Why the Pentagon Lost in Afghanistan
The Socialist Program with Brian Becker
The Socialist Program
4.7 • 587 Ratings
🗓️ 12 August 2021
⏱️ 79 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today's episode covers the rapid fall of key cities in Afghanistan to the Taliban & the consequences of 20 years of brutal U.S. occupation of the country. Brian & guest Mike Prysner also discuss how socialists struggle against imperialist war & organize enlisted soldiers to resist.
Brian is joined by Mike Prysner, an anti-war activist, producer of The Empire Files & co-host of the podcast "Eyes Left".
Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram. We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | As U.S. forces continue to exit from Afghanistan almost exactly 20 years since they invaded the country, |
| 0:08.8 | the Taliban is rapidly capturing one provincial capital after another. |
| 0:14.5 | What comes next in Afghanistan? |
| 0:17.7 | We need a new system. |
| 0:19.9 | We need a new society. We need to demand that which may have sounded impossible even a few weeks ago, but is not only realizable, but an imperative necessity. Welcome to The Real Story on The Socialist Program. |
| 0:56.4 | I'm your host, Brian Becker. |
| 0:58.3 | The Socialist Program comes to you three days a week. |
| 1:01.3 | We can only produce this independent and free programming with the support of our listeners. |
| 1:07.0 | If you are not yet a supporter, please go to patreon.com forward slash the socialist program and become a subscriber today. |
| 1:15.7 | We are happy to be joined today by Mike Prysner. |
| 1:19.6 | Mike is a producer with Empire Files. Check out their work at EmpireFiles.TV and their Patreon at patreon.com forward slash empire files. |
| 1:31.3 | Mike, welcome back to the socialist program. |
| 1:33.8 | Thanks for having me, Brian. |
| 1:35.3 | Mike, as we said in our introduction, city after city in Afghanistan is falling to the Taliban. |
| 1:43.4 | I'm looking at the top stories. If you just put in Afghanistan is falling to the Taliban. I'm looking at the top stories, if you just put in |
| 1:47.9 | Afghanistan news in a search engine. Here's the headlines. U.S. officials warned collapse of |
| 1:54.9 | Afghan capital could come sooner than expected. Panic grips Afghanistan as civilians flee Taliban's relentless advance. |
| 2:04.6 | Here's from the Wall Street Journal. What will happen to women of Afghanistan? |
| 2:10.6 | Here's from AP. Taliban complete Northeast Afghan blitz as more cities fall. |
| 2:18.8 | Here's from BBC, Afghanistan War. Army chief replaced as Taliban sees more cities. |
| 2:27.9 | Mike, we are watching history, a very dramatic part of history, unfold in front of us. All of this is happening after the U.S. |
| 2:37.9 | government, after the Biden administration has announced that the U.S. is leaving Afghanistan by |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Socialist Program, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The Socialist Program and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.