U.S. Exit From Afghanistan

                                            U.S. Exit from Afghanistan

Twenty years of fighting for, funding and equipping the Afghan Army came to a screeching halt in early August of 2021. The U.S. had decided to end its involvement, in a two-decades-long civil war and pull all of its troops out of Afghanistan.

The results were predictable, though everyone involved was astonished at the rapidity of the collapse. A 300,000-man Afghani Army, trained and equipped by international professionals, dropped their weapons and melted into the populace, in the face of a rag-tag band of desert, mujahedeen warriors.

The assault on and capture of the Afghan capital Kabul was swift and occurred virtually without a shot fired in resistance. The evacuation of Americans and friendly Afghans centered around the Kabul airport. Predictably, panic and chaos became the order of the day. Much as the U.S. wished to avoid the panic -like evacuation of Saigon in 1975, the frenzy of the moment repeated itself. Tragic pictures of Afghan hanging from the exterior of  jet transports, and then falling to their death, became the signature for the mass retreat.

In ensuing days, the U.S Military, with the cooperation of the Taliban, regained control of the airport and started evacuating up to 9.000 Americans, officials and friendly Afghans, either to America or a third country, until all paper work had been completed. America, like Russia, Britain and Alexander the Great retreated from this barren pile of rocks, high in the central Asian mountains.

The Taliban will reclaim the country and impose Sharia Law, which is opposed to educating  women or even letting them work in professions. Reprisal of Afghans, who cooperated with America’s operations, will probably occur once the media has retreated with the remaining American forces.

The reaction of the Media was predictable. “America deserted her allies.” “America abandoned the Afghan women to the Sharia Law.” “The chaos of the evacuation could have been more orderly. Americans should be ashamed.”

With all due respect to the collective media attentions and opinions, I offer the simple response. “Baloney!” We spent over one Trillion dollars fighting the Afghan’s war for them. We trained and equipped 300,000 Afghans to fight in their own defense. Over five thousand Americans died in those dusty hills, trying to solve a centuries old battle of war Lords and tribal chieftains. We should stay there for another twenty years and spend thousands of more American lives and billions of dollars, so other people could feel better about the horror of the Taliban? Again, BALONEY! The Afghans created the new reality.

It is true that we did not see or predict so rapid a collapse of the Afghani’s and their government. Even the South Vietnamese at least fought on their own for a few years. And they were faced with a much more difficult and stronger enemy.

It is the Afghan governmental leadership and the Afghan army who ran away and left their citizens to the mercy of the Taliban. The United States and all of her allies did not create these conditions. We merely bled profusely, with men and money, while corrupt Afghan leadership ran away and sold their own people down the river.

The sanctity of the United States Armed Service members, and those gallant lads and lasses of our allies, should not be sullied by wailing members of the media, who seek to create a different reality in Afghanistan, one where America and her Allies were expected to remain forever, paying all the bills and doing the fighting for a government and leadership cadre, so corrupt that they beggar belief!

History will probably adjudge American efforts in Afghanistan a failure, much as it has ruled on occupations by the Russians, British and Persians of so long ago. But people need to stand up for the valor and largesse of America and her twenty-years of effort, to free these benighted tribes from the 8^th century rule of Sharia Law.

Maybe we didn’t succeed in nation-building in Afghanistan, but damn, we did everything that could be expected of any nation, for twenty years, before throwing in the towel. May the good Lord bless all of the fallen, injured and serving  members of the United States Armed services for their valiant efforts. And the same to the injured and fallen of our allies,  I, for one, am proud of all of you and Thank you for your service.

                                    -30-

                                (736 words)

                  Joseph Xavier Martin