Abdullah Khenjani
The abrupt collapse of the Afghan government on August 15, 2021, effectively concluded what many have described as the “longest war in American history.” Although this monumental event should have invited extensive debate on the strategic, moral, and logistical implications of the worst withdrawal, it instead prompted a curious U.S. silence. Under the Biden administration, the U.S. government minimized discussion of Afghanistan, and within weeks, most news outlets pivoted away from the country—reasoning that the United States had outstayed its welcome there to begin with. When questioned in a press conference, President Biden dismissed further comment on the subject, saying that he wanted to “talk about happy things” instead.
Four years later, President Donald Trump has breathed new life into the Afghanistan issue—criticizing Biden’s departure from the country and the ensuing Taliban takeover, and attempting to re-litigate some outstanding issues with the militant group. In particular, Trump has focused on two issues: the recovery from the Taliban of billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment left behind in Afghanistan following the withdrawal, and the possibility of a continued U.S. presence at Bagram Air Base, the major airfield in northern Afghanistan. Trump has shown regret about the United States not securing a long-term U.S. presence at the base, which is fairly close to China’s western Xinjiang region and would allow the United States a base of operations from which to observe it.
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