Furthermore, the rapid and relatively peaceful transfer of power to the Taliban seems to have gone surprisingly well so far. Relatively few deaths occurred during fighting. This is preferable to a civil war erupting--or perhaps more accurately an escalation of a civil war that has been going on for years. Maybe now the nation can experience a form of peace, relatively speaking.
Despite the United States spending over 2 trillion dollars directly and indirectly between 2001 and now on the war in Afghanistan according to a Brown University analysis, the U.S.-backed government obviously lacked the ability and/or willingness to control the Taliban or the country. An Associated Press article August 17th, 2021 discusses the costs and effects of the U.S. war in Afghanistan. I strongly agree with President Joe Biden that delaying withdrawal months or years would have been counterproductive.
The ease with which the Taliban fighters took control of cities, the negotiated surrenders of city officials, and the apparent acceptance of the Taliban provide at least circumstantial evidence of significant support for them. This is preferable to the violence and virtual civil war that has been occurring.
The future of Afghanistan is uncertain though. Indeed, fear of the Taliban may be a factor in the surrender of Afghan forces. Later in the article I discuss some serious weaknesses of the Taliban, weaknesses you've likely read about elsewhere. And though the Taliban controls most of the country, as of August 18th, 2021, Reuters reports that Panjshir province is not controlled by the Taliban.
Who’s to Blame for U.S. Failures in Afghanistan?
The United States military deserves credit for its efforts in Afghanistan. Praises to the many brave, dedicated soldiers who sought to do correctly. But the mission is still an overall failure as I see it.
Four United States Presidents have served in office during the United States war in Afghanistan. Many will blame President Joe Biden for his withdrawal plan. Others will blame President Donald Trump for setting up a withdrawal plan or President Barack Obama for his failure to solve the problem.
But in my view, the primary responsibility lies with President George W. Bush. He erred in embarking on the war in Afghanistan. The money, materials, and manpower could have been much better spent.
Bush’s main goal apparently was the capture of Osama Bin Laden. However, a small group of Special Forces that learned the language and culture of Afghans, became assimilated to them and their nation, and achieved camaraderie with the local people and warlords could likely have found Osama Bin Laden quicker and with fewer problems, less loss of innocent civilian lives, as well as fewer U.S. military casualties.
The difficult terrain of the landlocked country and the tribal nature of its culture would make it difficult for even a superb central government to control the nation. It was probably not realistic to expect the Taliban rulers to locate, capture, and turn over Bin Laden to the United States. And while that Taliban government couldn’t effectively control the entire nation, Afghanistan’s central government of the last twenty years under U.S. leadership seemed to offer far less control.
Taliban’s Former Rule in Afghanistan and Its Future Rule
During its former rule before U.S. intervention in 2001, the Taliban took actions to establish a form of law and order in the country, as well as providing some services. But it was guilty of excesses and abuses. Its regime seemed repressive by U.S. standards. Its treatment of women was especially harsh. Still, unless or until we have an international police force to enforce a set of standard international laws, legal international action within a country is limited.
A USA Today article is one of many offering a timeline for several events in Afghanistan's history in the last several decades.
Women’s Rights
The Taliban’s treatment of women during its former rule was a bit like that of Judaism outlined in the Bible’s Old Testament that Jews no longer follow, a radical distorted form of Islam, and to a lesser degree similar to that of the United States a few centuries ago when women couldn’t vote, were often homemakers focused on raising a family, and some women accused of witchcraft were tried, convicted, and murdered.
Furthermore, if the United States seeks to condemn the Taliban for its treatment of women, it would do well to do the same for Saudi Arabia, which has committed some of the same abuses. However, Saudi Arabia seems to gradually be changing. Maybe the Taliban is or will too. Of course, Saudi Arabia’s oil wealth enables its residents to enjoy benefits that those of relatively poor Afghanistan lack.
The Taliban claims it will not take as drastic action as in the past, and changes will not come suddenly, as reported by CNN and other news sources. During Taliban rule 1996-2001 women were required to wear burkas/burqas in public, which covered basically their entire body, with a screen in front of the eyes to see through. Still, there are already signs of requiring women to wear hijabs, but the hijab can be a head covering that is more like a scarf, less conceiling than burqas.
The London Guardian and other news sources reported about the Taliban's first news conference after the takeover, which was held August 17th, 2021. In it the Taliban promised forgiveness to enemies, as well as some rights for women and the media, but noted limitations on these rights and freedoms. But the Taliban does seem to support education and work for women now. And the Taliban is committing to not allowing terrorists to operate from Afghanistan.
U.S. History in Afghanistan and Some Other Places
The United States has a long history of negative impacts on Afghanistan, including military aid that benefited Osama Bin Laden, whom one prominent U.S. official called a “freedom fighter” when he was fighting against the Russians. The U.S. even paid for textbooks for schoolchildren that urged the children to fight against the Russians.
U.S. military actions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, and several other places have done more harm than good. Iraq is basically in a civil war. Vietnam experienced enormous tragedy after our withdrawal from there.
Aftger a terrible transition period, Vietnam has experienced significant success. The same can happen in Afghanistan--hopefully with a far less tragic transition period. Lowering the U.S. Flag
Lowering the United States flag from the United States embassy in Kabul and the burning of U.S. flags and other materials by embassy personnel served as a symbol of the United States withdrawal from the country. Indeed, the widespread U.S. military forces, symbolized by U.S. flags similar to the one in Lexington, Kentucky that I photographed years ago near the courthouses that is shown below, were likely a negative influence among the many Afghans who did not want outsiders to control their country, and among those who suffered abuses at the hands of the U.S. military.
I hope over the long term the U.S. retains an embassy in the country, maybe in the same building it was in until days ago if it survives the transition period. But for the short term, removal of U.S. flags from the embassy is the correct decision.
It is too early to tell how the Taliban will rule Afghanistan this time. There have been reports of at least a few Afghans killed. But it is not known if these killings are sanctioned by Taliban leaders or just isolated incidents by Taliban fighters not controlled by leaders or by persons posing as Taliban.
Chaos has occurred at the Kabul airport and near it as thousands of persons seek to flee. Efforts by the United States and the Taliban to limit access to the airport have led to injuries, some severe. Video footage apparently showed persons seeking to rush onto a U.S. aircraft leaving the Kabul airport, and one or more persons hanging onto the aircraft and then apparently plunging to death from it onto the ground, as the jet took off. But controlling a mob of persons isn't easy.
Whether or not the fear many Afghans show toward the Taliban is justified remains to be seen. However, there are reports of Taliban going door-to-door seeking out persons who helped U.S. and NATO military forces.
A USA Today "Fact Check" article August 20th, 2021 sought to separate out some of the false information from the truth about the Taliban takeover. An August 21, 2021 New York Times piece discusses some of the ongoing events in Afghanistan.
Closing Thoughts
It’s time to seek to end destructive military actions by the United States. Our nation needs to respond in a more humanitarian way. We need no more gun toting Americans seeking to impose U.S. selfish interests by force.
Some years ago when I asked one U.S. military veteran who had served in the Middle East if he or many of the other U.S. soldiers had learned the language of the country they were in, he replied no, but that when U.S. soldiers pointed their guns at the residents they got the message. They likely did. And when the Taliban provided a form of law and order during its reign a couple of decades ago they got a message too. Despite its mistreatment of women by U.S. and international standards, the Taliban did provide structure and a form of law. Of course, I oversimplify things. The United States military performed many, many humanitarian actions in Afghanistan, and the Taliban has a history of abuses, including harsh laws in general--in addition to its mistreatment of women.
However, the Taliban in recent days seems to have enjoyed a manifest destiny superior to that of the U.S. white savages that stole land from Native American Indians, started war with Mexico and acquired more land, and enslaved African-Americans to do much of the manual labor on their farms, etc.
Recent news reports cite the Taliban as stating it will allow nonprofit organizations to continue their humanitarian work, allow embassies to stay open, seek to prevent outside terrorist groups from basing in the country, offer amnesty to those who opposed them, and oppose terrorism. They also stated they will support women’s rights, though they didn’t provide a lot of specifics on what they meant by those women’s rights.
Time will tell whether the Taliban has learned enough from past experience to rule constructively.
Various news organizations including BusinessInsider report that the United States has frozen approximately 9 or 10 billiion dollars of Afghan assets in the United States. The desire to get those assets unfrozen gives the Taliban extra incentive to be on good behavior.
I confess that I have never served in the military, nor have I ever traveled outside the United States. My views are based on what I've read, heard, and seen via news reports. But, as I see it, it is apparent that the United States involvement has not been nearly as effective as desired. Our withdrawal is a wise move. And President Biden stated August 16th, in a public speech to the nation, the United States will still seek to provide humanitarian aid, and to combat terrorism in various places as situations arise. And if the Taliban behaves well, they can obtain good international relations and presumably get back the frozen assets.
NOTE: This article was last revised August 21st, 2021.
