After 20 years, a couple of trillion bucks, several hundred thousand dead, including 7,000 U.S. and allied soldiers and contractors, the US fled Afghanistan in a Taliban rout. Our soldiers didn’t fail, just our puppet Afghan government and puppet Afghan military.
Neither served one credible day in governance or military superiority. Both were forced upon the hapless Afghan population in an immoral and senseless war to avenge the 911 attacks. Yet the country most responsible for 911, Saudi Arabia, is hailed as our dependable Middle East ally which gooses our economy with tens of billions in war weapon purchases.
Having devastated the 37 million Afghans for 2 decades, one might surmise America would do its utmost to alleviate the deplorable conditions with which we’ve saddled them. To the contrary, America is extracting revenge on the victorious Taliban by further destroying the pitiful Afghan economy. Besides tossing an anchor around Taliban’s neck with sanctions, we’ve frozen $9 billion in Afghan treasure needed to bring Afghans out of the American made misery.
The UN reports how US seizure of Afghan wealth is contributing to souring inflation, shuttered banks and businesses, creating a humanitarian crisis. Nine million Afghans face starvation in the short term. In the long run Afghanistan remains a failed state due to US warfare and post war vengeance.
A paltry 40 House members, 7% of that body, sent a letter to President Biden imploring him to unfreeze Afghan assets and cease our continued destruction of the Afghan people. While the president has a full plate of domestic policy issues to resolve, it’s a fair bet the starving Afghan people are for him, out of sight, out of mind.
Walt Zlotow became involved in antiwar activities upon entering University of Chicago in 1963. He is current president of the West Suburban Peace Coalition based in the Chicago western suburbs. He blogs daily on antiwar and other issues at www.heartlandprogressive.blogspot.com.
When they aren’t lying and stealing, governments murder. They truly only do these three things well….too well, sadly.
Our soldiers failed us when they deployed to Afghanistan and participated in the war crimes planned and commanded by America’s leaders.
Our defeat in Afghanistan was completely foreseeable. When you send your troops into a foreign country where nobody wants you, sooner or later they are going to find a way to run you out.
Why is the Western Press never showing Pictures of Afghanistan in the roaring 60s, the Golden Hippie Years, when it was safe to hitchhiking or track from Europe through Turkey and Iran to Afghanistan to watch beautiful Kabul girls in Mini Skirts walking on the Streets to go to schools or University. Yes, pictures of Afghanistan before the USA starting meddling there !!
The destruction was by design.