Troops out of Afghanistan: How did we get there and what's next?

us troops withdraw afghanistan — Image credit: U.S. Army soldiers and contractors load High Mobility Multi-purposed Wheeled Vehicles, HUMVs, to be sent for transport as U.S. forces prepare for withdrawl, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, July 13, 2020. Picture taken July 13, 2020. U.S. Army/Sgt. Jeffery J. Harris/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.

After 20 years, the U.S. will be out of Afghanistan by the end of August. How did we end up there in the first place? Why were we there so long? And what is going to happen next?

Shannon Longworth

Shannon Longworth was an investigative reporter and anchor for Straight Arrow News from 2021 to 2023. She started her career on California’s central coast, then made her way back home working in the sprawling suburbs of New York City

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President Biden: “I will not send another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan with no reasonable expectation of achieving a different outcome”

Reporter Shannon Longworth: With those words, it’s official.

After 20 years …the U.S. will be out of Afghanistan by the end of August.

How did we end up there in the first place? Why were we there so long? And what is going to happen next?

Let’s get this straight

It all goes back to 9/11.

Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda – become public enemy #1.

President bush demands justice and tells the governing Taliban to weed out Bin Laden from his Afghani hideout.

And When the Taliban refuses — the bombs literally start to fly.

Operation freedom begins on October 7th… and U.S. ground troops go in 12 days later.

In just a month, the Taliban collapses and the U.S. and its allies are clear winners—except they’re not,

Bin laden escapes and the Taliban has enough forces and enough places to hide in Afghanistan’s infamous mountains and caves, to keep a stronghold.

And that in the end is why the U.S. has been there so long.

Although a new democratic government was installed, the Taliban has continued horrific terrorist attacks on Afghanis and Americans alike.

In response, the U.S. kept boots on the ground, investing billions of dollars in infrastructure, education and military training

Finally on February 29, 2020, the U.S. and Taliban agree on a path to peace.

The U.S. makes an exit plan, and the Taliban agrees that the country will not be used for terrorist activities.

Which brings us to today.

President Biden says all troops will be out of Afghanistan by August 31st just short of the 20th anniversary of U.S. forces occupying the country.

Our longest military occupation ever.

Biden says the U.S. will continue to help Afghan troops and help build peace between the Taliban and the current government.

Many people are concerned it’s only a matter of time before the Taliban regains control of the country.

But Biden disagrees.

Reporter: “Is the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan now inevitable?”

Joe Biden, U.S. President: “No, it is not because you have the Afghan troops have 300,000 well equipped, as well equipped as any army in the world and an air force, against something like 75,000 Taliban. It is not inevitable.”

Reporter: Did we get it straight? Let me know in the comments section below.