Dear Editor,
Last Friday’s edition carried a summary yet competent history of Afghanistan’s reputation as “a graveyard” for those who attempted, over centuries, to exercise complete ownership of that tortured land. (`The graveyard of empires’ by Peter Douglas, (SN Fri Aug 20, 2021).
As one who followed the Russian “intervention” in 1979, its occupation and eventual expulsion – replete with thousands of Afghan lives lost amongst its numerous warlord–like groupings – I was again captured by the American 20-year “occupation” and Trump’s decision to withdraw. Never did I suspect that Biden’s “exit strategy” would cause such monumental unravelling of an Afghanistan which tasted the benefits of Western-type democracy so alien to such traditions. Along with the parallel indignity inflicted upon the American “evacuation”, compliments of President Biden’s illogical deadline and timelines.
It’s a fact that the four American presidents – the second Bush through to Biden – all wanted to end American involvement in the Afghan so-called “forever war”. But Biden’s methods of cessation have surely baffled traditional allies, remnants of the Afghan government, vulnerable Middle East governments, even elements within the American military who can’t be seen to be dismayed by their Commander-in-Chief, who seemed to have willingly ignored the recent advice from his own on-the-ground intelligence. (Don’t withdraw military before citizens and Afghan helpers”.)
Great and long-lasting, analysts, critics and allies all agree, will be the implications and consequences of Biden’s botched withdrawal.
Among them: the Taliban’s rigid imposition of Sharia-type Islamic law upon all and sundry now trapped in their country to be soon excluded from democratic norms; violent murderous vengeance upon all and any who supported the deposed Afghan government and army; loss of appreciation of the efforts of an army which could not confront the Taliban, ISIS, al-qaeda and other factions without U.S. air support for a little longer; terrorists from Iran, Syria and Pakistan (especially) are now free in a friendly Taliban haven; China will now be poised to beat Russia at exploiting Afghanistan’s vast resources in exchange for vitally-needed economic support even if the Americans and Europe sanction the Taliban; there will be sustained outrage at Biden’s debacle of an exit especially by thousands of American Vets who gave their all in Afghanistan.
To me – hundreds of miles from the Afghan theatre of revolution and fear – Biden was easily justified to vacate American’s occupation but he will never be forgotten for a methodology that will cause bloodshed to vulnerable Afghans who assisted; Americans still isolated and those Afghan neighbours and regional allies now forever disappointed at the consequences of severely weakened American leadership and support.
The fearful lessons of Biden’s debacle will include concerns about what could be hatched now amongst the Taliban–sponsored terrorist groups, along with the anxiety as to whether the U.S. could still render useless the millions in weapons, ammunition, aircraft and intelligence material now in “enemy hands”.
The American withdrawal also illustrates how exclusively vital America was to any Afghan government. Even though there were other NATO troops present.
It remains to be seen how long it will take a Biden-led America to recover from such a humiliation of a retreat. However necessary it was. To me, the world still would be worse off without a strong U.S.A.
Yours faithfully,
Allan Arthur Fenty
