In the midst of America's political upheaval and two ongoing foreign wars, a group of former U.S. officials and academics has launched an extensive examination of the United States' 20-year involvement in Afghanistan, the nation's longest conflict.
“Today we make history,” declared Shamila N. Chaudhary, co-chair of the Afghanistan War Commission. “Never before has the United States commissioned such a wide-ranging independent legislative assessment of its own decision-making in the aftermath of a conflict.”
The 16-member bipartisan panel, tasked by Congress, aims to identify the mistakes and determine how U.S. leaders can avoid them in future conflicts. Their mandate includes evaluating policies and actions taken by four presidential administrations, the U.S. military, the State Department, U.S. allies, and numerous other entities. The commission has 18 months to complete its research and is expected to deliver a final public report by August 2026.
The Legacy of Afghanistan
The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 concluded the war but returned the country to Taliban control, an enemy Washington had spent trillions of dollars attempting to defeat since 9/11. The chaotic exit resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and numerous Afghans, left thousands of American allies in peril, and triggered widespread bipartisan outrage, leading to highly politicized congressional inquiries.
The Republican-led House Foreign Affairs Committee is set to release a report next month detailing its investigation into the withdrawal. This inquiry has included extensive testimony from Biden administration officials, military commanders, veterans, and their families. The committee plans to interview Jen Psaki, President Biden’s former White House press secretary, next week.
Analyzing the Conflict
The commission's initial 4½-hour discussion took place at the Veterans of Foreign Wars headquarters in Washington, featuring testimonies from former ambassadors, military officers, and CIA personnel. Despite the charged atmosphere, co-chairs Chaudhary and Colin F. Jackson, a former Defense Department official, emphasized their aim for a thoughtful, nonpartisan dialogue. “We are bipartisan in our composition, but our work is nonpartisan,” Chaudhary stated.
While avoiding placing blame, the commission aims to provide a comprehensive, objective account of the U.S. government's and military's performance. Jackson asserted that the commission’s report would include practical advice applicable to current and future conflicts.
