I have a lot of thoughts on Afghanistan, some of them political in nature and some simply reflective of my visit to Afghanistan in 2012.
Vivid Memories Of My Trip To Afghanistan
So much is changing so quickly. For that reason, I am not going to offer my thoughts as a political scientist and former Air Force Reservist on the situation. I’ll be listening to President Biden’s speech today and will offer my commentary in a later post.
As Afghanistan falls into Taliban control, I cannot help but to think of my entourage that protected me during my December 2012 visit. I’m usually pretty adventurous, but when I traveled to Kabul I hired a security detail out of an abundance of caution. With me at all time, except when I was in my sleeping compound, was a guide, driver, and armed guard (pictured above in the Panjshir Valley).
When writing about my trip, I penned a piece called The Afghanistan Dilemma, in which I reflected upon the sober reality of life in Afghanistan. I wrote:
Militants stand waiting in the wings to swoop back in and retake control—my own guide dourly told me that he would be executed in southern Afghanistan, where the Taliban has regained control, for shaving his beard.
This was in 2013. I wonder if my guide is safe (he doesn’t respond to my emails)? I wonder what life will be like for him and his family now? Will he face retribution for working with western governments?
Taliban 2.0 promises to be kinder and gentler than the previous Taliban regime, but I have my doubts. Over the weekend, an alleged thief in Herrat was tarred and led through the city in a noose. What will happen to women? Children? Christians? Buddhists? Homosexuals? Artwork?
Taliban accused these men of theft, their faces were colored with black color – to embarrass them and were paraded in Herat city after the Friday prayers. pic.twitter.com/crLpdK3kCV
— BILAL SARWARY (@bsarwary) August 13, 2021
The Afghanistan dilemma then is the Afghanistan dilemma now. My analysis nearly a decade ago is still relevant today:
In a time of austerity and weariness to war, keeping thousands of troops in a foreign land over 7,000 miles away from U.S shores is a tough sell. But U.S. and coalition forces have proved adept at doing what thus far has eluded the Afghans: keeping the Taliban, and with it their brutal oppression, from control. All I can say is that the people of Afghanistan worry not merely about providing for their children or how they will weather uncertain economic times, but how they will survive. They are begging us to stay and help a little longer. But should we?
That is the Afghanistan dilemma.
A little longer turned into eight more years. We are nearing the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks which led to the conflict in the first place. How long before Afghans must take up arms and defend their own freedom, if they want it? (This is, of course, a different question than how the withdrawal has been managed)
The Afghanistan dilemma continues…
> Read more of my Saudi Arabia + Afghanistan Trip Report–
Introduction: A Journey to Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan
How to Obtain a Saudi Arabian Transit Visa
New York JFK to Jeddah in Saudia Economy Class
Review: Park Hyatt Jeddah
Pictures from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Jeddah to Dubai in Saudia Economy Class
Dubai to Kabul on Ariana Afghan Airlines
Arrival in Afghanistan
The Panjshir Valley of Afghanistan
My Hotel, er Compound, in Kabul, Afghanistan
Kabul – TV Tower Hill and Darul Aman Palace
Kabul – National Museum of Afghanistan
Kabul – Gardens of Babur and Kart-e Sakhi Mosque
Kabul – The Green Zone and British Cemetery
Kabul International Airport and Departing Afghanistan
The Afghanistan Dilemma
Kabul to Dubai on flydubai
Dubai to New York via Jeddah in Saudia Economy Class
“We” (Biden) ended the dilemma. Trump was right to greatly reduce the #US of troops and sign an exit agreement by May 1st. Biden was right to pull out (Bush was incredibly wrong, and Obama was wrong). The exit should have been handled better. Just like the USSR, we are leaving Afghanistan to sort out its own future. The outcome was very predictable 20 years ago. History may not repeat itself, but it tends to rhyme. This was a very expensive history lesson. Sad!
Biden just needs more refuges here in the western world (USA) and just stranded 30,000 Americans in AFG. Don’t think for a minute that the Talys aren’t going to hold several hundred westerners for later and they won’t be coming home for quite a while.
Travel comments: Wonderful that you have memories. You may never go to Afghanistan for the rest of your life, certainly not in the next 20 years. After that there could be two concerns. One is if the two children would be happy if Dad went to Afghanistan and didn’t come back (no, they wouldn’t be happy). The second is a medical concern. If you have a stroke in Afghanistan, there is no stroke ICU or neurologist or neurosurgeon. When one is 30, the risk of a stroke is low. At 55 or 60, consider reducing trips to primitive places. By 80, it is a real risk.
Political comments: The speed of the defeat is surprising, described by the press as a colossal failure and humiliation. The US military was never trained in fighting like an insurgent. No need to. When you have drones, intelligence, satellites, helicopters, repair infrastructure, and back office management, it is not necessary. Why use inferior methods? But the Afghan government needed to fight like an insurgent or at least the way it was done before computers. Otherwise, the moment US support ends, they are unable to fight the same way.
Maybe it’s like trying to fix a Tesla in Benin? A horse or a 1950’s designed Jeep is better.
Did you break bread with any mujahideen?
It breaks my heart, however, it was the correct decision.
I disagree. It was a decision just asking for poor management. There are more choices than leave or stay.
We promised to stabilize the country when we invaded. Then, we promised we would move civilian interpreters and staff to safety in the event where the Taliban were to retake control of the country.
We failed on both counts. No one should trust the promises of the US
If Biden wanted to have his own Saigon, then yes he made the right decision.
There’s a way to leave with dignity (Britain handing over Hk) without having your country’s leadership appear inept, weak, and clueless, then on the other side you have Biden who.. oh never mind,
The Afghanistan trip report was one of the most riveting travel pieces I have read. I felt like I was there with you and I could feel the tension, excitement and apprehension of visiting such a strange and dangerous land. You can debate the political choices made in this country but your visit to this exotic land stands out as one of the most interesting travel articles you have written. Thank you for sharing this daring adventure!
I never read that article. just did and tremendous piece, Matthew. Sadly you perfectly captured the then and the now.
Biden had the courage to pull us out but did it horribly badly. Tens of thousands will probably now be executed as traitors rather than gaining political asylum in the US or elsewhere. The saddening scene at the Kabul airport should never have happened.
As much as Biden wants to think he’s different that Trump he’s exactly the same, at least where refugees and immigration are concerned. It’s a tragedy that people continue (Mexican border deaths with Trump and now Afghans with Biden) to die over bad immigration policy. We’re a nation founded by immigrants, we should do better than this.
Please dont put Biden in the same boat as Trump when it comes to foreign policy. He is not exactly the same – if anything the past year shows he’s the exact opposite to Trump when it comes to foreign polcy.
Hate or love him, Trump was feared and respected by other world governments, Hated, but feared and respected
Biden.. um.. lets just say he instills as much fear and respect like a ladybug walking across your lawn.
At least we gave Afghan women and “underdogs” almost 20 years of education and some sense of freedom. The removal of forces was inevitable, but the way the Biden administration has handled it is a complete travesty. Who knows what the consequences will be now, but it seems quite gloomy.
Amazing trip report. For all my criticisms of the site in the past year, you may wonder why I keep reading, and its because of trip reports like this.
There is no answer to the question of how you keep those Buddhist and other artifacts from the National Museum of Afghanistan safe. They should remain in country, but there is a high risk they will be destroyed by the incoming regime.
I suggest you black out the face of your guide in the pics you’re posting here. It’s a long shot they would connect, but I would say it’s a small thing to do.