Changes

Supported by: [[Pakistan]]<ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/10302946</ref><ref>https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/06/pakistan_backs_afghan_taliban.php</ref>

Supported by: [[Pakistan]]<ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/10302946</ref><ref>https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/06/pakistan_backs_afghan_taliban.php</ref>

| commander1  =[[George W. Bush]]<br/>[[Barack Hussein Obama]]<br/>[[Donald Trump]]<br/>[[Tony Blair]]<br/>[[Gordon Brown]]<br/>[[David Cameron]]<br/>[[Theresa May]]<br/>[[Boris Johnson]]<br/>[[Burhanuddin Rabbani]]<br/>[[Hamid Karzai]]<br/>[[Ashraf Ghani]]

| commander1  =[[Joe Biden]]<br/>[[George W. Bush]]<br/>[[Barack Hussein Obama]]<br/>[[Donald Trump]]<br/>[[Tony Blair]]<br/>[[Gordon Brown]]<br/>[[David Cameron]]<br/>[[Theresa May]]<br/>[[Boris Johnson]]<br/>[[Burhanuddin Rabbani]]<br/>[[Hamid Karzai]]<br/>[[Ashraf Ghani]]

| commander2  =[[Mohammed Omar]]<br/>[[Akhtar Mansour]]<br/>[[Hibatullah Akhundzada]]<br/>[[Osama bin Laden]]<br/>[[Ayman al-Zawahiri]],<br/>

| commander2  =[[Mohammed Omar]]<br/>[[Akhtar Mansour]]<br/>[[Hibatullah Akhundzada]]<br/>[[Osama bin Laden]]<br/>[[Ayman al-Zawahiri]],<br/>

| strength1  =129.895 soldiers (ISAF)<ref>http://www.nato.int/isaf/docu/epub/pdf/placemat.pdf</ref>

| strength1  =129.895 soldiers (ISAF)<ref>http://www.nato.int/isaf/docu/epub/pdf/placemat.pdf</ref>

| casualties2 =  

| casualties2 =  

}}

}}

The '''Afghanistan War''' is the [[NATO]] operation in [[Afghanistan]], 2001 to the present, to destroy the [[Taliban]] and prevent the emergence of a base for [[radical Islam]]ic attacks on American interests. President [[Barack Obama]] considered the central front in the [[War on Terror|war on terrorism]] and ordered a buildup of American troops to fight an insurgency led by the Taliban. NATO is supporting the effort through the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, under U.S. command. During the course of the war, U.S. officials claimed that the war was winnable and that they were making progress when they knew this was not actually the case.<ref>Multiple references:

The '''Afghan War''' was America's longest war beginning in October 2001. Its purported objective was to destroy the [[Taliban]] and prevent the emergence of a base for [[radical Islam]]ic attacks on American interests. In a disgraceful exit under American [[Democrat]] [[socialist]] leader [[Joe Biden]], the Taliban emerged stronger than ever after 19 years, 10 months and 25 days of fighting.

 

President [[Barack Obama]] considered the central front in the [[War on Terror|war on terrorism]] and ordered a buildup of American troops to fight an insurgency led by the Taliban. NATO supported the effort through the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, under U.S. command. During the course of the war, U.S. officials claimed that the war was winnable and that they were making progress when they knew this was not actually the case.<ref>Multiple references:

*Mass, Warren (December 10, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/foreign-policy/item/34291-u-s-officials-lied-to-american-public-about-war-in-afghanistan U.S. Officials Lied to American Public About War in Afghanistan]. ''The New American''. Retrieved December 10, 2019.

*Mass, Warren (December 10, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/foreign-policy/item/34291-u-s-officials-lied-to-american-public-about-war-in-afghanistan U.S. Officials Lied to American Public About War in Afghanistan]. ''The New American''. Retrieved December 10, 2019.

*Whitlock, Craig (December 9, 2019). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/afghanistan-papers/afghanistan-war-confidential-documents/ At war with the truth]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved December 9, 2019.

*Whitlock, Craig (December 9, 2019). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/afghanistan-papers/afghanistan-war-confidential-documents/ At war with the truth]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved December 9, 2019.

==Bonn Agreeement==

==Bonn Agreeement==

 

Afghan factions opposed to the Taliban met at a United Nations-sponsored conference in [[Bonn]], Germany in December 2001 and agreed to restore stability and governance to Afghanistan—creating an interim government and establishing a process to move toward a permanent government. Under the "Bonn Agreement," an Afghan Interim Authority was formed and took office in Kabul on December 22, 2001, with Hamid Karzai as Chairman. The Interim Authority held power for approximately 6 months while preparing for a nationwide "Loya Jirga" (Grand Council) in mid-June 2002 that decided on the structure of a Transitional Authority. The Transitional Authority, headed by President [[Hamid Karzai]], renamed the government as the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA). One of the TISA's primary achievements was the drafting of a constitution that was ratified by a Constitutional Loya Jirga on January 4, 2004

Afghan factions opposed to the Taliban met at a United Nations-sponsored conference in [[Bonn]], Germany in December 2001 and agreed to restore stability and governance to Afghanistan—creating an interim government and establishing a process to move toward a permanent government. Under the "Bonn Agreement," an Afghan Interim Authority was formed and took office in Kabul on December 22, 2001, with Hamid Karzai as Chairman. The Interim Authority held power for approximately 6 months while preparing for a nationwide "Loya Jirga" (Grand Council) in mid-June 2002 that decided on the structure of a Transitional Authority. The Transitional Authority, headed by President [[Hamid Karzai]], renamed the government as the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA). One of the TISA's primary achievements was the drafting of a constitution that was ratified by a Constitutional Loya Jirga on January 4, 2004

==U.S. involvement==

==U.S. involvement==

In late 2003, the Joint Chiefs designated Lt. Gen. David W. Barno as the new commander of American forces in Afghanistan, He adopted a counterinsurgency strategy, requiring coalition forces to work closely with Afghan leaders to stabilize entire regions, rather than simply attacking insurgent cells. Because the Pentagon insisted on maintaining a "small footprint" in Afghanistan and because [[Operation Iraqi Freedom|Iraq]] was a higher priority conflict, Barno was given only 20,000 troops.  As a result, [[battalion]]s with 800 soldiers were trying to secure provinces the size of [[Vermont]]. Coalition forces were thinly spread across the mountainous land, leaving much of Afghanistan vulnerable to enemy force increasingly willing to reassert their power.  On the positive side, the pairing of small [[U.S. Special Operations forces|Special Operations Forces]] teams with Afghan militias, which, backed by laser-guided weapons, drove the Taliban from power.

In late 2003, the Joint Chiefs designated Lt. Gen. David W. Barno as the new commander of American forces in Afghanistan, He adopted a counterinsurgency strategy, requiring coalition forces to work closely with Afghan leaders to stabilize entire regions, rather than simply attacking insurgent cells. Because the Pentagon insisted on maintaining a "small footprint" in Afghanistan and because [[Operation Iraqi Freedom|Iraq]] was a higher priority conflict, Barno was given only 20,000 troops.  As a result, [[battalion]]s with 800 soldiers were trying to secure provinces the size of [[Vermont]]. Coalition forces were thinly spread across the mountainous land, leaving much of Afghanistan vulnerable to enemy force increasingly willing to reassert their power.  On the positive side, the pairing of small [[U.S. Special Operations forces|Special Operations Forces]] teams with Afghan militias, which, backed by laser-guided weapons, drove the Taliban from power.

==Nation building==

==Nation building==

Three weeks after the 9/11 attacks, on October 3, 2001, Sen. [[Joseph Biden]] of Delaware proposed on the Senate floor a billion dollars in aid to a yet-to-be-formed Afghan interim government. The amount was almost twice as much as U.N. General Secretary [[Kofi Annan]] proposed,<ref>Sen. Biden: "U.N. Secretary Kofi Annan has issued an appeal for $584 million to meet the needs of the Afghan refugees and displaced people, within Afghanistan and in neighboring countries. This is the amount deemed necessary to stave off disaster for the winter, which will start in Afghanistan in just a few weeks. We must back up our rhetoric with action, with something big and bold and meaningful. We can offer to foot the entire bill for keeping the Afghan people safely fed, clothed, and sheltered this winter, and that should be the beginning....We can kick the effort off in a way that would silence our critics in the rest of the world: a check for $1 billion, and a promise for more to come as long as the rest of the world joins us. This initial amount would be more than enough to meet all the refugees’ short-term needs, and would be a credible downpayment for the long-term effort. Eventually the world community will have to pony up more billions, but there is no avoiding that now, not if we expect our words ever to carry any weight.<br>If anyone thinks this amount of money is too high, let me note one stark, simple and very sad statistic. The damage inflicted by the September 11 attack in economic terms alone was a minimum of several hundred billion dollars and a maximum of over $1 trillion. The cost in human life, of course, as the Presiding Officer knows, is far beyond any calculation. [https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRECB-2001-pt13/pdf/CRECB-2001-pt13-issue-2001-10-03.pdf CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE 18425

Three weeks after the 9/11 attacks, on October 3, 2001, Sen. [[Joseph Biden]] of Delaware proposed on the Senate floor a billion dollars in aid to a yet-to-be-formed Afghan interim government. The amount was almost twice as much as U.N. General Secretary [[Kofi Annan]] proposed,<ref>Sen. Biden: "U.N. Secretary Kofi Annan has issued an appeal for $584 million to meet the needs of the Afghan refugees and displaced people, within Afghanistan and in neighboring countries. This is the amount deemed necessary to stave off disaster for the winter, which will start in Afghanistan in just a few weeks. We must back up our rhetoric with action, with something big and bold and meaningful. We can offer to foot the entire bill for keeping the Afghan people safely fed, clothed, and sheltered this winter, and that should be the beginning....We can kick the effort off in a way that would silence our critics in the rest of the world: a check for $1 billion, and a promise for more to come as long as the rest of the world joins us. This initial amount would be more than enough to meet all the refugees’ short-term needs, and would be a credible downpayment for the long-term effort. Eventually the world community will have to pony up more billions, but there is no avoiding that now, not if we expect our words ever to carry any weight.<br>If anyone thinks this amount of money is too high, let me note one stark, simple and very sad statistic. The damage inflicted by the September 11 attack in economic terms alone was a minimum of several hundred billion dollars and a maximum of over $1 trillion. The cost in human life, of course, as the Presiding Officer knows, is far beyond any calculation. [https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRECB-2001-pt13/pdf/CRECB-2001-pt13-issue-2001-10-03.pdf CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE 18425

SENATE—Wednesday, October 3, 2001, Pg. 18464]</ref> and more than triple what the Bush administration asked for.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/04/biden-iraq-invasion-america-afghanistan/618640/ The Original Sin of the War in Afghanistan], By Jonah Blank, ''The Atlantic'', APRIL 20, 2021.</ref>  Sen. Biden, who spoke for the Democrats in Congress, wanted more than just removal of the Taliban and degrading al Qaeda. Biden wanted nation building.

SENATE—Wednesday, October 3, 2001, Pg. 18464]</ref> and more than triple what the Bush administration asked for.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/04/biden-iraq-invasion-america-afghanistan/618640/ The Original Sin of the War in Afghanistan], By Jonah Blank, ''The Atlantic'', APRIL 20, 2021.</ref>  Sen. Biden, who spoke for the Democrats in Congress, wanted more than just removal of the Taliban and degrading al Qaeda. Biden wanted nation building.

 

On October 22, 2001, Sen. Biden, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, gave a speech at the [[Council on Foreign Relations]] insisting that U.S. goals—rooting out al-Qaeda and helping establish a friendly successor government to the Taliban—would require U.S. boots on the ground far beyond the small number of Special Forces that the [[Pentagon]] had recommended.  Biden said, "There is no way that you can, in fact, go after and root out al Qaeda and or Bin Ladin without folks on the ground, in caves, risking and losing their lives. And I believe that the tolerance for that in the Islamic world is significant, exponentially higher, than it is for us bombing."<ref>Sen. Biden: "I think the American public and the Islamic world is fully prepared for us to take as long as we need to take. If it is action that is a mano-a-mano. If it's us on the ground going against other forces on the ground. The part that I think flies in the face of, and plays into every stereotypical criticism of us, is where this high tech bully that thinks from the air we can do whatever you want to do. And it builds the case, for those who want to make the case against us, that all we're doing is indiscriminately bombing innocents. Which is not the truth. Some innocents are indiscriminately bombed. But that is not the truth. I think the American public is prepared for a long siege. I think the American public has prepared for American losses. I think the American public is prepared, and the president must continue to remind them to be prepared, for American body bags coming home. There is no way that you can, in fact, go after and root out al Qaeda and or Bin Ladin without folks on the ground, in caves, risking and losing their lives. And I believe that the tolerance for that in the Islamic world is significant, exponentially higher, than it is for us bombing. That's the generic point I wish to make. I am not qualified enough to tell you. Although I can tell you what the military guys have said to me. This is not 1948. This is 2001.  I'm not at all sure they're correct."  [https://www.c-span.org/video/?166841-1/us-response-terrorist-attacks @59:43]</ref>  Under pressure from U.S. military and anti-Taliban forces however, the Taliban disintegrated rapidly, and [[Kabul]] fell on November 13, 2001.

On October 22, 2001, Sen. Biden, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, gave a speech at the [[Council on Foreign Relations]] insisting that U.S. goals—rooting out al-Qaeda and helping establish a friendly successor government to the Taliban—would require U.S. boots on the ground far beyond the small number of Special Forces that the [[Pentagon]] had recommended.  Biden said, "There is no way that you can, in fact, go after and root out al Qaeda and or Bin Ladin without folks on the ground, in caves, risking and losing their lives. And I believe that the tolerance for that in the Islamic world is significant, exponentially higher, than it is for us bombing."<ref>Sen. Biden: "I think the American public and the Islamic world is fully prepared for us to take as long as we need to take. If it is action that is a mano-a-mano. If it's us on the ground going against other forces on the ground. The part that I think flies in the face of, and plays into every stereotypical criticism of us, is where this high tech bully that thinks from the air we can do whatever you want to do. And it builds the case, for those who want to make the case against us, that all we're doing is indiscriminately bombing innocents. Which is not the truth. Some innocents are indiscriminately bombed. But that is not the truth. I think the American public is prepared for a long siege. I think the American public has prepared for American losses. I think the American public is prepared, and the president must continue to remind them to be prepared, for American body bags coming home. There is no way that you can, in fact, go after and root out al Qaeda and or Bin Ladin without folks on the ground, in caves, risking and losing their lives. And I believe that the tolerance for that in the Islamic world is significant, exponentially higher, than it is for us bombing. That's the generic point I wish to make. I am not qualified enough to tell you. Although I can tell you what the military guys have said to me. This is not 1948. This is 2001.  I'm not at all sure they're correct."  [https://www.c-span.org/video/?166841-1/us-response-terrorist-attacks @59:43]</ref>  Under pressure from U.S. military and anti-Taliban forces however, the Taliban disintegrated rapidly, and [[Kabul]] fell on November 13, 2001.

Hamid Karzai formed an interim government on 22 December 2001 until elections could be held after the removal of Taliban rule by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) forces.  On January 10, 2002 Biden arrived in Afghanistan on a four-day fact-finding visit and met with Karzai, then flew to Bagram Airforce Base.<ref>https://www.army.mil/article/50258/biden_meets_karzai_visits_troops_in_afghanistan</ref>  The [[Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility]] had been prepared to receive jihadis.  Bagram was a major collection point for preliminary interrogation. Sen. Biden said, "These are some real hard, hard, hard cases. But unless we gather the list of leaders which we -- I have in my pocket here...the possibility of them being able to do [[guerrilla]] kind of attacks on military here are real."<ref>http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0201/13/se.01.html</ref>

Hamid Karzai formed an interim government on 22 December 2001 until elections could be held after the removal of Taliban rule by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) forces.  On January 10, 2002 Biden arrived in Afghanistan on a four-day fact-finding visit at [[Bagram]] Airforce Base. The [[Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility]] had been prepared to receive jihadis.  Bagram was a major collection point for preliminary interrogation. Sen. Biden said, "These are some real hard, hard, hard cases. But unless we gather the list of leaders which we -- I have in my pocket here...the possibility of them being able to do [[guerrilla]] kind of attacks on military here are real."<ref>http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0201/13/se.01.html</ref>

In 2002 and 2003, when Afghan tribal councils gathered to write a new constitution, the U.S. government gave “nice packages” to delegates who supported Washington’s preferred stance. “The perception that was started in that period: If you were going to vote for a position that Washington favored, you’d be stupid to not get a package for doing it,” according to a U.S. official interviewed by the ''[[Washington Post]]'' who served in Kabul at the time.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/afghanistan-papers/afghanistan-war-corruption-government/</ref>

In 2002 and 2003, when Afghan tribal councils gathered to write a new constitution, the U.S. government gave “nice packages” to delegates who supported Washington’s preferred stance. “The perception that was started in that period: If you were going to vote for a position that Washington favored, you’d be stupid to not get a package for doing it,” according to a U.S. official interviewed by the ''[[Washington Post]]'' who served in Kabul at the time.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/afghanistan-papers/afghanistan-war-corruption-government/</ref>

According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', beginning in December 2002 throughout Karzai's terms of office, Karzai's office was funded with "tens of millions of dollars" of black cash from the [[CIA]] in order to buy influence within the Afghan government. The''NYT'' stated that "the cash that does not appear to be subject to the oversight and restrictions." An unnamed American official was quoted by ''The New York Times'' as stating that "The biggest source of corruption in Afghanistan was the United States."<ref name="nytimes1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/29/world/asia/cia-delivers-cash-to-afghan-leaders-office.html|title=With Bags of Cash, C.I.A. Seeks Influence in Afghanistan|author=Matthew Rosenberg|newspaper=The New York Times|date=28 April 2013|access-date=29 April 2013|archive-date=28 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428232309/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/29/world/asia/cia-delivers-cash-to-afghan-leaders-office.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', beginning in December 2002 throughout Karzai's terms of office, Karzai's office was funded with "tens of millions of dollars" of black cash from the [[CIA]] in order to buy influence within the Afghan government. The''NYT'' stated that "the cash that does not appear to be subject to the oversight and restrictions." An unnamed American official was quoted by ''The New York Times'' as stating that "The biggest source of corruption in Afghanistan was the United States."<ref name="nytimes1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/29/world/asia/cia-delivers-cash-to-afghan-leaders-office.html|title=With Bags of Cash, C.I.A. Seeks Influence in Afghanistan|author=Matthew Rosenberg|newspaper=The New York Times|date=28 April 2013|access-date=29 April 2013|archive-date=28 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428232309/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/29/world/asia/cia-delivers-cash-to-afghan-leaders-office.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Obama escalation==

==Obama escalation==

:{{See also|Muslim agenda of the Obama administration|Obama war crimes}}

:{{See also|Obama war crimes}}

[[File:Af-UStroops.jpg|thumb|340px]]

[[File:Af-UStroops.jpg|thumb|340px]]

Despite campaigning against "dumb wars," [[Barack Obama]] made escalating the troop level a high priority.<ref>https://original.antiwar.com/mcgovern/2010/09/24/obama-knows-the-war-is-dumb-but-prefers-power-over-peace/</ref>  In September 2009, the Pentagon pushed back against liberal Democrats who oppose sending additional combat troops to Afghanistan, telling Congress that success would probably require more fighting forces, and certainly much more time. Washington is debating the new report by Gen. McChrystal, the senior American and NATO commander in Afghanistan, who believes a properly resourced counterinsurgency war means more forces, more time and more commitment to the development of a strong Afghan government capable of defending its own country.<ref>Thom Shanker, [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/world/asia/16mullen.html?_r=1&th&emc=th "Military Chief Suggests Need to Enlarge U.S. Afghan Force," ''New York Times'' Sept. 16, 2009]</ref>  Some  4,000 more American trainers will arrive by November, bringing the American troop level to 68,000.

Despite campaigning against "dumb wars," [[Barack Obama]] made escalating the troop level a high priority.<ref>https://original.antiwar.com/mcgovern/2010/09/24/obama-knows-the-war-is-dumb-but-prefers-power-over-peace/</ref>  In September 2009, the Pentagon pushed back against liberal Democrats who oppose sending additional combat troops to Afghanistan, telling Congress that success would probably require more fighting forces, and certainly much more time. Washington is debating the new report by Gen. McChrystal, the senior American and NATO commander in Afghanistan, who believes a properly resourced counterinsurgency war means more forces, more time and more commitment to the development of a strong Afghan government capable of defending its own country.<ref>Thom Shanker, [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/world/asia/16mullen.html?_r=1&th&emc=th "Military Chief Suggests Need to Enlarge U.S. Afghan Force," ''New York Times'' Sept. 16, 2009]</ref>  Some  4,000 more American trainers will arrive by November, bringing the American troop level to 68,000.

*The strongest was the "Quetta Shura Taliban" ('''QST''') headed by Mullah Omar. They fled Afghanistan after 2001, and operate from a sanctuary in the Pakistani city of Quetta. It has created an elaborate shadow government known as the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," which capitalizes on the Afghan government's weaknesses. They install '[[shari'a]]' [Islamic law] courts to deliver swift and enforced justice in contested and controlled areas. They levy taxes and conscript fighters and laborers. They claim to provide security against a corrupt government, ISAF forces, criminality, and local power brokers. They also claim to protect Afghan and Muslim identity against foreign encroachment. The QST has been working with considerable success to control Kandahar and its approaches.

*The strongest was the "Quetta Shura Taliban" ('''QST''') headed by Mullah Omar. They fled Afghanistan after 2001, and operate from a sanctuary in the Pakistani city of Quetta. It has created an elaborate shadow government known as the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," which capitalizes on the Afghan government's weaknesses. They install '[[shari'a]]' [Islamic law] courts to deliver swift and enforced justice in contested and controlled areas. They levy taxes and conscript fighters and laborers. They claim to provide security against a corrupt government, ISAF forces, criminality, and local power brokers. They also claim to protect Afghan and Muslim identity against foreign encroachment. The QST has been working with considerable success to control Kandahar and its approaches.

*Second was the "Haqqani network" ('''HQN'''), active in southeastern Afghanistan. It draws money and manpower from Pakistan, Gulf Arab networks, and from its close association with al Qaeda and other Pakistan-based insurgent groups. Al Qaeda's links with HQN have grown, raising fears that expanded HQN control could allow extremist movements to re-establish safe-havens inside Afghanistan.

*Second was the "[[Haqqani network]]" ('''HQN'''), active in southeastern Afghanistan. It draws money and manpower from Pakistan, Gulf Arab networks, and from its close association with al Qaeda and other Pakistan-based insurgent groups. Al Qaeda's links with HQN have grown, raising fears that expanded HQN control could allow extremist movements to re-establish safe-havens inside Afghanistan.

*Third was the "Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin" insurgency, which maintains bases in three Afghan provinces and in Pakistan. Led by the former [[Mujahideen]] commander Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, it aims to negotiate a major role for itself in a future Taliban government, and meanwhile controls smuggling routes in the east.

*Third was the "Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin" insurgency, which maintains bases in three Afghan provinces and in Pakistan. Led by the former [[Mujahideen]] commander Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, it aims to negotiate a major role for itself in a future Taliban government, and meanwhile controls smuggling routes in the east.

===Abbottabad raid===

===Abbottabad raid===

:{{See also|Abbottabad raid}}

:{{See also|Abbottabad raid}}

Killing bin Laden was never an objective or priority of the Bush administration. Knowing full well Islam is a doctrine of vengeance - not love or forgiveness - the [[War on Terror]] was stipulated from the beginning to be about prevention, not retribution. Bin Laden had been living for a number of years under house arrest by the Pakistani military who (1) could not put him on trial, (2) could not execute him, and (3) could not [[extradite]] him to the United States - all for fear how the Pakistani public might react. Keeping bin Laden in a box, cut off from command of his global jihadi network, served Bush administration policy of limiting jihadi recruiting, and making bin Laden appear as a coward in hiding who sent others to die.  

Killing bin Laden was never an objective or priority of the Bush administration. Knowing full well Islam is a doctrine of [[vengeance]] - not [[love]] or [[forgiveness]] - the [[War on Terror]] was stipulated from the beginning to be about prevention, not retribution. Bin Laden had been living for a number of years under house arrest by the Pakistani military who (1) could not put him on trial, (2) could not execute him, and (3) could not [[extradite]] him to the United States - all for fear how the Pakistani public might react. Keeping bin Laden in a box, cut off from command of his global jihadi network, served Bush administration policy of limiting jihadi recruiting, and making bin Laden appear as a coward in hiding who sent others to die.  

On March 18, 2011, Secretary of State [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] certified to the [[United States Congress]] that Pakistan was demonstrating a “Sustained commitment to and is making significant efforts toward combating [[terrorist]] groups.”<ref>https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/05/us-pakistan-usa-aid-idUSTRE7440OT20110505</ref> The certification, as required by law to receive funding, atested that Pakistan was making progress in “preventing al-Qaeda... from operating in [jt's territory].”<ref>https://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/06/pakistan-must-act-against-network-that-shielded-bin-laden</ref>  An [[NBC]] investigation revealed Obama was informed of bin Laden's whereabouts in Pakistan one full year before he used it as an election-year gimmick.<ref>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3077864/NBC-investigatin-says-bama-DID-edit-role-Pakistan-killing-Bin-Laden-change-facts-credit.html NBC investigation claims Obama knew where bin Laden was ONE YEAR before 2011 raid and backs Seymour Hersh's claim Pakistan intelligence hid al-Qaeda chief], [[Daily Mail ]]</ref>  With the revelation six weeks later that bin Laden was living in plain sight in a compound one-half mile from the country’s premier military academy, the certification was met "with deep [[skepticism]] and appears to many observers to be driven primarily by political considerations rather than ground realities," according to a report by the Congressional Research Service.<ref>http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41832.pdf</ref>

On March 18, 2011, Secretary of State [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] certified to the [[United States Congress]] that Pakistan was demonstrating a “Sustained commitment to and is making significant efforts toward combating [[terrorist]] groups.”<ref>https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/05/us-pakistan-usa-aid-idUSTRE7440OT20110505</ref> The certification, as required by law to receive funding, atested that Pakistan was making progress in “preventing al-Qaeda... from operating in [jt's territory].”<ref>https://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/06/pakistan-must-act-against-network-that-shielded-bin-laden</ref>  An [[NBC]] investigation revealed Obama was informed of bin Laden's whereabouts in Pakistan one full year before he used it as an election-year gimmick.<ref>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3077864/NBC-investigatin-says-bama-DID-edit-role-Pakistan-killing-Bin-Laden-change-facts-credit.html NBC investigation claims Obama knew where bin Laden was ONE YEAR before 2011 raid and backs Seymour Hersh's claim Pakistan intelligence hid al-Qaeda chief], [[Daily Mail ]]</ref>  With the revelation six weeks later that bin Laden was living in plain sight in a compound one-half mile from the country’s premier military academy, the certification was met "with deep [[skepticism]] and appears to many observers to be driven primarily by political considerations rather than ground realities," according to a report by the Congressional Research Service.<ref>http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41832.pdf</ref>

On May 1, 2011, Obama misled the public when he announced <ref>Obama, B. (2011, May 2). "[https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/05/02/osama-bin-laden-dead Osama Bin Laden Dead]." ''White House''.</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf1SLhNoUNY Nobel Prize Winner with a kill list].</ref> that Osama bin Laden was "killed in a firefight" after Seal Team 6 infiltrated a compound in Abottobad, Pakistan.<ref>Baker, P., Cooper, H., & Mazzetti, M. (2011, May 1). "[Bin Laden is Dead, Obama Says]." ''The New York Times''.<br>"[https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Osama_Bin_Laden/ Target Bin Laden: The Death of Public Enemy #1]." ''ABC News''.<br>''[[NPR]]''. "[https://www.npr.org/series/135908383/osama-bin-laden-dead Special Series: Osama Bin Laden Killed]."</ref> Attacks, murders, and kidnappings of Americans increased as reprisals for bin Laden's death. Al Qaeda, once broken and on the run, began to operate openly as the jihad became global.  Relations with Pakistan, a longtime ally throughout the [[Cold War]] and War on Terror, became strained.  The government of Pakistan denied White House claims it allowed Americans to kill Muslims on its territory.<ref>''Associated Press'' (2011, May 10). "[https://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/05/10/pakistani-president-claims-bin-laden-deal/ Former Pakistani President Claims There Was Never Bin Laden Deal With U.S.]." Retrieved from ''Fox News''.</ref>  For all his duplicity and criticism of the War on Terror, Obama experienced only a temporary blip in approval ratings.<ref>Dao, J. & Sussman, D. (2011, May 4). "[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/us/politics/05poll.html For Obama, Big Rise in Poll Numbers After Bin Laden Raid]." ''New York Times''.<br>''Pew Research Center'' (2011, May 2). "[https://www.people-press.org/2011/05/03/public-relieved-by-bin-ladens-death-obamas-job-approval-rises/ Public 'Relieved' by Bin Laden's Death, Obama's Job Approval Rises]."<br>Jones, J.M. (2011, May 5). "[https://www.gallup.com/poll/147437/obama-approval-rallies-six-points-bin-laden-death.aspx Obama Job Approval Rallies Six Points to 52% After Bin Laden Death]." ''Gallup''.</ref><ref>''[[CBS News]]/Associated Press'' (2012, May 1). "[https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57424622/1-year-after-osama-bin-laden-killed-still-no-answers-from-pakistan/ 1 Year After Osama bin Laden Killed, Still No Answers from Pakistan]."</ref>

On May 1, 2011, Obama misled the public when he announced <ref>Obama, B. (2011, May 2). "[https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/05/02/osama-bin-laden-dead Osama Bin Laden Dead]." ''White House''.</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf1SLhNoUNY Nobel Prize Winner with a kill list].</ref> that Osama bin Laden was "killed in a firefight" after Seal Team 6 infiltrated a compound in Abottobad, Pakistan.<ref>Baker, P., Cooper, H., & Mazzetti, M. (2011, May 1). "[Bin Laden is Dead, Obama Says]." ''The New York Times''.<br>"[https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Osama_Bin_Laden/ Target Bin Laden: The Death of Public Enemy #1]." ''ABC News''.<br>''[[NPR]]''. "[https://www.npr.org/series/135908383/osama-bin-laden-dead Special Series: Osama Bin Laden Killed]."</ref> Attacks, murders, and kidnappings of Americans increased as reprisals for bin Laden's death. Al Qaeda, once broken and on the run, began to operate openly as the jihad became global.  Relations with Pakistan, a longtime ally throughout the [[Cold War]] and War on Terror, became strained.  The government of Pakistan denied White House claims it allowed Americans to kill Muslims on its territory.<ref>''Associated Press'' (2011, May 10). "[https://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/05/10/pakistani-president-claims-bin-laden-deal/ Former Pakistani President Claims There Was Never Bin Laden Deal With U.S.]." Retrieved from ''Fox News''.</ref>  For all his [[duplicity]] and criticism of the War on Terror, Obama experienced only a temporary blip in approval ratings.<ref>Dao, J. & Sussman, D. (2011, May 4). "[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/us/politics/05poll.html For Obama, Big Rise in Poll Numbers After Bin Laden Raid]." ''New York Times''.<br>''Pew Research Center'' (2011, May 2). "[https://www.people-press.org/2011/05/03/public-relieved-by-bin-ladens-death-obamas-job-approval-rises/ Public 'Relieved' by Bin Laden's Death, Obama's Job Approval Rises]."<br>Jones, J.M. (2011, May 5). "[https://www.gallup.com/poll/147437/obama-approval-rallies-six-points-bin-laden-death.aspx Obama Job Approval Rallies Six Points to 52% After Bin Laden Death]." ''Gallup''.</ref><ref>''[[CBS News]]/Associated Press'' (2012, May 1). "[https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57424622/1-year-after-osama-bin-laden-killed-still-no-answers-from-pakistan/ 1 Year After Osama bin Laden Killed, Still No Answers from Pakistan]."</ref>

Obama's order to assassinate bin Laden stood the War on Terror on its head - turning it from a preventative war into a war of retribution.  And when the retribution was accomplished, the war continued. A War of Retribution was a complete rejection of America's foundational Christian ethic, which leftists reveled in, without thinking.

Obama's order to assassinate bin Laden stood the War on Terror on its head - turning it from a preventative war into a war of retribution.  And when the retribution was accomplished, the war continued. A War of Retribution was a complete rejection of America's foundational Christian ethic, which leftists reveled in, without thinking.

===Targeted drone killings===

===Targeted drone killings===

According to the ''New York Times'', John Brennan has been the "principal coordinator" of U.S. kill lists. Former Obama administration counterterrorism official Daniel Benjamin stated that Brennan "probably had more power and influence than anyone in a comparable position in the last 20 years."<ref name=nyt20130205a>{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|date=5 February 2013|accessdate=|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/world/middleeast/with-brennan-pick-a-light-on-drone-strikes-hazards.html|title=Drone Strikes’ Dangers to Get Rare Moment in Public Eye|first1=Robert|last1=Worth|first2=Mark|last2=Mazzetti|first3=Scott|last3=Shane}}</ref> The criteria and decisions determining who may be targeted for killing were developed in large part by John Brennan, who "wields enormous power in shaping decisions on 'kill' lists and the allocation of armed drones".<ref>Washington Post</ref>  Barack Obama, a [[Nobel Peace Prize]] winner, joked about his approvals of names submitted off Brennan's list: "I'm really good at killing people."<ref>https://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n05/thomas-nagel/really-good-at-killing</ref>

According to the ''[[New York Times]]'', [[John Brennan]] has been the "principal coordinator" of [[U.S.]] kill lists. Former [[Obama administration]] counterterrorism official Daniel Benjamin stated that Brennan "probably had more power and influence than anyone in a comparable position in the last 20 years."<ref name=nyt20130205a>{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|date=5 February 2013|accessdate=|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/world/middleeast/with-brennan-pick-a-light-on-drone-strikes-hazards.html|title=Drone Strikes’ Dangers to Get Rare Moment in Public Eye|first1=Robert|last1=Worth|first2=Mark|last2=Mazzetti|first3=Scott|last3=Shane}}</ref> The criteria and decisions determining who may be targeted for killing were developed in large part by John Brennan, who "wields enormous power in shaping decisions on 'kill' lists and the allocation of armed [[drone[[s".<ref>[[Washington Post]]</ref>  [[Barack Obama]], a [[Nobel Peace Prize]] winner, joked about his approvals of names submitted off Brennan's list: "I'm really good at killing people."<ref>https://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n05/thomas-nagel/really-good-at-killing</ref>

Obama's kill list was criticized internationally as "targeted executions" and "extrajudicial murders."<ref name=rt1024>{{cite news|title=Kill-list 2.0: Obama’s ‘disposition matrix’ maps out extrajudicial murders for years to come |url=http://rt.com/usa/news/disposition-matrix-kill-obama-146/ |newspaper=Russia Today |date=24 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BhOhc89I?url=http://rt.com/usa/news/disposition-matrix-kill-obama-146/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref> "[I]n essence, this means that based on intelligence evidence, the administration assumes the right to judge and execute anyone without bothering about such minor things as proper court hearings, or the right of the accused person for proper legal defense...the fact that such operations clearly violate the principles propagated by the U.S. itself, like the right of everyone for legal defense, does not seem to bother the administration."<ref name=vor1026>{{cite news|title=Barack Obama widens the practice of extrajudicial killings |first=Boris |last=Volkhonsky |url=http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_10_26/Barack-Obama-widens-the-practice-of-extrajudicial-killings/ |publisher=Voice of Russia |date=26 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6Bp3m7GtF?url=http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_10_26/Barack-Obama-widens-the-practice-of-extrajudicial-killings/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref> Speaking at [[Harvard Law School]] on 25 October 2012, United Nations Special Rapporteur on [[human rights]] and counter terrorism, Ben Emmerson, stated that he would launch an investigation unit within the United Nations Human Rights Council.<ref name=rt1026>{{cite news|title=United Nations to begin investigating US drone strike targeted kills |url=http://rt.com/usa/news/us-drone-emmerson-un-256/ |newspaper=Russia Today |date=26 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BhOjRYIp?url=http://rt.com/usa/news/us-drone-emmerson-un-256/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref> Emmerson and Christof Heyns, UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, have described some Obama administration targeted killings as [[war crime]]s.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jun/21/drone-strikes-international-law-un Drone strikes threaten 50 years of international law, says UN rapporteur], Owen Bowcott, ''[[The Guardian]]'',  21 June 2012</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20131030231702/http://rt.com/usa/us-drone-emmerson-un-256/</ref>

Obama's kill list was criticized internationally as "targeted executions" and "extrajudicial murders."<ref name=rt1024>{{cite news|title=Kill-list 2.0: Obama’s ‘disposition matrix’ maps out extrajudicial murders for years to come |url=http://rt.com/usa/news/disposition-matrix-kill-obama-146/ |newspaper=Russia Today |date=24 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BhOhc89I?url=http://rt.com/usa/news/disposition-matrix-kill-obama-146/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref> "[I]n essence, this means that based on intelligence evidence, the administration assumes the right to judge and execute anyone without bothering about such minor things as proper court hearings, or the right of the accused person for proper legal defense...the fact that such operations clearly violate the principles propagated by the U.S. itself, like the right of everyone for legal defense, does not seem to bother the administration."<ref name=vor1026>{{cite news|title=Barack Obama widens the practice of extrajudicial killings |first=Boris |last=Volkhonsky |url=http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_10_26/Barack-Obama-widens-the-practice-of-extrajudicial-killings/ |publisher=Voice of Russia |date=26 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6Bp3m7GtF?url=http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_10_26/Barack-Obama-widens-the-practice-of-extrajudicial-killings/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref> Speaking at [[Harvard Law School]] on 25 October 2012, United Nations Special Rapporteur on [[human rights]] and counter terrorism, Ben Emmerson, stated that he would launch an investigation unit within the United Nations Human Rights Council.<ref name=rt1026>{{cite news|title=United Nations to begin investigating US drone strike targeted kills |url=http://rt.com/usa/news/us-drone-emmerson-un-256/ |newspaper=Russia Today |date=26 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BhOjRYIp?url=http://rt.com/usa/news/us-drone-emmerson-un-256/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref> Emmerson and Christof Heyns, UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, have described some Obama administration targeted killings as [[war crime]]s.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jun/21/drone-strikes-international-law-un Drone strikes threaten 50 years of international law, says UN rapporteur], Owen Bowcott, ''[[The Guardian]]'',  21 June 2012</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20131030231702/http://rt.com/usa/us-drone-emmerson-un-256/</ref>

[[Glenn Greenwald]] has written that "the central role played by the NCTC in determining who should be killed [is] rather odious... the NCTC operates a gigantic data-mining operation..."<ref name=gw1024>{{cite news|title=Obama moves to make the War on Terror permanent |first=Glenn |last=Greenwald |authorlink=Glenn Greenwald |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/oct/24/obama-terrorism-kill-list |newspaper=The Guardian |date=24 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BhOg4QS6?url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/24/obama-terrorism-kill-list |deadurl=no |location=London |df=dmy }}</ref> Greenwald concludes that the Kill list has established "simultaneously a surveillance state and a secretive, unaccountable judicial body that analyzes who you are and then decrees what should be done with you, how you should be "disposed" of, beyond the reach of any minimal accountability or transparency".<ref name=gw1024 /> Former [[counterterrorism]] specialist and [[military intelligence]] officer Philip Giraldi has criticized the disposition matrix's "everyday" killing of targets with what he calls "little or no evidence", leaving the White House "completely unaccountable".<ref>{{cite news|title=Kill Lists Will Continue |first=Philip |last=Giraldi |authorlink=|url=http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/11/07/kill-lists-will-continue/ |work=[[Antiwar.com]] |date=8 November 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6C2YMHo57?url=http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/11/07/kill-lists-will-continue/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>[http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/12/05/the-protocols-for-death/ The Protocols for Death], by Philip Giraldi, [[Antiwar.com]], 06 December 2012</ref>

[[Glenn Greenwald]] has written that "the central role played by the NCTC in determining who should be killed [is] rather odious... the NCTC operates a gigantic data-mining operation..."<ref name=gw1024>{{cite news|title=Obama moves to make the War on Terror permanent |first=Glenn |last=Greenwald |authorlink=Glenn Greenwald |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/oct/24/obama-terrorism-kill-list |newspaper=The Guardian |date=24 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BhOg4QS6?url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/24/obama-terrorism-kill-list |deadurl=no |location=London |df=dmy }}</ref> Greenwald concludes that the Kill list has established "simultaneously a surveillance state and a secretive, unaccountable judicial body that analyzes who you are and then decrees what should be done with you, how you should be "disposed" of, beyond the reach of any minimal accountability or transparency".<ref name=gw1024 /> Former [[counterterrorism]] specialist and [[military intelligence]] officer [[Philip Giraldi]] has criticized the [[disposition matrix]]'s "everyday" killing of targets with what he calls "little or no evidence", leaving the White House "completely unaccountable".<ref>{{cite news|title=Kill Lists Will Continue |first=Philip |last=Giraldi |authorlink=|url=http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/11/07/kill-lists-will-continue/ |work=[[Antiwar.com]] |date=8 November 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6C2YMHo57?url=http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/11/07/kill-lists-will-continue/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>[http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/12/05/the-protocols-for-death/ The Protocols for Death], by Philip Giraldi, [[Antiwar.com]], 06 December 2012</ref>

 

===Arms transfers===

===Arms transfers===

President [[Barack Obama]] signed a Presidential Finding on August 1, 2012 authorizing transfer of captured weapons from [[Libya]] to groups that became the Islamic State.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20170216061621/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/01/obama-secret-syria-order_n_1730712.html?tw_p=twt</ref><ref><small>''[[Reuters]]'' reported  

President [[Barack Obama]] signed a [[Presidential Finding]] in early 2012 authorizing transfer of captured weapons from [[Libya]] to groups that became the Islamic State.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20170216061621/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/01/obama-secret-syria-order_n_1730712.html?tw_p=twt</ref><ref><small>''[[Reuters]]'' reported  

{{Quotebox|under provisions of the presidential finding, the United States was collaborating with a secret command center operated by Turkey and its allies.<br>

{{Quotebox|under provisions of the presidential finding, the United States was collaborating with a secret command center operated by Turkey and its allies.<br>

Khairkhwa assured the Biden junta that the Taliban would not retaliate against Afghans who worked with the US military or the US-backed government in Kabul.  However, reports out of Kandahar and Kabul soon after the fall of Afghanistan indicate the Taliban was going door to door with a kill list to wipe out their enemies.  Mullah Khairkhwa previously served as the Taliban’s interior minister prior to 2002, where he oversaw Islamist punishments, including beheadings and stonings.<ref> https://nypost.com/2021/08/16/taliban-leader-was-freed-from-guantanamo-in-2014-swap-by-obama/</ref>

Khairkhwa assured the Biden junta that the Taliban would not retaliate against Afghans who worked with the US military or the US-backed government in Kabul.  However, reports out of Kandahar and Kabul soon after the fall of Afghanistan indicate the Taliban was going door to door with a kill list to wipe out their enemies.  Mullah Khairkhwa previously served as the Taliban’s interior minister prior to 2002, where he oversaw Islamist punishments, including beheadings and stonings.<ref> https://nypost.com/2021/08/16/taliban-leader-was-freed-from-guantanamo-in-2014-swap-by-obama/</ref>

===Bacha bazi===

===Bacha bazi===

In 2015, ''The New York Times'' reported that U.S. soldiers were instructed by their commanders to ignore child sexual abuse being carried out by the Afghan National Security Forces.  American soldiers were instructed not to intervene—in some cases, not even when their Afghan allies have abused boys on military bases, according to interviews and court records. But the U.S. soldiers were troubled that instead of weeding out pedophiles, the U.S. military was arming them against the Taliban and placing them as the police commanders of villages—and doing little when they began abusing children.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/opinion/ignoring-sexual-abuse-in-afghanistan.html|title=Ignoring Sexual Abuse in Afghanistan|author=The Editorial Board|date=2015-09-21|work=The New York Times|access-date=|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 2015, ''The New York Times'' reported that U.S. soldiers were instructed by their commanders to ignore child sexual abuse being carried out by the Afghan National Security Forces.  American soldiers were instructed not to intervene—in some cases, not even when their Afghan allies have abused boys on military bases, according to interviews and court records. But the U.S. soldiers were troubled that instead of weeding out [[pedophile]]s, the U.S. military was arming them against the Taliban and placing them as the police commanders of villages—and doing little when they began abusing children.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/opinion/ignoring-sexual-abuse-in-afghanistan.html|title=Ignoring Sexual Abuse in Afghanistan|author=The Editorial Board|date=2015-09-21|work=The New York Times|access-date=|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

According to a report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, the DOD had received 5,753 vetting requests of Afghan security forces, some of which related to sexual abuse. The DOD was investigating 75 reports of gross human rights violations,  

According to a report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, the DOD had received 5,753 vetting requests of Afghan security forces, some of which related to sexual abuse. The DOD was investigating 75 reports of gross human rights violations,  

|url=https://archive.is/wIjcD#selection-1771.33-1771.48}}</ref>

|url=https://archive.is/wIjcD#selection-1771.33-1771.48}}</ref>

==2021 collapse==

==[[Biden]]-Harris: 2021 collapse==

{{See also|Fall of Kabul}}

{{See also|Fall of Kabul}}

With the August 2021 Taliban take over of major cities, it was clear that it was [[Joe Biden]] who failed the Afghan war.<ref>[https://thefederalist.com/2021/08/16/no-biden-cant-blame-trump-for-the-afghanistan-withdrawal-disaster/ No, Biden Can’t Blame Trump For The Afghanistan Withdrawal Disaster] Margot Cleveland, The Federalist, Aug 16, 2021.</ref><ref>[http://www.boblonsberry.com/writings.cfm?go=4 Biden Lost the Afghan War], Bob Lonsberry, Aug 16, 2021</ref><ref>Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) Tweeted:

With the August 2021 Taliban take over of major cities, it was clear that it was Amerian Democrat socialist leader [[Joe Biden]] who failed the Afghan war.<ref>[https://thefederalist.com/2021/08/16/no-biden-cant-blame-trump-for-the-afghanistan-withdrawal-disaster/ No, Biden Can’t Blame Trump For The Afghanistan Withdrawal Disaster], [[Margot Cleveland]], The Federalist, Aug 16, 2021.</ref><ref>[http://www.boblonsberry.com/writings.cfm?go=4 Biden Lost the Afghan War], Bob Lonsberry, Aug 16, 2021</ref><ref>Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) Tweeted:

Thinking about the last time I left the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. It was dangerous then. I can only imagine what is happening now. Biden totally screwed this up. https://t.co/R4PSQnEvhM [https://twitter.com/ScottWalker/status/1426948442471944204?s=20 Aug 15, 2021]</ref>

Thinking about the last time I left the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. It was dangerous then. I can only imagine what is happening now. Biden totally screwed this up. https://t.co/R4PSQnEvhM [https://twitter.com/ScottWalker/status/1426948442471944204?s=20 Aug 15, 2021]</ref>

With Billions spent by US in Afghanistan on the Afghan army, at the end, rather benefited the Taliban.<ref>[https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-08-17/billions-spent-on-afghan-army-ultimately-benefited-taliban Billions Spent on Afghan Army Ultimately Benefited Taliban] Associated Press, US News, Aug 17, 2021.

With Billions spent by US in Afghanistan on the Afghan army, at the end, rather benefited the Taliban.<ref>[https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-08-17/billions-spent-on-afghan-army-ultimately-benefited-taliban Billions Spent on Afghan Army Ultimately Benefited Taliban] Associated Press, US News, Aug 17, 2021.

As in [[9/11]] atrocity,<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/false-footaging/ Palestinians Dancing in the Street], David Mikkelson, Snopes.com, Sep 11, 2020. ''Did CNN fake footage of 'Palestinians dancing in the street' after the terrorist attack on the USA?''

As in [[9/11]] atrocity,<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/false-footaging/ Palestinians Dancing in the Street], David Mikkelson, Snopes.com, Sep 11, 2020. ''Did CNN fake footage of 'Palestinians dancing in the street' after the terrorist attack on the USA?''

Status: false''

Status: false''

<blockquote>

<blockquote><small>

CNN did not air decade-old footage of Palestinians dancing in the streets. Eason Jordan, CNN’s Chief News Executive, confirmed that the video used on CNN was in fact shot on Tuesday, 11 September 2001, in East Jerusalem by a Reuters TV crew, not during the Persian Gulf conflict of 1990-91 — a fact proved by its inclusion of comments from a Palestinian praising Osama Bin Laden...</blockquote></ref><ref>[https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/02/06/yes-palestinians-did-celebrate-after-9-11/ Yes — Palestinians Did Celebrate After 9/11], Algemeiner, Feb 6, 2020</ref> it was Arab-Islamic [[Palestinian]]s who cheered on. This time [[Hamas]] officials.<ref>"[https://www.jns.org/hamas-congratulates-taliban-for-victory-over-america-in-afghanistan/ Hamas congratulates Taliban for ‘victory’ over America in Afghanistan]." JNS, Aug 16, 2021.

CNN did not air decade-old footage of Palestinians dancing in the streets. Eason Jordan, CNN’s Chief News Executive, confirmed that the video used on CNN was in fact shot on Tuesday, 11 September 2001, in East Jerusalem by a Reuters TV crew, not during the Persian Gulf conflict of 1990-91 — a fact proved by its inclusion of comments from a Palestinian praising Osama Bin Laden...</small></blockquote></ref><ref>[https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/02/06/yes-palestinians-did-celebrate-after-9-11/ Yes — Palestinians Did Celebrate After 9/11], Algemeiner, Feb 6, 2020</ref> it was [[Arab]]-[[Islam]]ic [[Palestinian]]s who cheered on. This time [[Hamas]] officials.<ref>"[https://www.jns.org/hamas-congratulates-taliban-for-victory-over-america-in-afghanistan/ Hamas congratulates Taliban for ‘victory’ over America in Afghanistan]." JNS, Aug 16, 2021.

Officials of the terror group in Gaza said it proves that “the resistance of the peoples—foremost of which is our struggling Palestinian people—is destined for victory.</ref><ref>[https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byqtdivet What does Afghanistan’s fall to the Taliban mean for the Middle East?'] Ynet, Aug 16, 2021.

Officials of the terror group in Gaza said it proves that “the resistance of the peoples—foremost of which is our struggling Palestinian people—is destined for victory.</ref><ref>[https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byqtdivet What does Afghanistan’s fall to the Taliban mean for the Middle East?'] Ynet, Aug 16, 2021.

'Taliban using human shields, says Afghan army general.' The Guardian, Feb 17, 2010.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/feb/17/taliban-human-shields]

'Taliban using human shields, says Afghan army general.' The Guardian, Feb 17, 2010.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/feb/17/taliban-human-shields]

<br><br>

<br><br>

'Civilians say Taliban use of human shields shows weakness, cruelty.' Dec. 12, 2018. [https://afghanistan.asia-news.com/en_GB/articles/cnmi_st/features/2018/12/12/feature-02]<br>

'Civilians say Taliban use of human shields shows weakness, cruelty.' Dec. 12, 2018. [https://afghanistan.asia-news.com/en_GB/articles/cnmi_st/features/2018/12/12/feature-02]

</blockquote></ref>

</blockquote></ref>

People who had worked for the Afghan government went into hiding, "awaiting their death sentence."<ref>https://www.mediaite.com/news/fox-news-aishah-hasnie-relays-terrifying-accounts-from-friends-in-afghanistan-waiting-on-their-death-sentence-after-taliban-seized-us-biometric-system/</ref>

People who had worked for the Afghan government went into hiding, "awaiting their death sentence."<ref>https://www.mediaite.com/news/fox-news-aishah-hasnie-relays-terrifying-accounts-from-friends-in-afghanistan-waiting-on-their-death-sentence-after-taliban-seized-us-biometric-system/</ref>

 

The Biden regime gave the Taliban a list of names of American citizens, Afghan allies, green card holders, they wanted to evacuate.   

The Biden regime gave the Taliban a list of names of American citizens, Afghan allies, green card holders, they wanted to evacuate.   

{{quotebox-float|“Basically, they just put all those Afghans on a kill list,” said one defense official, who like others spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. “It’s just appalling and shocking and makes you feel unclean,” according to ''Politico.''<ref>https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/26/us-officials-provided-taliban-with-names-of-americans-afghan-allies-to-evacuate-506957</ref>}}

{{quotebox-float|“Basically, they just put all those Afghans on a kill list,” said one defense official, who like others spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. “It’s just appalling and shocking and makes you feel unclean,” according to ''Politico.''<ref>https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/26/us-officials-provided-taliban-with-names-of-americans-afghan-allies-to-evacuate-506957</ref>}}

Now, even if they don’t nab those allies at the airport, they will have their name and can hunt them down. It’s already been reported that the Taliban has been going house to house to hunt people down to kill them and their families and you give them a list?"<ref>https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2021/08/26/unreal-biden-team-gave-the-taliban-a-list-of-americans-and-afghan-allies-n433135</ref>}}

Now, even if they don’t nab those allies at the airport, they will have their name and can hunt them down. It’s already been reported that the Taliban has been going house to house to hunt people down to kill them and their families and you give them a list?"<ref>https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2021/08/26/unreal-biden-team-gave-the-taliban-a-list-of-americans-and-afghan-allies-n433135</ref>}}

===Kabul airport===

===Kabul airport===

 

Panic ensued as the Kabul airport was flooded with people fleeing the Taliban terror. Some people were stampeded to death.<ref>https://www.the-sun.com/news/3479109/taliban-jalalabad-afghanistan-kabul-uk-troops-2-2/</ref>  Tens of thousands of Afghans lined up outside the airport in the hopes of finding a way out.<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/video-people-crushed-to-death-at-kabul-airport-thousands-flee-taliban-2021-8?op=1</ref>  People died after being crushed or succumbing to sweltering temperatures in the crowds outside the airport gate as individuals and families sought refuge from the Taliban.<ref>https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/matt-frei/women-at-kabul-airport-crushed-fleeing-taliban/</ref> ''[[Sky News]]'' chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay saw people crushed to death, medics check their vital signs and then cover the bodies in white sheets.<ref>https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/15927269/afghanistan-kabul-airport-crush-taliban/</ref>  A heartbroken mother found her 2-year-old daughter trampled to death.<ref>https://nypost.com/2021/08/22/fatal-stampede-outside-kabul-airport-takes-place-as-people-attempt-to-flee/</ref>

Panic ensued as the Kabul airport was flooded with people fleeing the Taliban terror. Some people were stampeded to death.<ref>https://www.the-sun.com/news/3479109/taliban-jalalabad-afghanistan-kabul-uk-troops-2-2/</ref>  Tens of thousands of Afghans lined up outside the airport in the hopes of finding a way out.<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/video-people-crushed-to-death-at-kabul-airport-thousands-flee-taliban-2021-8?op=1</ref>  People died after being crushed or succumbing to sweltering temperatures in the crowds outside the airport gate as individuals and families sought refuge from the Taliban.<ref>https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/matt-frei/women-at-kabul-airport-crushed-fleeing-taliban/</ref> ''[[Sky News]]'' chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay saw people crushed to death, medics check their vital signs and then cover the bodies in white sheets.<ref>https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/15927269/afghanistan-kabul-airport-crush-taliban/</ref>  A heartbroken mother found her 2-year-old daughter trampled to death.<ref>https://nypost.com/2021/08/22/fatal-stampede-outside-kabul-airport-takes-place-as-people-attempt-to-flee/</ref>

On August 25, 2021 the U.S. State Department and U.K. officials issued a warning to American and British citizens to leave the vicinity of the Kabul airport immediately.  <!--According to Biden foreign minister Antony Blinken, more than 77,000 non-Americans had been evacuated and only 4,500 Americans.  According to ''Defense One'', the U.S. military and chartered aircraft evacuated 101,300 people, and almost 96,000 of those were airlifted out in just the last 12 days.<ref>https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/08/afghanistan-airlift-ops-have-rescued-101300-kabul/184870/</ref>-->

On August 25, 2021 the U.S. State Department and U.K. officials issued a warning to American and British citizens to leave the vicinity of the Kabul airport immediately.  <!--According to Biden foreign minister Antony Blinken, more than 77,000 non-Americans had been evacuated and only 4,500 Americans.  According to ''Defense One'', the U.S. military and chartered aircraft evacuated 101,300 people, and almost 96,000 of those were airlifted out in just the last 12 days.<ref>https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/08/afghanistan-airlift-ops-have-rescued-101300-kabul/184870/</ref>-->

On August 26, 2021, two suicide bombs went off outside the Kabul airport, killing about 60 people including 12 American soldiers and injuring more than 100.  One was a car bomb about 200 yards away, outside the Baron hotel, which was a staging area for evacuations from the airport.<ref>https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2021/0826/Islamic-State-says-it-was-behind-suicide-attacks-at-Kabul-airport</ref>  [[ISIS-K]] claimed responsibility.  An [[Italian]] [[C-130]] also came under fire as it departed the airport.<ref>https://therightscoop.com/breaking-c-130-comes-under-fire-as-it-leaves-kabul-airport-also-reports-of-explosion-outside-airport-gate/</ref>

On August 26, 2021, two suicide bombs went off outside the Kabul airport, killing 170 people including 13 American soldiers.  It was the deadliest day in 10 years for Americans.  One was a car bomb about 200 yards away, outside the Baron hotel, which was a staging area for evacuees from the airport.<ref>https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2021/0826/Islamic-State-says-it-was-behind-suicide-attacks-at-Kabul-airport</ref>  [[ISIS-K]] allegedly claimed responsibility.  An [[Italian]] [[C-130]] also came under fire as it departed the airport.<ref>https://therightscoop.com/breaking-c-130-comes-under-fire-as-it-leaves-kabul-airport-also-reports-of-explosion-outside-airport-gate/</ref>  A translator for the [[U.S. Marine Corps]] spoke with Fox News and gave a first-hand account of what he witnessed after the suicide attack.His 5-year-old girl died in his hands.<ref>https://100percentfedup.com/breaking-baby-girl-died-right-in-my-hands-witness-of-afghan-explosion-tells-what-he-saw-after-suicide-bomb-at-the-airport/</ref>

Several members of Congress called upon Biden to resign.

Several members of Congress called upon Biden to resign.

==War profiteers==

==War profiteers==

{{See also|Military-industrial complex}}

{{See also|Military-industrial complex}}

''The Intercept''‘s Jon Schwarz examined returns on stocks of the five biggest defense contractors: [[Boeing]], Raytheon, [[Lockheed Martin]], [[Northrop Grumman]], and General Dynamics.  Schwarz found that a $10,000 investment in stock evenly split across those five companies on the day in 2001 that then-President Georg W. Bush signed the authorization preceding the US invasion would be worth $97,295 this week, not adjusted for inflation, taxes, or fees.  According to ''The Intercept:''

''[[The Intercept]]''‘s Jon Schwarz examined returns on stocks of the five biggest defense contractors: [[Boeing]], [[Raytheon]], [[Lockheed Martin]], [[Northrop Grumman]], and General Dynamics.  Schwarz found that a $10,000 investment in stock evenly split across those five companies on the day in 2001 that then-President Georg W. Bush signed the authorization preceding the US invasion would be worth $97,295 this week, not adjusted for inflation, taxes, or fees.  According to ''The Intercept:''

{{quotebox-float|"This is a far greater return than was available in the overall [[stock market]] over the same period. $10,000 invested in an [[S&P 500]] index fund on September 18, 2001, would now be worth $61,613.  That is, defense stocks outperformed the stock market overall by 58% during the Afghanistan War."<ref>https://theintercept.com/2021/08/16/afghanistan-war-defense-stocks/</ref>}}

{{quotebox-float|"This is a far greater return than was available in the overall [[stock market]] over the same period. $10,000 invested in an [[S&P 500]] index fund on September 18, 2001, would now be worth $61,613.  That is, defense stocks outperformed the stock market overall by 58% during the Afghanistan War."<ref>https://theintercept.com/2021/08/16/afghanistan-war-defense-stocks/</ref>}}

== See also ==

== See also ==

*[[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]]

*[[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]]

==References==

==References==