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 On September 11, 2001, Al-Queada extremists hijacked and rammed two passenger planes into the World Trade Center towers. Shortly afterward, another plane was hijacked and flown into the Pentagon. The Taliban then sheltered and protected those responsible. This attack on America lead to the war against terrorism. (“I. The Taliban’s War Against Women.”)

Eighteen Years On: The War on Terror Comes of Age – Combating Terrorism Center at West Point

On May 2, 2011, Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed by U.S forces, Bin Laden was the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks and his death meant a huge victory for the United States. The war raged on though, as many more terrorist groups would remain a threat to the security of the U.S. Troops were placed in middle-eastern countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran, with the war not seeming to slow down even with the aid of armed forces. The conflict caused a huge loss of life for both sides, with hundreds of Americans being killed in mine traps, ambush attacks, and suicide bombings.  (“I. The Taliban’s War Against Women.”)

Recently however, this all changed. On August 30, 2021, on the orders of president Joe Biden, U.S troops evacuated Afghanistan, ending an almost 20 year conflict. Except it didn’t. The whole operation was extremely rushed, with many chaotic accidents happening along the way. When we departed, we left thousands of Americans and innocent Afghan citizens behind, trapped without the aid of the military. In an attack on the Kabul airport, a sucide bomber killed dozens of innocent Afghan citizens, along with 13 U.S Marines. Immediately after our departure, the Taliban began taking over Afghanistan. Innocent people, including many Americans, were systematically hunted down and killed, and no one was there to help them. (“Kabul Airport Explosions: US Marines among Troops, Afghans Killed.”)

New Imagery Shows No Crowds inside Kabul's Airport | Center for Strategic and International Studies

Even now, the women of Afghanistan endure extreme oppression. According to the Taliban’s laws, no woman over the age of nine may be educated. Knowing how to multiply could be a death sentence for women under the Taliban’s control. A woman isn’t even allowed to be out in public without a ¨superior¨ man to watch them. If a woman doesn’t follow these conditions they are shot on sight. However this is not always the case, just as often as they are shot, the women are beaten and tortured, and then publicly executed. These executions are usually held in front of the woman’s loved ones to teach the public a lesson. 

As a result of the 20 year long war, many Afghan women had gotten an education under the protection of the U.S military, planning to lead a new life with their families. When the Tablian took over, they forced their beliefs on the people there, causing a massive culture shift. This shift was one of violence and subjugation. When our forces left Afghanistan, we left all those innocent women to the mercy of the Taliban.

 Granted, we have evacuated many U.S and Afghan civilians, however it was too little too late, the majority of the damage had been done. If the treatment of Afghanistan's women continues to be like this, future generations of women will be majorly affected, cementing this new toxic culture into the area for the foreseeable future. (“Terrorist Attacks.”)

All of this leaves us with a few questions. What can in of the west do for the women under the Taliban’s control? How do we keep our country safe now that we no longer have a military presence in the middle east? Will the Taliban strike back against us? Perhaps, we could periodically have armed air evacuations for innocent civilians. We could also focus our military power to be more defensive, to better protect us from a possible attack on our homeland.

Kottasová, Ivana Barbara Starr. “Kabul Airport Explosions: US Marines among Troops, Afghans Killed.” CNN, 27 Aug. 2021, edition.cnn.com/2021/08/26/asia/afghanistan-kabul-airport-blast-intl/index.html.

“Terrorist Attacks.” AP NEWS, apnews.com/hub/terrorist-attacks. Accessed 16 Sept. 2021.

The Bureau Of Democracy, Human Rights And Labor. “I. The Taliban’s War Against Women.” U.S Department of State, 17 Nov. 2001, 2001–2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/6185.htm.

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