The Realignment 568 | Jon Lee Anderson: Was Afghanistan the Graveyard of America's Empire?
Aug 19, 2025
Jon Lee Anderson, a renowned Staff Writer at The New Yorker and author of 'To Lose a War: The Fall and the Rise of the Taliban', delves into the complicated legacy of America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan. He discusses the shifting definitions of victory in modern warfare, critiques U.S. military strategies post-withdrawal, and reflects on the historical context of conflict in the region. Anderson also parallels America’s challenges in Afghanistan with foreign interventions elsewhere, highlighting lessons learned and unlearned in the fight for peace.
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Victory Depends On Your Definition
- The U.S. achieved its original counterterror goals but failed on broader political aims that defined 'victory.'
- Defining victory narrowly or broadly changes whether Afghanistan is judged a success or failure.
Taliban's Resilience Revealed Early
- Jon Lee Anderson argues the Taliban never truly went away despite early successes against al-Qaeda.
- By the time bin Laden was killed the enterprise was already failing politically and strategically.
Secret Armies And Contractors Shaped The War
- Anderson recounts the secret CIA 'paramilitary' forces and contractors operating alongside U.S. troops.
- Those shadow forces complicated public accountability and fueled local resentment.
