In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to prop up a Marxist regime which had taken power the year before. Over nine years later, having spent over $200 billion, and suffered 15,000 troop fatalities, 35,000 wounded, having incurred substantial material losses, and having killed between 600,000 and 2 million Afghanis, they exited the country, leaving the Taliban, an intolerant Islamic movement, to assume firm control. Their mission was a miserable failure.
We learned nothing from this.
After concluding that the shock attack on the United States on 11 September 2001 was carried out by Al Qaeda, harbored, and protected by the Taliban, the U.S., quite rightly, invaded Afghanistan that October. The Taliban was quickly overthrown, and the Al Qaeda leadership fled, mainly to the mountains of Pakistan. The U.S. and its allies set up a secular government, assisted in the creation of the 2004 constitution, bllions of dollars were expended to help pacify and rebuild the country and to train and equip their military, and free elections were held. By 2005, it was “Mission Accomplished.” That’s when we should have exited the country. But we lingered on, apparently believing that it was our duty to eternally shelter the government we installed and to ensure the total and permanent marginalization of the Taliban. By 2011 NATO forces in Afghanistan numbered 140,000 yet the Taliban was alive and active and growing in their determination to resist this foreign intrusion.
While our intensions were noble and our concerns for the suppression of human rights were real, seemingly, we have not learned how we can best serve the oppressed. Diplomatic, economic, and social assistance are worthwhile initiatives but there is something about waging war in another country on behalf of one side or the other that is flawed, and often resisted just on principle. Since 2001 over 6000 Americans have died in Afghanistan, and over 1100 NATO members, over 66,000 Afghan police & military and over 47,000 civilians. Since 2001 close to $1 trillion has been spent in Afghanistan. While we have done much good to improve lives in much of the country, we are poised to leave with the Taliban back in control and likely to reimpose its repressive Islamic practices.
To his credit President Trump sought to end our involvement in such “Endless Wars” and President Biden seems determined to continue that policy. Regrettably, whatever good we achieved in Afghanistan, is likely to be reversed.
Has the cost in lives and treasure been worth the benefit? Umm. I think not. Have we learned anything? God help us if we haven’t.
- – – – Just the view of a common man.
Views of a Common Man 
Very true !
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It seems that what we learn most about history is to forget it. Ghengis Khan, the British and the Russians all
tried to “win” in Afghanistan, and they all failed. “Afghanistan” may only be an inchoate collection of warring
tribes, factions and clans. A political theorist has said that the only thing that united this otherwise disintegral
non-state called “Afghanistan” was that the fractious tribes that despised one another hated foreigners even
more. Foreign forces, whatever their intentions, will always be seen as occupiers and hence, the enemy.
The Doha Accords (2020 peace agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban) called for the Taliban to stop
Al Qaeda and other foreign groups from operating in areas under its control. The Taliban has not done so.
In fact, Al Qaeda is operating in at least 21 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces. The Taliban noted that its goal for Afghanistan is not power sharing with the existing Afghan government, but the reestablishment of the Islamic
Emirate of Afghanistan. The Taliban believes that only it can create and manage a “pure Islamic system.” It
uses the terms “Islamic government,” Islamic system, and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan interchangeably.
Ollie is correct in stating, “While we have done much good to improve lives in much of the country, we are
poised to leave with the Taliban back in control and likely to reimpose its repressive Islamic practices”. Violence currently rages between Afghan government forces and Taliban fighters who have carried out an increase in
attacks ahead of the withdrawal of US and other international troops at the end of August 2021. The group,
winning a string of battlefield victories in recent weeks, has seized control of populated rural areas and key
border crossings. It is also putting pressure on provincial capitals.
As George Patton said, “Wars are not won by fighting battles; wars are won by choosing battles.” The alleged purpose of the ongoing 20-year war for the United States invasion of Afghanistan was for the United States
and its allies to successfully drive the Taliban from power in order to deny al-Qaeda a safe base of operations
in Afghanistan. Based on the foregoing, did we succeed? I think not.
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Thanks again, Jeanette. Maybe one of the problems is the military has oversized influence on geopolitical issues. They like to win wars decisively – – no matter the cost and regardless of the strategic importance. The Defense Dept. is supposed to be led by a civilian to prevent this. It’s not working. Ollie
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