On Trump, Afghanistan, and the Plunder Doctrine

Oct 16, 2017 | Kate Harveston
View Original

Plunder. It’s a word typically reserved for the likes of pirates, but it seems somehow appropriate when used next to the name Donald Trump. Perhaps it’s his shoot-from-the-hip style. Trump’s military doctrine could easily be compared to that of many fictional pirates: Use what you’ve got to get what you want. In Afghanistan, a country the United States has been at war with for 16 years, Trump wants natural resources. You might not hear about it on the news, but Trump’s approach to this, the USA’s longest war ever, no longer involves security interests for our country. We can talk about wanting to rid Afghanistan of the Taliban, but a big reason we’re there is precious minerals.