November 2025
A Familiar Pattern of Failure
When the United States declares war, it does so under banners of freedom, democracy, and security. Yet, two decades of interventions tell a different story — one of shattered nations and emboldened extremists. From Kabul to Mosul and Mogadishu, America’s military campaigns have too often created the very monsters they promised to destroy.
Now, as talk grows of Washington deepening its involvement in Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram, the continent should pause and ask: what if America’s cure is worse than the disease?
Afghanistan: The Taliban’s Full-Circle Victory
In 2001, America invaded Afghanistan to topple the Taliban and hunt down Al-Qaeda. For twenty long years, U.S. forces fought an elusive enemy, spending over two trillion dollars and losing thousands of lives. Yet, in 2021, the Taliban returned — not as fugitives but as rulers of Kabul.
What went wrong? The American occupation alienated local communities, empowered warlords, and ignored Afghan traditions. Drone strikes killed civilians, and corruption flourished under Western-backed elites. The Taliban, once despised, began to look like the lesser evil. In the end, America didn’t defeat the Taliban — it revived them.
Iraq and Syria: From Regime Change to the Rise of ISIS
The 2003 invasion of Iraq is another cautionary tale. After toppling Saddam Hussein, the U.S. dismantled the Iraqi army and banned members of his Ba’ath Party from public life. Those humiliated officers and soldiers regrouped, forming the backbone of the Islamic State (ISIS).
By 2014, ISIS had captured Mosul, declared a caliphate, and terrorized millions. The U.S. military response — airstrikes and special operations — only added fuel to the fire. The chaos in Iraq spilled into Syria, where American support for anti-Assad rebels ended up arming extremists. In the ruins of “liberated” cities, ISIS thrived.
Somalia: Drones and Division
In Somalia, Washington’s “war on terror” has been a long shadow of drones and denials. Airstrikes targeting Al-Shabaab often kill civilians, turning villages against the Somali government and its Western allies. The country remains fractured, and new ISIS-linked groups are emerging in the north. For every militant killed, resentment births two more.
Somalia stands today as proof that military might cannot substitute for local legitimacy.
Nigeria’s Dilemma: A Warning from History
Nigeria’s decade-long battle with Boko Haram has cost thousands of lives and displaced millions. Understandably, some advocate for stronger U.S. support — more intelligence, more drones, more soldiers. But history warns against such temptation.
American wars rarely end in peace. They leave behind weakened institutions and embittered populations. Boko Haram’s strength lies in Nigeria’s internal problems — poverty, unemployment, corruption, and injustice — not in a lack of foreign firepower. Without addressing these roots, no amount of American muscle can bring lasting peace.
Africa’s Choice: Self-Reliance Over Subservience
Africa must learn from the Middle East’s heartbreak. Security cannot be imported, and peace cannot be outsourced. The path forward lies in regional cooperation, youth empowerment, and fair governance — not dependency on Washington’s endless wars.
Every drone strike that kills a civilian gives extremists a new story to tell. Every foreign troop that lands on African soil risks turning local conflicts into global battlegrounds.
Conclusion
From Afghanistan to Iraq, Syria, and Somalia, America’s wars have produced the same tragic irony: the enemies grow stronger, and the nations grow weaker. Nigeria and the rest of Africa must choose a different path — one that prioritizes sovereignty, unity, and homegrown solutions over foreign intervention.
Because if history has taught us anything, it’s that when America wages war, it rarely wins peace.
About the Author:
Lawan Musa Danlami is a writer and political analyst focusing on African security, foreign policy, and post-conflict development. His work examines the intersection of Western intervention and African sovereignty.
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