It’s true because it’s about the will of the taxpayers who fund all the wars. When it’s about the will of the legislators who distribute other people’s money overseas though, it’s another thing entirely…
A recent poll conducted by the Pearson Institute and The Associated Press-NORC Center reveals a rare point of consensus among Americans during a time of heightened political polarization: the protracted two-decade-long war in Afghanistan was deemed unworthy. Commencing shortly after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, the conflict aimed to target the orchestrators of the attacks and the Taliban, who harbored them. However, the war concluded in chaotic scenes, marked by desperate attempts by Afghans and Americans to leave Kabul, as the Taliban regained power following the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021.
The poll underscores that this withdrawal, widely perceived as disorganized and poorly planned, may have significantly impacted President Joe Biden’s approval ratings, which have not recovered since. Remarkably, two-thirds of Americans, including 65% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans, concur that the war was not worth the fight. Moreover, there are widespread doubts regarding the achievement of more specific objectives, such as neutralizing extremist threats and enhancing opportunities for women in Afghanistan.
