How Did We Get to Where We Are in Afghanistan?

One year ago, Trump released 5,000 Taliban fighters in exchange for a 3-month cease-fire to help his presidential campaign, despite strenuous objections from both the Pentagon and the Afghan government. President Ashraf Ghani warned that their release would be a “danger to the world.”   There are now reports that some of these fighters are now part of the Taliban force that has overtaken Kabul.

Pompeo negotiating with the Taliban in Qatar

In 2018, the Trump administration also specifically requested that the Pakistani government release Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar  in an attempt to facilitate peace talks. It now appears that Mullah Baradar will become to new President of Afghanistan.

The disaster unfolding in Afghanistan resulted from the deal Trump and Pompeo negotiated with the Taliban in Qatar a year ago, except he wanted the withdrawal to happen sooner—by Christmas of last year.  Not only did Trump cave to the Taliban by giving them everything they asked for, but no members of the Afghan government were present-- Trump completely cut them out of the negotiations. 

Former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker, who was appointed under George W. Bush, blames Trump’s “peace” deal with what is happening now because Trump would only work with the Taliban and completely delegitimized the Afghan government.  

Trump’s deal was a complete disgrace that diminished our allies and strengthened the enemy. Trump reinforced the Taliban with their top fighters, and promised a quick retreat of American forces.  Trump's actions essentially would establish the Taliban as the de facto regime once U.S. forces left.

After his loss to Biden in the election, Trump postponed the withdrawal to May 2021.  When the Pentagon asked for more time,  Biden pushed it to the end of August. Conservatives were enraged at Biden for delaying the withdrawal.