What the US did wrong in Afghanistan withdrawal “France is on fire and the president is going to the concert”

The US administration made mistakes in its crisis management before and during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. This is according to an investigative report from the US State Department, parts of which the authority published on Friday. The decisions by both US President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump to withdraw the military “posed major challenges” for the State Department. Reasons cited include gaps in the filling of management positions on location or staff shortages as a result of the corona pandemic. In general, the worst-case scenarios at the top level had not been adequately considered. Nor was it considered how soon this could happen.

In view of future crises, care should also be taken to ensure that the broadest possible spectrum of views is heard, according to the report’s recommendations for action. The voices that question political decisions must also be heard.

Foreign forces, led by the US, invaded Afghanistan in 2001 in response to the terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda terrorists on September 11, 2001. The international operation led to the fall of the Taliban government, which controlled al-Qaeda- terrorists. The military operation cost huge sums of money, tens of thousands of civilians and Afghan security forces lost their lives, as well as several thousand international soldiers, including 2,461 Americans.

At the end of August 2021, the last US troops finally left Afghanistan. This brought an end to the international military operation in the country after almost 20 years – after the Taliban had just returned to power in Kabul. The withdrawal of troops, initiated by the Americans, was chaotic and met with international criticism and incomprehension. (aeg/sda/dpa)