It's Time to Free Afghanistan
It's Time to Free Afghanistan
And so it begins
Over the next two weeks, there will be a stream of columns and stories examining America’s humiliating defeat in Afghanistan. Hell, some people will even try to convince you that we somehow didn’t lose the war.
Here’s what the Taliban was doing yesterday.
Islamabad —
The Islamist Taliban marked the third anniversary Wednesday of recapturing power in Afghanistan with a public holiday and a televised military parade at the former U.S.-run Bagram airbase, among other symbolic events.
The so-called “victory day” celebrations occurred amid ongoing global criticism of the Taliban government, known as the Islamic Emirate, for allegedly creating “the world’s most serious women’s rights crisis” and making impoverished Afghanistan the only country where girls are banned from education beyond sixth grade.
Do you know who does military parades on certain dates? Winners.
The Taliban and Al Qaeda, aided by their enablers, Pakistan and Iran, humiliated the United States, NATO, and its Afghan allies.
We have to write that again and again. We have to scream that from the mountain tops. I don’t beat this drum because I like the tune. In fact, I hate that tune. That tune is filled with the sounds of my dead friends.
But it happened, nonetheless. Sticking your head in the sand is not a solution to your problems. It is a recipe for a disaster.
The Taliban and Al Qaeda now control Afghanistan. They are the rulers. They are constructing a terror state in Afghanistan that will make Gaza look like a playland. They have all of our toys, resources, and also the help of the Russian, Chinese, Iranian, and Pakistani intelligence services.
They are more powerful today than ever before.
That’s all the more reason to overthrow them.
It’s time. It’s time to speak openly and honestly about what that will take. We need to start confronting the Talibs for the threat that they are. And by we, I don’t mean American combat troops. I’ve yet to meet a single Afghan over the past three years who has said to me, “Will, could you guys invade again, because it worked so well the last time?”
LOL.
The Afghans have seen that movie before. There are some hopeful scenes and a lot of action, but the ending sucked the last time.
No, it’s time to start using American diplomacy to form a government in exile. It’s time for the United States government to arm the resistance. It’s time for the resistance to take down the very men who are drenched in American blood. It’s time to free Afghanistan from the men who murdered our fellow citizens on 9-11.
It’s time to free Afghan women from a gender apartheid regime that is using rape as a weapon. They are raping my friend’s sisters and mothers. I’ve had countless Afghan friends send me pictures of their female relatives who’ve been gang raped.
Yes. Gang raped.
These are monsters. I’ve killed them my entire life. There’s no moderate Taliban. They’re not interested in constructing a Wal-Mart or perhaps building a methadone clinic. They’re interested in spreading their vision of the world through the barrel of a gun.
They’re coming for us, ladies and gentlemen. Al Qaeda will attack us again. They now have a terror state at their disposal. If you think the Taliban is going to “restrict” their movement. Well, LOL. Good luck with that.
It’s time to fight. It’s time to help our Afghan brothers and sisters free their country. It’s their fight. But I’ve served alongside my brothers my entire life. I believe in them because they’ve proven themselves more than capable.
I’ve fought alongside Afghan police in Kapisa. An Afghan police officer ran into a dry wadi to provide covering fire for me because I tripped and fell (I’m not very graceful).
I’ve served alongside Afghan commandos in Ghorak, Kandahar. I helped them deliver aid and resources to the most impoverished Afghans. Inside my office is a certificate of appreciation from an Afghan operational detachment alpha.
It’s my most prized possession. All my American medals pale in comparison. These Afghan commandos spent time, while living in a village, to make me a certificate of appreciation for helping them help Afghanistan.
Afghans will fight tenaciously for their allies. I had great allies at the Directorate of Police Intelligence. Despite the absurdities emanating from Resolute Support on a daily basis, they still partnered with us and trusted us with their most important secrets. When I served as a military diplomat, the Afghans kept fighting even though we had tied their hands behind their backs.
In short, the Afghans are not only incredible allies. They are tenacious warriors.
I spent the first half of my life fighting for a free Afghanistan. I’m happy to spend the second half fighting to give it back to them.
It’s a good fight.
Your Afghan Neighbors
I wrote a little something, something over at The Bulwark.
THE TALIBAN AND AL QAEDA’S VICTORY in Afghanistan wrecked my soul. It has caused immense damage to Afghan combat veterans. Men and women who fought America’s enemies for two decades ended their lives because of the tremendous pain caused by our ignominious retreat and betrayal.
The only silver lining to this tragedy is that many of my Afghan brothers and sisters now live in the United States. They are scattered throughout the country, with clusters in Northern Virginia, California, and Texas. As always, they welcomed me into their homes with open hearts—and tons of food.
Over the last six months, I healed alongside the Afghans in America. I’ve wept in front of Afghan women, trying to convey the deep shame I feel for my country’s dishonor. They always embraced me with love and respect, something I rarely feel from my fellow Americans when war talk comes up. Often, I feel more at home with the Afghans in America than with my fellow Americans.
The Afghans in America are not just my brothers and sisters in arms. They are part of my family.
A Letter to VP Harris
(Sorry for the duplication on the original publication. I’m a little sleep deprived)
Dear Madam Vice President Kamala Harris,
My name is Aqsa, and I’m an 11-year-old blogger and writer from Afghanistan. I live in Arlington, Virginia. Today, I’m writing to you with all the hope and courage I can muster because I need you to know just how much you mean to me—and to so many others like me.
Ms. Harris, you are a light in the darkness for girls like me who dare to dream of a better future. I believe in you with all my heart. I cannot follow all of America’s election news because I am in school. But I am planning to search on google at the end of the day on Nov 5th, "Who is the President of the United States?" the answer must be KAMALA HARRIS.
We must support them to fight for their country. The terrorists will follow us here , I would guess they are already among us and making their plans. But it is the right thing to do to help the Afghans take their country back. Hopefully the U.S. WILL NOT recognize the Taliban as a legitimate government. And I still cannot understand why we the U.S. are still sending them so much money. It is being used against the people and seeping into many other of their killing plans in many other places I would think. .
I believe everything you are saying here.
I think we should help-support for sure.