It started close to twenty years ago in 2001, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9-11.
Several months post-strike, after the Taliban refused to give up on association with al-Qaeda, U.S. forces entered Kabul and overthrew the Taliban government. The group took to the hills and we have been fighting them ever since.
But that saga may be coming to a close.
After great cost in blood and treasure and following tough Trump administration pressure, Saturday the U.S. signed a tentative peace treaty with the Taliban.
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“We will closely watch the Taliban’s compliance with their commitments and calibrate the pace of our withdrawal to their actions. This is how we will ensure that Afghanistan never again serves as a base for international terrorists,” said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was present for the signing of the agreement.
“This agreement will mean nothing and today’s good feelings will not last if we don’t take concrete actions on commitments and promises that have been made,” Pompeo commented, as he stared daggers at the Taliban representatives.
“I know there will be a temptation to declare victory but victory, victory for Afghans, will only be achieved when they can live in peace and prosper,” he warned.
“Victory for the United States will only be achieved when Americans and our allies no longer have to fear a terrorist threat from Afghanistan and we will do whatever it takes to protect our people,” Pompeo concluded.
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If the Trump administration can pull this off it will have accomplished a vital national security goal that eluded the oftentimes befuddled Bush and Obama administrations.
The key will be to not let the Taliban do what the North Vietnamese did after the U.S. signed a peace pact with them in 1973. They only waited a “decent interval” until the American political climate changed and then proceeded to break the agreement and return to aggression.
To forestall that dark eventuality is yet another reason to re-elect the president.
This piece originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.
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