This week’s episode of Weapons and Warfare opened with a look back at America’s longest war: Afghanistan. In 2021, Congress created a bipartisan commission to document the experiences of those who served during the 20-year conflict. While the final report is not expected until August 2026, commission members have begun sharing early findings.
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A war measured in days and sacrifice
Veterans who spoke with the commission described the war as hellish, confusing, demoralizing and at times humiliating. The commission is examining strategic, diplomatic, military and operational decisions made between June 2001 and the U.S. withdrawal from the country in August 2021.
“One thing that is particularly important to us is to tell a human story of the war,” said Shamila Chaudhary, cochair of the Afghanistan War Commission. “We know that the media has covered the issues and conflicts of Afghanistan extensively, but oftentimes the stories of the individuals who served on the ground get lost.”
Personal stories and strategic lessons
Chris Molino, another commission member, emphasized the deeply personal nature of the conflict.
“I think Afghanistan, like any war, is full of coming-of-age stories when you get down to the very individual level. Those are gut-wrenching, very personal things,” Molino said.
The commission has conducted more than 160 interviews with cabinet-level officials, military commanders, diplomats, Afghan and Pakistani leaders, and others. It has also hosted forums for veterans, including a recent one at the national Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Columbus, Ohio.
“The reason we are in Columbus today is to talk with those coming to this VFW convention,” said Robert Ashley, a commission member. “One is to educate them on the purpose of the commission, but it also allows them to have a voice and express their concerns, tell their stories about their experience in Afghanistan.”
Interim findings and future goals
The commission released its second interim report in August. While it did not draw conclusions, it identified emerging themes from interviews, documents and veteran forums. The final report is scheduled for public release by Aug. 22, 2026.
“Our work is not just about what the U.S. did in Afghanistan,” Chaudhary said, “but what the U.S. should be doing in any country where it deems it has a national security interest.”
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