The 9/11 terrorist attack has single-handedly transformed the landscape of global geopolitics. It was an event that would see members of al-Qaeda invoke their wrath and usher in the Age of Terror. What followed was a 20-year cycle of violence that would see the world's most violent and brutal militants rise, fall and reform into a new and even more terrifying iteration of themselves.
Last year when the U.S. decided to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan and abruptly end the war, the world wondered if al-Qaeda had indeed been defeated. The answer is no. Biden botched the withdrawal from Afghanistan by accelerating the process and terminating the prior agreement.
The condition-based withdrawal initiated by the Trump administration was a compromise resulting from a series of negotiations compelling the Taliban to agree not to threaten America or its allies and start peace talks. The agreement also stipulated that the Taliban would not terrorize the residents of Afghanistan. Unfortunately, when the Biden administration scrapped the plan and decided to leave unconditionally, it destroyed the slight chance of peace.
By accelerating the withdrawal process, the administration tore up the conditions-based withdrawal agreement and retired in an ill-planned and messy rush. The Taliban rushed to Afghanistan’s capital and established control over the country. The sudden withdrawal created an erratic swing across Afghanistan and moved $7 billion worth of resources (military equipment) into the Taliban's hands. The Taliban's control over territory virtually eliminates any hope for peace as the group embarks on a new reign of terror in the country.
After a year of the U.S. withdrawal, Afghanistan is crippled with violence and terror. From looming hunger crises to potentially breeding a new generation of terrorists and warlords, Afghanistan is now in a quagmire. Although international organizations have received pleas for help from Afghanistan, it has been unclear whether the funds will be invested in developing infrastructure, treatment and initiatives to ease the country's condition or to fuel the Afghan warlords’ political ambitions.
The humanitarian crisis will undoubtedly intensify. Western countries and international organizations need an intervention protocol that can be executed successfully. The withdrawal of the U.S. from Afghanistan has led to a power vacuum, which will continue to be filled by aggressive and violent organizations with no qualms about sowing terror in the country.
The Middle Eastern conflict has been subjected to dismissal due to Afghanistan’s status of being a third-world country. The U.S.'s shameful exit from Afghanistan and its quick response to the Ukraine crisis has many questioning whether race or geopolitical situation are contributing factors to the policy of non-interference when dealing with third-world countries. The Palestinian-Israel conflict is another example of the West's unwillingness to intervene in third-world strife, despite the many human rights violations. It can also be explained by the neo-liberal theory of exceptionalism.
In conclusion, assessing the decisions made by the Biden administration is crucial. While there have been talks about investigating the Afghan exit from other politicians, Joe Biden has started experiencing disapproval from citizens as well. The issue at hand is that if the U.S. had held on to the Afghan territory and kept the military presence in Afghanistan, it could have prevented the rebels from taking over power and saved thousands of lives.
Ankita Bansode is a freshman studying political science pre-law and economics at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Tell Ankita by emailing her at ab890621@ohio.edu.
