Lessons to shape the future
By U.S. Rep. Tom Cole
R-Oklahoma
This month marks four years since President Biden carried out his catastrophic withdraw of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, ignoring the advice of America’s top military leaders and experts.
This withdraw was supposed to mark the end of America’s longest war. Instead, due to the hasty and chaotic manner in which the Biden Administration executed the withdraw, it has gone down in history as nothing short of detrimental and embarrassing. It erased any sense of American principle and resolve. Marked by haunting pictures of desperate civilians hanging to departing aircraft, the withdraw left behind thousands of dedicated people who had put both themselves and their families in danger to aid the United States for more than twenty years.
It left expensive investments in sensitive military equipment, weapons, and vehicles in the hands of the Taliban. Most tragically, it led to the loss of thirteen brave American service members, who we still honor and remember today.
Put frankly, the Biden Administration’s planning was humiliating, as it was very clear they underestimated how quickly the Taliban could retake Afghanistan. In fact, the collapse of the Afghan government happened in just a few days, leading to a resurgent Taliban.
Moreover, this decision was more than just a catastrophic end to a war. It was a moment of American weakness broadcast all over the globe. It reshaped the way that both allies and adversaries alike viewed American resolve under the Biden Administration. It showed unacceptable weakness on the world stage and encouraged enemies of freedom everywhere. In fact, only six months later, we watched Vladimir Putin wrongfully invade Ukraine, placing a bet that U.S. leadership might be fragile.
This disaster in Afghanistan is now a disappointing part of our history, but its lessons must shape the future. The United States cannot afford to repeat a mistake like this again, as projecting American weakness obviously has consequences. So, in conclusion, it must be made clear to our adversaries and the entire world – the United States of America is strong and will not allow terrorists or our adversaries to win.
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