We still haven’t reached the full cycle of the Taliban’s “maturity date.” I’m not making predictions here—just look at the timeline.
I strongly believe in Afghanistan Freedom Now, and in our collective responsibility to confront the Taliban, who remain a terrorist organization involved in Gender Apartheid, systematic abuses, drug trafficking and criminal networks. Their partnerships, especially with Moscow, tell us everything we need to know about the kind of actors they represent. Russia today is a central pillar of the Axis Of Evil and one of the main state sponsors of terrorism, and Putin is the only dictator that has recognized the Taliban, a new member of their axis.
Negotiations have failed. What we need now is coordinated action. USA already controls the airspace—there are ongoing patrols—and Afghans can easily clear the ground. Air patrols alone cannot detect or dismantle the complex and deeply embedded enemy networks that only trusted, capable, and loyal local partners can identify.
Many of those partners are currently scattered—working civilian jobs. One of them just committed a terrorist attack in Washington, D.C., a heinous and unforgivable crime, and Afghans demand absolute justice in this, and all such cases. Afghans also fully support a comprehensive vetting, or re-vetting of Afghans & everyone else. But let's also acknowledge scores of other Afghans who are serving in the Military, Police, and a number of relevant justice & law enforcement agencies in various capacities, and thus highly admirable contributions.
A number of Afghan Youth are preparing to join military and other institutions. Some of them maybe needed, but not all. Let’s work together to give the remaining ones purpose again, and ultimately return their country to them so they may voluntarily return to live there in dignity. And a number of them will return. But no Afghan can go home now while the current barbaric regime is in charge.
We’ve talked about all this before—maybe not enough, but certainly extensively. Now is the time to act. Let’s take Bagram back, Mr. President!
