April 13th marked the day when the United States dropped the largest non-nuclear weapon in the United States military arsenal. At 7:32 p.m. local time, the massive 11-ton bomb was dropped on an Islamic State stronghold in Afghanistan. This bomb, formally known as the GBU-43/B, otherwise known as MOAB (Mother of all Bombs), was dropped in addition with an effort of an offensive that was launched earlier this month. This offensive’s main goal was to push ISIS back. It is officially considered a success as the ISIS stronghold, including subsurface tunnels, were completely destroyed. As well, the death toll (from the Afghanistan Military) has risen to 94 terrorists, though the United States military has yet to release an official report. This weapon was used less than two weeks after Staff Sgt. De Alencar’s death, a Green Beret deployed in Nangarhar Province, who was killed due to injuries sustained when his unit, along with Afghan partners, came in contact with enemy fights during a combat operation. Some have assumed that the bomb was used in response, others have speculated that the United States did not. Though no official response has occurred as of this point. But, all appropriate Rules of Engagement of been reported to be followed when implementing the MOAB.

But what does this mean to the war in Afghanistan? Well, the mass majority of Afghanistan residents applauded the detonation of such a bomb. Recently, a news outlet, The Guardian, reported from the area and surrounding areas of the bomb site. Their newspaper journalists interviewed citizens of the town that was plagued with the ISIS stronghold. One of those citizens is Islamuh Ahmad, who said that his house was destroyed by ISIS and he feared every day for his life. Ahmed applauded the use of the MOAB and even added that we should use it again on a nearby ISIS stronghold. And most who were driven out of their homes are now returning to their village. Even the provincial police chief, Abdul Rahman Rahimi, has hinted that the backbone of ISIS is now broken in the area and that people are starting to feel safer.

Back home, the bomb has received both criticism and support. But we need to now realize that we have come one step closer to defeating our enemy. If you do not support the large amount of force that was used, safely used (for the civilians at least), then you do not understand this war. I am most definitely not a military expert but I do understand the basic principles and foundations of human nature that drive our basic reactions. These people, the citizens of Afghanistan, are being demoralized and mistreated by the militants of ISIS and other terrorist groups. If you want this war to end, we need to show them that the enemy really is not that strong, whether they just prey on the weak, and that is because that is what they do. They are cowards. That is it. We need to destroy the opposition in such a way that it gives these people of Afghanistan a new heart. Once we do this, once we accomplish such a revitalization within the citizens of that country, the war will practically be over as the people will give up the ideology that ISIS and other terrorist groups are really that big and bad. They, the citizens themselves, can accomplish so much more. They will fight and continue to fight, not allowing the impure ideas that are coursing throughout their country to prevail. So, yes, this bomb had a great affect on the overall affect of this long, long war. As well, it shows that our military has finally gotten its “teeth” back and we are prepared to fight for those oppressed.