How the US underestimated the Taliban - and who's paying for it one year later

GZERO World with Ian Bremmer

GZERO Media

Politics, News, Foreign Policy, News Commentary, Government, Geopolitics, International Relations, Ian Bremmer, Trump, Global Economy, Gzero World

4.7 • 830 Ratings

🗓️ 27 August 2022

⏱️ 21 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The anniversary of the end of America’s war in Afghanistan is a reminder of what many see as a staggering US defeat. It was also a victory for a long-time US adversary, the Taliban, who remain in control as the country faces a humanitarian crisis and a crumbling economy. Their brutal rule has also led to worsening conditions for women and girls in the country. Ian Bremmer speaks to former Marine and author Elliot Ackerman on the GZERO World podcast about his view of the war and his new book “The Fifth Act: America's End in Afghanistan.” Ackerman believes the US military could have done a much better job at leaving the country, without leaving so many Afghans allies behind. The war, he explained, had come to define our military thinking and intelligence capability because the US was involved there for such a long time. And that long involvement clouded American judgment as it left. He also shares his thoughts on leaving no man behind honor code and whether an all-volunteer military is what America needs amid deeply dysfunctional domestic politics.

Transcript

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0:00.0	We needed to believe that things would hold together in Afghanistan.
0:04.0	That was central to our strategy of withdrawal.
0:07.2	And I think that in many respects, our need to have them hold together clattered our judgment
0:11.7	as we were looking at the intelligence.
0:15.4	Hello and welcome to the GZero World Podcast.
0:18.9	This is where you'll find extended versions of my interviews on public television.
0:23.1	I'm Ian Bremmer, and today, it's been one year since the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
0:29.5	And while this anniversary marks the end of America's longest war, it also represents what
0:34.9	many see as a staggering U.S. defeat. and a victory for a longtime adversary, the Taliban,
0:41.3	who remain in control as the country faces a humanitarian crisis and a crippled economy.
0:47.3	Their brutal rule has also led to worsening conditions for women and girls across the country.
0:53.3	This week, I speak with former Marine and author Elliot Ackerman about his view of the war and his new book,
1:00.5	The Fifth Act. Let's do this.
1:08.4	The G0 World podcast is brought to you by our founding sponsor, First Republic.
1:13.7	First Republic, a private bank and wealth management company, places clients' needs first
1:18.4	by providing responsive, relevant, and customized solutions.
1:23.0	Visit firstrepublic.com to learn more.
1:26.2	In a world upended by disruptive international events, how can we rebuild?
1:31.5	On season two of Global Reboot, a foreign policy podcast in partnership with the Doha Forum,
1:37.4	FP editor-in-chief Ravi Agrawal engages with world leaders and policy experts to look at old
1:43.6	problems in new ways
1:44.9	and identify solutions to our world's greatest challenges.
	...

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