The Unraveling Of America's Longest War: Understanding The Afghan Quagmire

The war in Afghanistan was initially popular among Americans, with a Gallup poll showing that 90% supported the war and only 5% opposed it. However, over time, the war became less popular, with a Gallup poll from July 2021 finding that 47% of Americans thought the war had been a mistake. The shift in public opinion can be attributed to various factors, including the prolonged duration of the war, the costs and casualties incurred, and a change in perspective as younger Americans grew up during the 20-year conflict. Additionally, Americans may have become skeptical of the war due to a sense of war weariness, a loss of faith in the Afghan government, and a belief that the war did not align with their vital national interests.

The war was costly, with the US spending over $2 trillion over two decades

The war in Afghanistan was the longest war in American history, lasting two decades and costing the US over $2 trillion. This amounts to over $300 million a day for 20 years. The Pentagon spent just over $1 trillion on the war, while the Department of Defense spent over $900 billion on defence operations. The war was funded largely by borrowing, and the interest on these loans is expected to cost the US trillions more.

The human cost of the war was also high. Over 2,400 US soldiers died in the conflict, and thousands more were injured. The war also took a toll on the mental health of US soldiers, with many returning home with post-traumatic stress.

The war in Afghanistan was costly in other ways, too. It diverted resources from other areas of government spending and shifted the focus of US foreign policy. It also damaged America's reputation, as the failure to achieve its objectives demonstrated the limits of US power. The war was also seen as a distraction from more pressing issues, such as the rise of China and the threat of nuclear proliferation.

The war's cost to Afghanistan was also immense. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans died, and the country was left with a weak and corrupt government. The war also disrupted the country's economy and society, causing widespread suffering.

The war caused human casualties, with 1,800 US troop deaths and thousands of injuries

The war in Afghanistan has resulted in thousands of casualties, with over 2,400 US troop deaths and thousands of injuries. The human cost of the war has been immense, with countless lives lost and forever altered.

The war in Afghanistan has taken a devastating toll on the lives of US service members and their families. Since the war began in 2001, over 2,400 American servicemembers have been killed, with thousands more suffering injuries. The true toll of the war is even higher when considering the high rate of suicide among veterans, with over 30,000 US service members and veterans taking their own lives—a rate four times higher than those dying in combat. The war has left countless families grieving and communities shattered.

The physical and mental toll of the war has been immense. In addition to the thousands of deaths, it is estimated that over 20,000 US service members have been wounded in action. The true number may be even higher, as many injuries go unreported or untreated. The impact of these injuries lasts long after the war, with veterans suffering from physical disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and post-traumatic stress. The cost of war extends beyond the battlefield, as families and communities bear the burden of caring for those who return with visible and invisible wounds.

The human cost of the war in Afghanistan extends beyond US troops. Afghan civilians have also borne the brunt of the conflict, with estimates of civilian deaths ranging from 35,000 to 43,000. The true number may never be known, as many deaths go unreported or occur in remote areas. The suffering does not end with physical wounds, as the war has also taken a toll on the mental health and well-being of countless Afghans, with high rates of trauma and displacement.

The war in Afghanistan has caused immeasurable suffering and loss. The human cost has been devastating, with thousands of lives lost and forever altered. The impact of the war extends beyond the battlefield, as families and communities are left to pick up the pieces in the aftermath. The true cost of war is measured not only in the number of deaths but also in the lives forever changed by its impact.

The war in Afghanistan has revealed the true cost of conflict, with a devastating toll on those who serve and their families. It has also highlighted the importance of understanding the complex dynamics of a country before engaging in nation-building efforts. The failure to comprehend the interplay of religion, culture, and history in Afghanistan led to policies that ultimately fell short of their goals. As the US reflects on the lessons learned from this conflict, it is crucial to honor the sacrifice of those who served and to work towards preventing future conflicts that cause such immense human suffering.

The war did not achieve its objectives, with the Taliban retaking power and the Afghan government collapsing

The war in Afghanistan did not achieve its objectives, with the Taliban retaking power and the Afghan government collapsing.

The war in Afghanistan was initially launched to eliminate al-Qaeda and deny them a safe haven in Afghanistan. The US also aimed to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a base for terrorists with global reach or as the catalyst for a broader regional security meltdown.

However, the US failed to achieve these objectives. The Taliban has regained power in Afghanistan, and the Afghan government has collapsed. The Taliban's resurgence was aided by the US's failure to develop a coherent and effective strategy, and the US's inability to understand the Afghan context. The US also underestimated the amount of time required to rebuild Afghanistan, and created unrealistic timelines and expectations.

The US also failed to develop a strong Afghan security force capable of securing the country. The US and its allies did not provide enough resources to train and equip the Afghan security forces, and the Afghan security forces were often poorly led and lacked the motivation to fight.

The US also failed to understand the Afghan context and tailor its efforts accordingly. The US tried to impose a Westernised model of governance on Afghanistan, which was not suited to the country's decentralised nature and history. The US also failed to understand the importance of local communities in Afghanistan, and did not do enough to win the support of the Afghan people.

The US also failed to address corruption in Afghanistan, which undermined its strategic goals. The US contributed to the corruption in Afghanistan by providing aid without sufficient oversight, and by working with warlords and corrupt officials.

The war was seen as a foreign occupation, clashing with Afghan identity and religion, and giving the Taliban a significant advantage

The war in Afghanistan was seen as a foreign occupation that clashed with Afghan identity and religion, giving the Taliban a significant advantage.

The presence of American troops in Afghanistan was seen as a violation of Afghan identity, which incorporated national pride, a long history of fighting outsiders, and a religious commitment to defend the homeland. The Taliban leveraged this sentiment to their advantage, casting themselves as representatives of Islam and calling for resistance to foreign occupation. This narrative resonated with ordinary Afghans, who were typically devout Muslims but not extremists. The Taliban's ability to link their cause to the very meaning of being Afghan was a crucial factor in America's defeat.

The Taliban's call to fight foreign occupiers, steeped in references to Islamic teachings, inspired Afghans to join their movement. For Afghans, jihad—more accurately understood as "resistance" or "struggle" than the caricatured meaning it has acquired in the West—has historically been a means of defense against oppression by outsiders, part of their endurance against invader after invader. The Taliban were able to tie themselves to religion and to Afghan identity in a way that a government allied with non-Muslim foreign occupiers could not match.

The very presence of Americans in Afghanistan trod on a sense of Afghan identity. It prodded men and women to defend their honor, their religion, and their home. It dared young men to fight. It sapped the will of Afghan soldiers and police, who did not want to put their lives on the line for a government that was corrupt and prone to neglect them. The Taliban's ability to link their cause to the very meaning of being Afghan was a crucial factor in America's defeat.

The explanation of how religion, resistance to occupation, and Afghan identity intertwined to the advantage of the Taliban and disadvantage of the government helps us make sense of America's 20-year war. This is not the singular explanation for the outcome of the Afghan war. But it is a necessary one. Its impact is resounding: any Afghan government, however good and however democratic, could be imperiled as long as it was aligned with the United States. The Taliban were consistently inspired to fight harder and to go to greater lengths than the Afghan army and police. In turn, the United States had to stay longer and longer: civil war in perpetual motion.

The war was mismanaged, with US policy guided by fantasies, such as the belief that the Taliban could be eliminated

The war in Afghanistan was mismanaged, with US policy guided by fantasies, such as the belief that the Taliban could be eliminated.

The US-led war in Afghanistan was the longest war in American history, lasting 20 years. It began in 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks, and ended in August 2021, with the Taliban retaking control of the country.

The US believed that the Taliban could be eliminated, but this was a fantasy. The Taliban had deep roots in local communities and a strong ideological basis for their fight. They were motivated by their interpretation of Islam and a desire to resist foreign occupation. This inspired Afghans to fight and gave them an advantage over the US-backed government.

The US failed to understand Afghanistan and its people. American planners thought they knew what the country needed but did not consider what its people wanted. The US saw the Taliban as evil and failed to recognise that, in the context of civil war and failed states, the fundamental questions are ones of order and disorder. The Taliban provided better governance than the distant and corrupt Afghan central government.

The US-backed government was further undermined by the US's desire to transform Afghan culture. For example, the US spent around $1 billion on promoting gender equality, which was seen as social and cultural engineering in a conservative country.

The US also backed a strong, centralised authority as the answer to Afghanistan's problems. This resulted in a top-heavy political system that alienated other stakeholders, particularly at the local and regional levels.

The US mismanaged the war in Afghanistan, and its policies were guided by fantasies. The belief that the Taliban could be eliminated was chief among them.

Frequently asked questions