BACKGROUND: The War in Afghanistan was a conflict that lasted from 2001 to 2021 following the United States invasion of Afghanistan, when the United States and its allies drove the Taliban from power in order to deny al-Qaeda a safe base of operations in Afghanistan after the '9/11' Attack. It was the longest war in United States history, surpassing the Vietnam War by roughly five months. After the initial objectives were completed, a coalition of over 40 countries (including all NATO members) formed a security mission in the country called International Security Assistance Force (ISAF, succeeded by the Resolute Support Mission (RS) in 2014) of which certain members were involved in military combat allied with Afghanistan's government. The war mostly consisted of Taliban insurgencies fighting against the Afghan Armed Forces and allied forces; the majority of ISAF/RS soldiers and personnel were American.
Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, George W. Bush demanded that the Taliban, then-de facto ruling Afghanistan, hand over Osama bin Laden.
COMMENTS: The problem with this war started in 2003 when George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, and other military officials took their eyes off the ball, Afghanistan, and focused on their paranoid obsession with Iraq and Saddam Hussein and shifted American military effort Iraq.
G.W.'s father, George H. W. Bush, conducted the Gulf War (Kuwait) against Iraq, with Arabs as part of the coalition, because he listened to the Arab nations that Saddam Hussein's war with Iran kept Iran occupied and prevented them from taking actions against Arab neighbors, including Afghanistan.
G.W. Bush should have totally focused on Afghanistan and left Iraq alone, all our military effort in Afghanistan would have been concentrated where it should have been. My 'crystal ball' is no better than anyone else's, but I would guess America would not have been fighting a 20-year war in Afghanistan if this mistake hadn't been made.
"Inside the desperate, dangerous scramble to evacuate Kabul as Taliban seizes control" PBS NewsHour 8/16/2021
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SUMMARY: Afghanistan has fallen to the Taliban and the frenzy for Afghans and diplomats trying to flee the country reached a fever pitch Monday. Additional U.S. troops are on their way to help with evacuations as the Taliban retake power 20 years after the American invasion. Special correspondent Jane Ferguson reports from Kabul, and congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports on the U.S. response.
"Taliban takeover of Afghanistan is an ‘American catastrophe,’ H.R. McMaster says" PBS NewsHour 8/16/2021
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SUMMARY: To examine the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan and how it impacts U.S. interests, Judy Woodruff speaks to retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster. He was National Security Advisor during the Trump administration and also served as a military officer in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2012, heading up a task force focused on combating corruption. He is a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.
"Does the fallout in Afghanistan hurt American credibility?" PBS NewsHour 8/16/2021
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SUMMARY: To examine the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan and how it impacts U.S. interests and credibility, Judy Woodruff speaks to Laurel Miller, former deputy and then acting U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan from 2013 to 2017. She's now director of the Asia program at the International Crisis Group.
"Taliban leaders promise softer rule, but their actions send a different message" PBS NewsHour 8/17/2021
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SUMMARY: As the Taliban cemented their hold on Afghanistan Tuesday and spoke in detail about plans for the country, evacuations resumed. The top American general in the Middle East visited the Kabul airport to observe U.S. operations, now with nearly 4000 troops on the ground. But there is still fear about what the future may bring. With support from the Pulitzer Center, Jane Ferguson reports from Kabul.
"Can the Taliban be trusted to keep their promise of reasonable rule? Two experts weigh in" PBS NewsHour 8/17/2021
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SUMMARY: To make sense of the Taliban's plans for Afghanistan, Lisa Desjardins speaks to Ali Jalali, a former Minister of the Interior who served in the Afghan National Army. He's now a professor at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. And Torek Farhadi, an analyst and former advisor to the governor of Da Afghanistan Bank, ex-senior economic advisor to former Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
"Despite Taliban promises, Afghan women fear losing their freedoms and lives" PBS NewsHour 8/17/2021
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SUMMARY: The plight of women and girls in Afghanistan, many of whom gained new freedoms over the past 20 years, is now among the most important priorities now that the Taliban have taken over. With the help of author Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, Stephanie Sy tells us the story of a woman who persevered under the Taliban, flourished over the last 20 years, and escaped the Taliban's return just 48 hours ago.
"Chaos, cries for help outside Kabul airport as Taliban crack down on protesters" PBS NewsHour 8/18/2021
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SUMMARY: Protests against the Taliban turned deadly as the insurgents-turned-rulers of Afghanistan shot into crowds in two cities. In Kabul, the airlift of American, allied and Afghan civilians continues as more American troops land at the airport and desperate crowds remain outside. Jane Ferguson reports from Kabul — with the support of the Pulitzer Center — about the fear and hopelessness in Afghanistan.
"Taliban interrogating women activists, creating a ‘climate of fear and intimidation’" PBS NewsHour 8/18/2021
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SUMMARY: William Brangham discusses the future for Afghan women under Taliban rule with Rina Amiri, who focused on conflict resolution in Afghanistan for the United Nations and the U.S.; now a senior fellow at New York University's Center for Global Affairs. And Nura Sediqe, a public policy fellow at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and member of the Afghan-American coalition.
"Thousands of Afghans can’t access the airport. Those who can recall Taliban threats, abuse" PBS NewsHour 8/19/2021
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SUMMARY: As more American and allied flights leave the capital of Afghanistan Thursday, an ever-growing panic descends on the city. More American troops and marines arrived, but despite U.S. efforts, Taliban fighters are hindering movement toward the Kabul airport, leaving thousands of civilians trapped. With support from the Pulitzer Center, Jane Ferguson reports on the situation in Kabul.
"Evacuating Afghans who helped U.S. a ‘high priority,’ national security official says" PBS NewsHour 8/19/2021
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SUMMARY: For a senior perspective from the Biden administration on the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan and U.S. response and support of evacuation efforts, Judy Woodruff is joined by Jon Finer, the Deputy National Security Advisor.
"What went wrong in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan? Two lawmakers weigh in" PBS NewsHour 8/19/2021
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SUMMARY: As more American and allied flights are leaving the capital of Afghanistan Thursday, an ever-growing panic descends on the city. More American troops and marines arrived, but despite U.S. efforts,Taliban fighters are hindering movement toward the Kabul airport, leaving thousands of civilians trapped. With support from the Pulitzer Center, Jane Ferguson reports on the situation in Kabul.
"Frustrated by ill-prepared evacuation plan, anxious Afghans rush airport gates" PBS NewsHour 8/20/2021
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SUMMARY: The U.S. says it has assurances from the Taliban that evacuations of Afghans who want to leave the country can continue after the withdrawal deadline of August 31st. But the Taliban continues to harass and impede passage throughout Kabul. Even with more evacuation flights out, throngs of people desperate to flee keep trying. Jane Ferguson reports from Kabul, with support from the Pulitzer Center.
"The U.S. ignored corruption within the Afghan government. Did that lead to its fall?" PBS NewsHour 8/20/2021
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SUMMARY: As the Taliban faces protests and dissent across Afghanistan, William Brangham explores the collapse of the country's government — built and supported by the U.S. and allies for 20 years. For a deeper perspective, Brangham speaks with Sarah Chayes, who covered the fall of the Taliban after 9/11 for NPR and served as advisor to several senior U.S. military commanders in Afghanistan.
"Afghans desperately try to flee; U.S. evacuation continues" PBS NewsHour 8/21/2021
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SUMMARY: Chaos at Kabul airport continued as thousands of Afghans desperately tried to flee the country. At the same time, at least 17,000 people have been evacuated from the country, 2,500 of them American nationals. The Taliban came a step closer to taking over officially as the group’s co-founder and political leader Mullah Baradar arrived in Kabul to begin talks about forming a new government. NewsHour Correspondent Jane Ferguson reports with support from The Pulitzer Center.
It is a sad day for America and a tragic day for Afghans. Ala be with them.
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