talk about happy things, man!” protested President Joe Biden in early July, when reporters asked him about the imminent withdrawal of the last American forces from Afghanistan, expected some time in the next few weeks. No wonder he wants to change the subject: America has been fighting in Afghanistan for 20 years. It has spent more than $2trn on the war. It has lost thousands of its own troops and seen the death of tens of thousands of Afghans—soldiers and civilians alike.
In theory, the Taliban and the American-backed government are negotiating a peace accord, whereby the insurgents lay down their arms and participate instead in a redesigned political system. In the best-case scenario, strong American support for the government, both financial and military , coupled with immense pressure on the insurgents’ friends, such as Pakistan, might succeed in producing some form of power-sharing agreement.
At the very least, the civil war is likely to intensify, as the Taliban press their advantage and the government fights for its life. Other countries—China, India, Iran, Russia and Pakistan—will seek to fill the vacuum left by America. Some will funnel money and weapons to friendly warlords. The result will be yet more bloodshed and destruction, in a country that has suffered constant warfare for more than 40 years.
The bigest lie is Taliban gaining terriotry in last two month. The real thing is Taliban controle 60% of its territory from last 2/3 year
Massacre politics wins nothing...just people in the ground and master of nothing..
But I thought US withdrawal was the solution.
Let em have it
The move was rushed. plus, afghanistan was the ideal place to keep an eye on iran and china.
We in the region are shaken by the prospect of what may follow and the long-instability that looms ominously
Good on the Economist for reporting on the US defeat in Afghanistan that has been strictly taboo for the rest of the free media 🤭 Apocalypse Now level stunning and symbolic imagery 👌
when ur funding and training them its hard to win but its profitable
difficult to understand who will rule....
Defeat has been accepted! Afghanistan has been a graveyard for all super powers!
true that -breeding ground for insurgence
We lost it in 2003, when we invaded Iraq. It doomed the effort in Afghanistan, and destroyed international support for a US-led rebuilding of the country. It probably wouldn't have worked anyway, but GW Bush's fraudulent Iraq War destroyed any outcome other than defeat.
good luck
Spoken like true military industrial complex
Not a complete failure.
play stupid games, win stupid prizes
Who was counting in 2001 🤔
It's like we should have never been there at all. Idiots
Now, let's guess how high the casualties would be if the Americans would not have invaded Afghanistan (and Iraq...) in the first place.
If we couldn't solve the problem with war for the last 20 years, what makes you think the next 20 would be any better?