Monte Erfourth
Introduction
The United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 was marked by chaos, tragedy, and widespread criticism, both domestically and internationally. The 20-year war ended with harrowing scenes at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport: desperate Afghans clinging to departing planes, the deadly bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members, and the abrupt Taliban takeover of the capital. Analyzing the factors leading to the disastrous withdrawal reveals a confluence of strategic missteps, intelligence failures, and political decisions. These decisions tragically often mirrored the strategic failure of Vietnam.
A Compressed Timeline
The 2021 withdrawal’s chaos stems from decisions made years earlier. In February 2020, the Trump administration signed the Doha Agreement with the Taliban, committing to a full U.S. troop withdrawal by May 2021 in exchange for Taliban promises to sever ties with al-Qaeda and negotiate with the Afghan government. Critics argued that the deal gave the Taliban significant leverage without ensuring enforceable guarantees. Despite these warnings, the agreement accelerated the momentum for withdrawal.
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