The US and NATO Belatedly Got it Right

摘要

As this article was written, more troops from the US, and Turkey and Britain, the two remaining members of the US-led NATO International Security Assistance Force Mission in Afghanistan, were preparing to leave the country. While it would be nothing short of hyperbole to call the forces' departure a "hasty retreat," it is instructive to look at the current disposition of forces in Afghanistan. The US is withdrawing troops and materiel until only about 650 American troops remain in the country - to allow US President Biden to go ahead with his plan to maintain the American embassy. Yet, recent events have included a Taliban offensive that has seized about 100 district centres. Indeed, US Army General Austin Miller, commander of the NATO mission, remarked at his 29 June press conference that Afghanistan could be on a path to chaotic, multi-sided civil war and other turmoil as US and other international forces depart. While far from being an "/ told you so" moment, there are mounting, numerous lessons learned, including civil-military relations, leadership, and strategy and tactics -for starters - to reflect on from the US's 20-year Afghanistan epoch.