As we approach the 20th anniversary of 9/11 with Afghanistan more dangerous than ever, those in charge have made a mess far bigger than anyone thought possible, and the brave soldiers who have fought in the war are wondering if the entire thing was all for naught. Afghanistan is now run by The Taliban, who are bloodthirsty terrorists, no matter what show they put on for the world stage. These are people who have placed noted terrorists in their government, continue to hold Americans hostage, and will now use Afghanistan as a base from which to wage their terrorist agenda against the United States and other Western countries. It didn’t have to be this way.
Had the United States had competent leadership in charge, we would’ve exited Afghanistan with grace and dignity instead of in the undignified, embarrassing way that we did. The damage that this debacle has done to America’s standing on the world stage cannot be overstated.
20 years ago, terrorists attacked America on our soil and killed thousands of people. I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that it is my generation’s Pearl Harbor. It was horrifying. Terrifying. And the United States responded – as it should have – with the necessary force after such a devastating blow to our safety and security.
I did not fight in Afghanistan, but I fought in Iraq. As a combat veteran, I can only wonder how the soldiers who fought in Afghanistan feel now that the war has ended so ignominiously for America. We now have an Afghanistan that is more dangerous than ever, that hates America more than ever, and with a social media savvy Taliban that knows how to disseminate its anti-American propaganda to the masses.
It would’ve been wonderful to say that this war was won on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, but unfortunately, it has been lost. Not by our brave American soldiers, but by the incompetent, swamp-dwelling buffoons that have made their decades of sacrifice all for naught.
