FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 29, 2020
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, The New York Times reported details of the U.S.-Taliban deal that could lead to a withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Afghanistan. Defense Priorities Senior Fellow Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis, USA, Ret. issued the following statement in response:
“While an agreement is welcome, ending America’s longest war should not be hitched to a deal between the Taliban, Kabul, or anyone else. The full withdrawal should be completed within 14 months regardless of the other conditions outlined in the agreement—the Taliban should not get a veto over U.S. policy.
“The U.S. was right to invade Afghanistan to destroy Al-Qaeda and punish the Taliban. The mistake was staying after that swift victory to nation build. Nearly two decades later, the U.S. remains mired in training and policing missions related to Kabul’s security, not America’s.
“It is true Afghanistan will likely get worse when the U.S. leaves, but it is also true that’s going to be the case even if the U.S. stays another two months, two years, or two decades. Afghanistan is not strategically important to the United States. Pretending otherwise, especially to continue pursuing fantastical goals inconsequential to U.S. security, will further weaken the U.S.—and still result in costly failure.
“As has been true for years, the strongest, most responsible policy for the U.S. is a complete military withdrawal from Afghanistan, with or without an agreement. Anything less would only increase the human and financial costs of the forever war.”
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