How Afghanistan Still Impacts U.S. Presidential Campaigns
Afghanistan is indeed considered one of the biggest blunders in United States foreign policy. This state, with a distinct identity deeply influenced by Persian and Indian cultures, often seen as a mix of both, was infused with extremist Islamic ideology by the United States, with the help of Pakistan, once their biggest ally in the region, to counter the Soviet Union. The notorious Islamic extremist organization, the Taliban, was nurtured with U.S.-supported funds, but they eventually became foes, leading to the famous U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, which overthrew the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate that had become a threat to humanity. After the U.S. withdrawal and the Taliban’s reestablishment of the Islamic Emirate in 2021, strict Islamic Sharia law was reimplemented, women were banned from public life and schools, ancient cruel punishments became common, and Islam permeated all aspects of the state.
The United States chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan was due to enormous spending and the loss of American lives. The U.S. allowed the Taliban to take over the country, orchestrating meetings in Qatar, the Taliban’s biggest ally, and even releasing Taliban terrorists to facilitate the coup. Afghanistan is now under Taliban control, and though the U.S. has been absent for three years, the situation still impacts American politics. It remains a significant talking point in the ongoing presidential clash between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris.
The United States’ operation in Afghanistan spanned both Republican and Democratic administrations, making both parties equally responsible for the war and the resulting deaths of U.S. soldiers and Afghan civilians. Although the issue had nearly faded from American consciousness, it has resurfaced in the mainstream as former President Donald Trump on Monday linked Vice President Kamala Harris to the chaotic Afghanistan War withdrawal. This occurred on the third anniversary of the suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members, an event Trump called a humiliation. Trump also laid wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery to honor Sgt. Nicole Gee, Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover, and Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, who were killed, along with more than 100 Afghans, in the suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 26, 2021.
President Joe Biden’s administration was actually following a withdrawal commitment and timeline that the Trump administration had negotiated with the Taliban and Qatar in 2020. A 2022 review by a government-appointed special investigator concluded that decisions made by both Trump and Biden were key factors leading to the rapid collapse of Afghanistan’s military and the Taliban takeover. However, Trump accused Biden and Kamala Harris of causing the humiliation in Afghanistan, claiming it triggered the collapse of American credibility and respect worldwide. In his speech to the National Guard in Detroit, Trump stated that leaving Afghanistan was the right decision but criticized the poor execution. While the Taliban’s resurgence and the U.S. withdrawal were planned, the execution was a significant failure that severely damaged the United States’ image and cost many lives.
Kamala Harris largely dismissed Trump’s remarks about the poor execution of the Afghanistan withdrawal. In her statement marking the anniversary of the Kabul airport attack, Harris expressed her mourning for the 13 U.S. service members who were killed, stating that her prayers were with their families and loved ones, and that her heart broke for their pain and loss. She also honored and remembered all Americans who served in Afghanistan. Harris reiterated that President Biden made the courageous and correct decision to end America’s longest war. She mentioned that over the past three years, the administration had demonstrated that they could still eliminate terrorists, including the leaders of al-Qaeda and ISIS, without deploying troops into combat zones. Harris emphasized that she would never hesitate to take whatever action was necessary to counter terrorist threats and protect the American people.
Under Trump, the United States signed a peace agreement with the Taliban aimed at ending America’s longest war and bringing U.S. troops home. Biden later used this agreement to shift blame for the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, contending that it required him to withdraw troops and set the stage for the subsequent chaos. The Biden administration’s review acknowledged that the evacuation of Americans and allies should have started earlier, blaming delays on the Afghan government and military, as well as U.S. military and intelligence assessments. The top U.S. generals overseeing the evacuation criticized the administration for inadequate planning. Gen. Mark Milley, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers earlier this year that he had recommended keeping a residual force of 2,500 troops for support. Instead, Biden chose to maintain a much smaller contingent of 650 troops, solely for securing the U.S. embassy.
While Harris emphasizes American lives and Trump focuses on American pride, the plight of Afghan citizens, who have suffered under the Taliban’s medieval rule, is largely overlooked by U.S. presidential candidates. There has been little offered in terms of help for the suffering Afghans, a situation also exacerbated by the United States. The success of the Taliban has aided many extremist organizations in spreading their vision across various countries, which could eventually pose a significant threat to the U.S. Meanwhile, without addressing these core issues, presidential candidates are focusing on the emotions of American citizens.
