John Sopko
Former Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction who led SIGAR investigations and authored the agency's final report chronicling U.S. reconstruction efforts and waste in Afghanistan.
Best podcasts with John Sopko
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Dec 20, 2025 • 9min
The U.S. spent billions to rebuild Afghanistan. Was it successful?
In this insightful discussion, John Sopko, the former Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, shares critical findings from SIGAR's final report. He reveals that a staggering $144 billion was spent on reconstruction, yet much of it was wasted. Sopko highlights specific failures, like unusable airplanes and underperforming power plants, and discusses how overspending overwhelmed local capabilities. He also points out that U.S. alliances inadvertently fostered corruption, leaving him pessimistic about future lessons learned.
Dec 11, 2025 • 35min
Wasted money, effort and opportunity in Afghanistan
John Sopko, the former Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, shares his insights on the staggering waste of U.S. aid in Afghanistan. He reveals how billions were lost due to corruption and mismanagement, including a tale of unusable G222 aircraft. Sopko expresses frustration over the lack of accountability and highlights the grim impact on Afghan women and allies left vulnerable after withdrawal. He stresses that lessons from past conflicts remain unlearned, warning that future aid risks diverting to the Taliban.
