The End in Afghanistan

 

The entry was without serious controversy – no one other than those committed to “America Last” took issue with the need to overturn Taliban rule which fostered Al Qaeda and 9/11.

But, after that was accomplished, America remained in-country to continue the fight against terrorism and engage in nation building.

The ongoing first task made sense; the second much less so.

We Americans are the world’s most generous people.  We want others to share in the freedom, democracy and prosperity which we have come to view as a birthright.  And we are also so naïve – and, dangerously so – as Afghanistan has illustrated.  Non-western countries are usually not at all like us.  They are typically tribal, with no respect for individual rights and a political history that has never operated a form of government which we would recognize as other than an autocracy or dictatorship.  Yet we, nonetheless, have a habit of ignoring these simple facts and continuing in our foolish efforts to “plant” our values in barren soil.  And at such a horrible cost.

The proponents of such policies should not be forgiven.  Americans have a right to demand that their leaders be not fools.  Good intentions do not excuse the failure to heed history and common sense.

The leading fool is Republican President George W. Bush who started it all.

Yet there is another important consideration.  Foolish though nation building was in Afghanistan, we were deeply involved there.  How we left mattered.  A world power can be foolish, but if it is steadfast in supporting its allies and wards, both foe and friends will take note in a manner which does not weaken its standing.  But abandonment?  That generates feelings of opportunity for those who oppose us and fear among those who had relied on our promises.

Apparently, President Biden was surprised by the rapid disintegration of resistance to the Taliban.  That reaction was consistent with his reputation.  Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, a Republican who served in that post under Barack Obama, wrote that Joe Biden was consistently on the wrong side of foreign policy issues.  So, at least he’s consistent.  Think about it. If support upon which you have been dependent and view as vital to your survival is withdrawn, the urge to “run for the hills” must be overwhelming for most.  As it was for the Afghan military.

So the actual end in Afghanistan is a horrific conclusion to America’s ill-fated involvement.  President Biden has earned the blame.  He is not alone.  His predecessor is an unwilling companion.