the election. At the same time, U.S. generals said the Taliban is gaining momentum and warned that casualties figures are going to rise in the months to come.

After July marked the deadliest month for U.S. troops in Afghanistan since 2001, more and more Americans are ending their support for the war and are now questioning why the U.S. is in the region. But Americans can have influence on their country’s foreign policy if they stand up and speak out, says Geoffrey Millard, chairman of the Iraq Veterans Against the War organization.

“The war in Afghanistan was illegal and immoral when it started and it is no more legal or more moral today than in 2001. And we can’t perpetuate the myth that the Afghanistan war is the good war. We have to challenge that in all instances when it comes up,” says Millard. “If we continue to press that and escalate our tactics, we can make a difference in American policy.”