As we approach the first anniversary of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, it’s worth distinguishing two different questions. The first is about the wisdom of America’s exit. Did the Biden administration leave at the right time and in the right way? That’s open to debate. The second is about the wisdom of America’s entry. Was the Bush administration right to invade and occupy Afghanistan in the first place? That answer is much clearer: No. The decision proved to be an utter disaster. According to Brown University’s Cost of War Project, the war
Wow you mean a unilateral withdraw actually made the situation worse? I guess you just agree all those people chanting for Israel to “end the occupation” must be intellectually lightweight.
Every need of the people inhabiting America would have been largely met if the public hadn't been duped about 9/11 and the reasons to invade Afghanistan and Iraq.
I like the reworded version in the article more than the basic version in the title. The Foreign Policy Establishment (or "the Blob" if you prefer) being occasionally (or frequently) wrong does not make those outside the mainstream right. We should also remind ourselves: those outside the mainstream make up a majority of voices in the world. "Not being the US FP Mainstream" is not enough. Voices like Peter's is far more credible than, say, Tulsi Gabbard.
I'm laughing at the utter cluelessness of concluding that nationalism is why the Taliban "won," and yet you see the need to call in another white guy to "explain" why Hamas controls Gaza and will continue to do so.
Peter, really? Palestinian nationalism is as fervent as ever, and Hamas harnesses it just as the Taliban do. Hamas has been the only organization that has literally fought for Palestinian freedom. When people are held under siege for decades, all bets are off, especially when the Palestinian Authority is mendacious and corrupt. Islamic Jihad's raison d'etre is the same as Hamas, which is the reason it has survived since Terry Anderson was kidnapped by them all those years ago. They fight according to principles the west and Israel disregard.
Lessons from Afghanistan a Year Later
Wow you mean a unilateral withdraw actually made the situation worse? I guess you just agree all those people chanting for Israel to “end the occupation” must be intellectually lightweight.
"But the lunatics are sometimes right."
Yes, they are.
Nicely put, Peter.
Peter Beinart is like a clock that always tells you the wrong time.
True!
Every need of the people inhabiting America would have been largely met if the public hadn't been duped about 9/11 and the reasons to invade Afghanistan and Iraq.
Karim Sadjadpour has an Op. Ed in yesterday's NY Times that speaks directly to Peter Beinart's piece here. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/opinion/iran-america-nuclear-policy.html?searchResultPosition=1
I recommend it to all of you.
I like the reworded version in the article more than the basic version in the title. The Foreign Policy Establishment (or "the Blob" if you prefer) being occasionally (or frequently) wrong does not make those outside the mainstream right. We should also remind ourselves: those outside the mainstream make up a majority of voices in the world. "Not being the US FP Mainstream" is not enough. Voices like Peter's is far more credible than, say, Tulsi Gabbard.
Just my 2 cents, good article.
Weird . Parallel universes . Trump could have written this and his fans would have cheered . No foreign entanglements .
I'm laughing at the utter cluelessness of concluding that nationalism is why the Taliban "won," and yet you see the need to call in another white guy to "explain" why Hamas controls Gaza and will continue to do so.
Peter, really? Palestinian nationalism is as fervent as ever, and Hamas harnesses it just as the Taliban do. Hamas has been the only organization that has literally fought for Palestinian freedom. When people are held under siege for decades, all bets are off, especially when the Palestinian Authority is mendacious and corrupt. Islamic Jihad's raison d'etre is the same as Hamas, which is the reason it has survived since Terry Anderson was kidnapped by them all those years ago. They fight according to principles the west and Israel disregard.