The War in Afghanistan is a bad thing.

My opponents did not seem to even read my sources as he goes on to state (regarding my facts list at the end of Round One) "there is no evidence to suggest this was due to the war". If they looked closely they will see one of the sources was the government of Australia, who is helping fund and coordinate such products. Correct me if I am wrong, but Australia didn't have troops in Afghanistan before 2001. The projects are being funded by the international community that have troops in Afghanistan, so that is clear evidence the war has brought about those positive changes. And then "he does not provide evidence to say that healthcare, sanitation etc has improved". That long list of facts at the end, followed by their sources does exactly that. Please read my arguments. With regard to my opponents quotes from Afghan citizens, they seem to be from a website that cannot be verified. So how true these quotes are disputable. One of the quotes is from Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, who I used to support one of my points. If my opponent actually took time to learn about this group they would realise they are an entirely peaceful organisation, neither supporting the presence of allied troops, the Taliban, nor Afghanistan government troops. So it doesn't support his point at all. The minority voice of Afghans who preferred the Taliban to the new government is drowned out by those who don't, as my figures showed. Which I assume my opponent actually read. Then my opponent goes on to talk of extinction, regarding the instability in Pakistan, as if scaremongering is going to promote his case. Again, he should know that Al-Qaeda is an international group, and will have a presence everywhere, regardless of the war. However, the Taliban, who allowed Al-Qaeda to run terrorist camps, are not international and were removed from power. The removal of which brought about the positives I stated in the last round, which my opponent cannot dispute. The reason why troop activity has increased, and why deaths are increasing, is because the allies are stepping up efforts to recruit and equip ANA and ANP members. Which, when the allies leave, (which they have started to do this year) will be the ones who protect Afghanistan. Which is what my entire argument was based around- Afghanistan itself. My opponents view that the Taliban will return is again based on ignorance. The Taliban never left. They have, however been removed from power, and the Afghanistan government is growing stronger each year, to a point where they can keep power away from the Taliban. Again, my argument said all of that. My opponent did, however, rightly point out that removing the Taliban did not remove the production of Opium. But, Afghanistan has gone from the Taliban (who supported Opium production) to the new government (who does not support Opium production). So they are least fighting the drugs trade, which does bring them in line with other Muslim countries. So my point still stands. Another ignorant point my opponent made was that the presence of foreign troops is increasing Taliban recruitment. There is no evidence to support the notion that new Taliban recruits are loyal to the cause, as many are just locals who are paid to fight, and then go back to work alongside allied troops in building schools etc. When our troops recognise these locals we work with them to provide alternatives to being a mercenary, which, again, becomes a positive. If my opponent can prove that recruits are fighting for the Taliban because of political beliefs, then I will concede this point, but he won't be able to. So I urge you, go read my Round One again and read the sources (which support the facts I stated. As it stands my positives are standing strong. Perhaps a study of Afghanistan itself might help. Seeing as my opponent cannot dispute my positives, nor my facts, and they far outweigh and outnumber his own, it is plausible to say the war is more of a good thing than a bad thing. His argument seems to be based around taking a negative view of the situation, rather than finding hard facts and statistics to prove things are worse now than before 2001. My argument clearly states statistics and facts, and their sources, that support the view that the war in Afghanistan is a not a bad thing.