Bagram’s Importance to USAF’s Mission (Research Paper Sample)

Bagram’s Importance to USAF’s Mission(s)
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Bagram’s Importance to USAF’s Mission(s)
In international law, all countries are equal, and no country has the right to rule over another. However, in reality, some nations ignore this doctrine and use their power to influence the less powerful nations. After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union became the global Superpowers. However, the Soviet Union collapsed, allowing the United States to establish economic and military hegemony. The United States has since adopted the role of world police, and it seeks to ensure that nations are run democratically by elected governments. However, since the September 11 events, the US has used its power for a different reason. The United States has been forced to use its military to ensure that it will never see a repeat of September 11. This has partly informed the decision by the nation to have military bases around the world. One of the significant bases is Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan where the United States Airforce conducts its operations. The establishment of Bagram Air Base has helped the United States Armed Forces (USAF) achieve its mission in South/Central Asia by giving it an advantage due to the base’s strategic location and structural effectiveness.[Linda, Evans. "Playing Global Cop." Global Lockdown: Race, Gender, and the Prison-Industrial Complex (2005): 215-227.]
After the September 11 attacks, the United States asked the Taliban, an insurgency that destabilized Afghanistan, to hand over the mastermind of the attacks, Osama bin Laden. However, the revolt was not ready to cooperate, prompting the United States to invade Afghanistan in operation called Operation Enduring Freedom (OEP). The USAF established Bagram Air Base, which was to help the military to achieve its mission of defeating violent extremist groups, such as the Taliban, in the region and driving them out of Afghanistan. This happened before the beginning of 2002. The United States forces remained in Bagram Air Base where it continued its mission of the search of the mastermind behind the September 11 attacks. However, they did not achieve this mission until 2011, when Osama bin Laden was killed. Consequently, the strategic location of Bagram Air Base has aided the USAF to accomplish its task of destabilizing the Taliban.[U.S. Central Command. "Posture Statement." Home. Accessed July 17, 2019. https://www.centcom.mil/ABOUT-US/POSTURE-STATEMENT/.]
When the United States invaded Afghanistan in 2011, other missions came into play, such as stabilization of countries in South/Central Asia by fighting against insurgencies. The growth of uprisings in the region is a threat to many interests of the United States. On the other hand, the stabilization of the area poses many benefits for the nation. For instance, the countries in the region have many oil wells. Stability in the region would mean that the United States and the rest of the world that does not produce oil could import oil from the area at low prices. Besides, stability in the region would also mean that the United States has an increase in the number of nations it can export its products too. Therefore, one of the interests of the United States in the South/Central Asia region is trade, which is threatened by terrorist groups that bring about political tensions and stability. The strategic location of Bagram Air Base has enabled the USAF to bring about stability in the region, which promises the United States of better trade in the future. Therefore, Bagram Air Base has helped USAF achieve its mission of boosting stability in South/Central Asia.