October marks 20 years since the US invaded Afghanistan to eliminate al-Qaeda shrines and its Taliban sponsors, and Americans are understandably eager to continue. But the problems with the current American commitment are nothing compared to the chaos that follows a sudden departure.
In February 2020, the Trump administration and the Taliban signed a withdrawal agreement requiring all U.S. troops to leave by May 1, 2021. The move was driven by Donald Trump’s domestic political instincts – not a strategic calculation. President Biden wisely reviews the decision.
“I am very pleased with what the Biden government is proposing for Afghanistan,” Sen said. Lindsey Graham, a Republican, said Sunday. “They are evaluating our presence in Afghanistan to keep the footprint low, but not to walk away and lose all the gains we have made.” The White House has not yet announced a final decision, but Mr. Graham expects the U.S. to stay beyond May.
Many Democrats and Republicans who are on isolation are getting attention for their calls to end “wars forever” immediately. But Graham’s remarks are a reminder that there is also widespread support for a closer approach. The question is not whether the US will leave Afghanistan, but whether they will do so responsibly.
The study group of the two parties in Afghanistan delivered a convincing case on how to do this in its report to Congress this month. The group – former generals, senators, ambassadors and national security officials – suggest that Mr. Trump’s timeline is being replaced by a conditional approach. “A withdrawal will not only make America more vulnerable to terrorist threats,” the report said, “it will also have catastrophic consequences in Afghanistan and the region that will not be in the interests of any of the major actors, including the Taliban. do not be. “