The former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army acknowledged the mistakes made during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, admitting that political and strategic failures marked it.
Mark Milley stated that the 20 years spent by the U.S. and its allies in Afghanistan were a valuable opportunity, but in the end, the Taliban took control of the country.
On Wednesday, during a session at Princeton College, General Milley commented on the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan: “In my opinion, those 20 years were long and significant, but ultimately, the Taliban occupied the capital and seized the entire country.”
He acknowledged the political and strategic shortcomings during the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, stating, “Our experiences in Afghanistan offer many lessons.” Milley added that it will take years for historians to fully extract and analyze these lessons and other critical insights.
He pointed out flaws in the Doha agreement and noted that the U.S. forces’ lack of proficiency in local languages was another significant weakness, which the Taliban exploited in rural areas. He said, “The U.S. didn’t fully understand what was happening on the ground.”
The withdrawal from Afghanistan has left lasting consequences on U.S. foreign policy, raising debates about the future of American military interventions. The U.S. is now reflecting on its broader strategy to avoid repeating similar failures in other conflict zones.
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