After 20 years the United States is removing its military forces from Afghanistan. For many in Afghanistan a tragedy, for many in the United States a relief. As we have seen the desperate scenes of terrified Afghans mobbing the Kabul airport, risking their lives to find a way out, some have second guessed our decision. Here I am just speculating on the validity of the reasons for withdrawal, not necessarily the way it was and is being conducted. Those are questions that will need to be addressed after all this is done.
We entered Afghanistan on the orders of George W, Bush, hunting terrorists. We made an agreement with the Taliban to withdraw on the orders of Donald Trump. The actual withdrawal is taking place during the administration of Joe Biden. This is a war that has occupied the attention of four presidents.
My first reaction was that this was a serious foreign policy mistake on the part of Biden. That may well prove to be so, but perhaps cooler heads are correct in that it is too soon to tell. As I listened to various voices expressing their agreement or disagreement I was struck by this video of an interview with a Taliban fighter earlier this year.
Interview with Taliban Fighter
He made two points which sum up the past and the future.
In 2020 Donald Trump made an agreement with the Taliban to withdraw our forces. It is this that has allowed the United States to maintain a residual force of soldiers in country in a state of relative peace. Joe Biden had a choice, break the agreement and resume a hot war with the Taliban, risking more lives and treasure, or keep the agreement. He appears to have made the choice that the United States has other pressing issues that will take our undivided attention and large amounts of financial resources to deal with. It is also true, as Biden pointed out, that it is for the Afghans to make a choice as to what kind of country they want. It is their place to fight for it. Their place to own it.
The second point made by that Taliban fighter suggests that Afghanistan's future is still to be decided, even after the Taliban have taken control of the country. “Afghanistan is run by the system they (the US) built.” The Taliban will have a challenging time running Afghanistan from a purely practical standpoint, let alone religious. Cutting a deal with others; the Russians, the Chinese or other regional players, may prove to be the ultimate solution for them, but given past history or current policies, that may prove to be problematic.
This even as climate change starts to roll ever more steadily over the planet.
The one thing I do know for sure, we must stand by those who stood by us. It is imperative to keep our word. Those who wish to leave, must be evacuated as expeditiously and safely, as possible.
