Policy Briefs
Selonnes Policy Tidbits: | Afghanistan: Is ‘Ending the Forever War’ About to Turn Ugly?
History tends to repeat itself, and when that happens, the stage is fraught with recriminations. Afghanistan should be on the minds of U.S. policymakers. It is now a hot-button and font burner issue. Not that it has not been for the past 20 years. However, the seemingly expedient move by the Biden Administration aimed at ‘ending the forever war’ seems poised to turn ugly. The Taliban is on the rampage. The irreverent question: Who let the dogs out?
Afghanistan has been a Waterloo of sorts. So as the geo-strategic and tactical exit strategy in Afghanistan unfurls, students of global politics must be thinking and asking a heady question: Is history is about to repeat itself? Certainly, most policy wonks and historians can’t help thinking of the “Last Flight From Saigon”. And even if only a conjecture, they can’t escape asking, will there be a “Last Flight From Kabul?”
U.S. authorities will need to recalibrate. Absent a divisive domestic debate, it is still best to admit early that the planned withdrawal, was precipitate and the unfurling consequence, far too weighty to proceed as planned. This, is perhaps, also time for U.S. European allies alienated by Trumpism, to rally around the NATO flag and alliance and put a wedge to the unfolding Tabliban expansionism in Afghanistan. At times, being in charge entails, the proverbial ‘eating crow’ – that stitch in time that saves nine.
