The U.S. Air Force just dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb in its arsenal in Afghanistan – the first time a MOAB (also known as “Mother of All Bombs”) has been used in combat. This is a significant escalation of the U.S. war in Afghanistan, more than 15 years after the U.S. invasion.
15 years of U.S. led war in Afghanistan has not ended the violence or produced a political settlement. The U.S. is now adding an even bigger bomb to the long list of bombs, drones, ground troops, and Special Forces that have been deployed in that country. War Is Not the Answer.
In this case, we are particularly concerned that the MOAB is designed to kill broadly, with a one mile destruction radius. There is a high likelihood of mass casualties, including unintended targets and civilians. As a result, this incident will potentially be used as a recruitment tool by extremist groups like ISIS and others.
This incident will only heighten the conflict and make peace harder to achieve particularly because of President Trump’s proposed deep cuts to U.S. diplomacy and development.
The only way forward is a politically negotiated settlement rather than an endless war.