Three years later, the Biden-Harris administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and the deaths of 13 service members should be top of mind for Americans.

On August 14, 2024, the Taliban A parade was held The terrorists passed through what was once Bagram Air Base. 10,000 spectators American weapons and vehicles abandoned in Afghanistan by the Biden-Harris administration three years ago. (Related article: Taliban celebrate third year in power by displaying U.S. military equipment at former U.S. base)

It was a brazen provocation, a reminder to all Americans of what we must do. Poor planning and execution The 2021 withdrawal came at the expense of supplies, prestige, and national security. The Biden-Harris withdrawal demonstrated to friend and foe alike that we are committed to ending a long war at all costs, rather than ending it safely and on our terms.

Additionally, the Taliban parade should serve as a reminder of those 13 brave American soldiers. Killed at Abbey Gate in Kabul airport On August 26, 2021, the last known American casualty of the war – the first American combat death in Afghanistan in eight months – was guarding a gate where thousands of panicked Afghans had gathered, desperate to catch a flight before the Taliban took over.

a Suicide bomber It exploded in the crowd.

We must never forget the sacrifices of those 13 Americans. Died at Abbey GateBut we also cannot forget the policies, or lack thereof, that led to this situation, and must ensure that it never happens again.

These deaths were the tragic outcome of a poorly conceived, planned and executed operation.

Instead of issuing policy goals or benchmarks, the Biden-Harris administration has used a calendar to set military arbitrary but politically significant withdrawals. Deadline is September 11, 2021.

The Biden-Harris administration's rush to withdraw troops from Afghanistan was done to fulfill a campaign promise. The president ordered the withdrawal to please the left wing of his party and to make good on his promise to end the “20-year war.” The administration did not seem to care about the method of withdrawal. In fact, during the withdrawal, the Biden-Harris Department of Defense was “Climate Adaptation PlanningThe ministry has developed a political plan, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to assess the impacts of climate change within the ministry.

Unlike its climate change policy, the administration had no concrete plans for withdrawal. State Department intelligence agencies said diplomats around the world were monitoring the Taliban's Territorial acquisition Despite the weakening of Afghan security forces, the Biden-Harris administration has not acted to allay these concerns. Talban offered. The Taliban asked U.S. troops to provide security in Kabul, but U.S. officials refused, giving the Taliban free reign to control Kabul and all major routes in and out of the city, with the U.S. only controlling the airport.

Finally, there were no plans to move American equipment, weapons, or other U.S. military assets prior to the withdrawal. For example, the U.S. 78 aircraft and Air-to-surface missiles: 9,524$6.54 million worth of weapons discovered in Afghanistan. It's one thing to decide to withdraw from a country, but it's another to decide to essentially supply billions of dollars worth of your own equipment and ammunition to an enemy you've been fighting for 20 years. (Related article: Three years on, Biden still hasn't said who's to blame for messy Afghanistan withdrawal)

The Biden-Harris withdrawal was a self-defeating defeat and demoralizing in every respect. This may be reflected in the rapidly declining likelihood of active-duty veterans wanting to serve and leaving the military.Military Family Lifestyle Survey Results AnnouncedAccording to the National Military Family Policy Report, the percentage of family members of active duty military members who say they are likely to encourage military service has nearly halved, from 55% in 2016 to just 32% by 2023.

The world is more dangerous than it has been in years, in large part because of the disaster in Afghanistan. We must encourage the best and the brightest to serve in our military and ensure that their lives are not put at risk for politics. The American people must demand that our civilian and military leaders be worthy of the young men and women they command. The lives lost at Abbey Gate, and the Gold Star Family To those who mourn them, show them what happens when you don't mourn.

Michael P. McKeon is a former senior official in the Department of Homeland Security, an internationally recognized anti-trafficking expert, and a senior advisor at the Center for American Security Promotion.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.

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