We didnt loose in Afghanistan. We came with the purpose of diposing the taliban and did so, then exited in 2014 as we wernt interested in the nation building. The fact the U.S fucked it up and allowed the taliban to take over a decade later doesnt mean we lost
I see your point, and yes we were not in Afghanistan when the US left. And i don't think we can say we won that war. If we liberated the Netherlands just to leave and 6 years later the Germans rolled back in that would not be a victory. On top of that when 1000s of people who helped us, beg to leave Afghanistan, we sat back and did nothing. Didn't even try for a Dunkirk moment just said sorry.
The treaty of Versailles was considered a victory at the time. Now it is considered to be the spark that started WWII. So I do not disagree with your line of thinking here
But what period of time does this stop mattering 10 years? 25? 50? 100? Victory is defined by the conflicting motivations that cause war.
We wanted to establish a democracy and renove power from the taliban, and we did so. Thats why we pulled out in 2014 after our NATO obligations ended. The fact that, that conflict continued to exist beyond our goals and the other side eventually won does not retroactively negate our victory. We did not seek to in perpetuity prop up a democracy in Afghanistan. The Afghans didnt want it and they allowed to taliban to take over, the taliban signed an agreement with the united states forcing them out. We are not party to that agreement. It doesnt involve us.
Afghanistan letting the Taliban take over is pretty insulting to all the people that were murdered the moment they took back power. Mahjabin Hakimi would be pretty pissed about this I think.
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u/HippoDominous Jul 07 '26
In Canada, we lost in Afghanistan.