September 2021: Afghan exit damages U.S. perception globally, leaves uncertainty for Afghanistan and neighboring countries
September 14, 2021
As the Afghan withdrawal aftermath continues, Johns Hopkins SAIS experts are commenting on the U.S.’s global reputation and what lies ahead for Afghanistan and the surrounding regions.
Eliot A. Cohen, Robert E. Osgood Professor, explained how the withdrawal impacts the U.S’s credibility globally on CNN (fast forward to 10:26 mark), telling the outlet "there’s been cumulative damage that has been done over a number of [presidential] administrations which has undermined the confidence of our allies in our good judgment, in our steadiness, in our commitment to the things that we say we stand for."
Anne Applebaum, Senior Fellow of International Affairs and Agora Fellow in Residence, examined how allies are viewing the U.S. skeptically due to its exit from Afghanistan, asking on MSNBC "what does this say about America’s willingness to remain committed to democracy, to liberal societies, and open societies in other places?"
Sergey Radchenko, Wilson E. Schmidt Distinguished, compared the similarities between the American and Russian failures in Afghanistan in The Moscow Times, writing "what is left in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal was never going to be pretty."
John McLaughlin, Distinguished Practitioner-in-Residence at the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies, discussed the Taliban working with the U.S. on intelligence issues during the withdrawal on The Lawfare Podcast (fast forward to 41:30 mark), noting "they are trying to suggest to the world that they’re not the Taliban that we [the U.S.] overthrew in 2001."
Carter Malkasian, Adjunct Lecturer of Strategic Studies, examined the challenges the Taliban faces leading Afghanistan on NPR, explaining they will want to "maintain a relationship with the international community because they realize they need the funding of the international community to be able to continue to provide those goods and services."
Vali Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of Middle East Studies and International Affairs, noted during an Asia Society webinar (dast forward to 13:20 mark) that neighboring countries in Asia and Europe have an "interest in it [Afghanistan] not falling apart and the Taliban behaving as a government, rather than behaving like a revolutionary movement like they did in the 1990’s."
Hal Brands, Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs, pointed out on the Hopkins Podcast on Foreign Affairs (fast forward to 31:06 mark) the Chinese are thrilled that the Afghan withdrawal humiliated the U.S., but "worried about what one Islamist movement in Afghanistan may mean for Islamist forces attacking infrastructure projects in Pakistan or unrest among Islamic populations in China."
Sanam Vakil, James Anderson Adjunct Professor of Middle East Studies, explained to The National how Iran sees an opportunity in Afghanistan since it has relied on the economy there to export its products, to access currency, but cautioned Iranians would like to "prevent other countries in the region from using Afghanistan as a base to infiltrate or weaken its influence."
Eliot A. Cohen, Robert E. Osgood Professor, explained how the withdrawal impacts the U.S’s credibility globally on CNN (fast forward to 10:26 mark), telling the outlet "there’s been cumulative damage that has been done over a number of [presidential] administrations which has undermined the confidence of our allies in our good judgment, in our steadiness, in our commitment to the things that we say we stand for."
Anne Applebaum, Senior Fellow of International Affairs and Agora Fellow in Residence, examined how allies are viewing the U.S. skeptically due to its exit from Afghanistan, asking on MSNBC "what does this say about America’s willingness to remain committed to democracy, to liberal societies, and open societies in other places?"
Sergey Radchenko, Wilson E. Schmidt Distinguished, compared the similarities between the American and Russian failures in Afghanistan in The Moscow Times, writing "what is left in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal was never going to be pretty."
John McLaughlin, Distinguished Practitioner-in-Residence at the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies, discussed the Taliban working with the U.S. on intelligence issues during the withdrawal on The Lawfare Podcast (fast forward to 41:30 mark), noting "they are trying to suggest to the world that they’re not the Taliban that we [the U.S.] overthrew in 2001."
Carter Malkasian, Adjunct Lecturer of Strategic Studies, examined the challenges the Taliban faces leading Afghanistan on NPR, explaining they will want to "maintain a relationship with the international community because they realize they need the funding of the international community to be able to continue to provide those goods and services."
Vali Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of Middle East Studies and International Affairs, noted during an Asia Society webinar (dast forward to 13:20 mark) that neighboring countries in Asia and Europe have an "interest in it [Afghanistan] not falling apart and the Taliban behaving as a government, rather than behaving like a revolutionary movement like they did in the 1990’s."
Hal Brands, Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs, pointed out on the Hopkins Podcast on Foreign Affairs (fast forward to 31:06 mark) the Chinese are thrilled that the Afghan withdrawal humiliated the U.S., but "worried about what one Islamist movement in Afghanistan may mean for Islamist forces attacking infrastructure projects in Pakistan or unrest among Islamic populations in China."
Sanam Vakil, James Anderson Adjunct Professor of Middle East Studies, explained to The National how Iran sees an opportunity in Afghanistan since it has relied on the economy there to export its products, to access currency, but cautioned Iranians would like to "prevent other countries in the region from using Afghanistan as a base to infiltrate or weaken its influence."
Additional Coverage
Hafed Al-Ghwell, Foreign Policy Institute Senior Fellow
Iran takes a leaf from the Taliban playbook. 09/11
Why the Middle East no longer trusts America. 09/04
Why this is not the death knell for U.S. leadership. 08/22
Anne Applebaum, Senior Fellow of International Affairs and Agora Fellow in Residence
Liberal democracy is worth a fight. 08/20
David Barno, Visiting Professor of Strategic Studies
Pentagon defends against accusations it wasn’t ready for Kabul’s fall, won’t commit to evacuating all Afghan allies. 08/18
Taliban triumph: Anatomy of a disaster in Afghanistan. 08/18
U.S. risks faltering on world stage amid chaotic Afghanistan exit. 08/14
Cities fall to Taliban. 08/09
Hal Brands, Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs
U.S. humiliation in Afghanistan does not guarantee China superpower status. 09/10
The Afghanistan War wasn’t a cynical misadventure. 08/31
Biden can leave Afghanistan but not the Middle East. 08/26
For a humiliated superpower, Vietnam shows a path back. 08/18
Biden’s Afghan withdrawal achieved nothing but disaster. 08/13
Eliot A. Cohen, Robert E. Osgood Professor
A dishonorable exit. 09/03
Pentagon defends against accusations it wasn’t ready for Kabul’s fall, won’t commit to evacuating all Afghan allies. 08/18
A moment for soul-searching. 08/16
Biden’s promise to restore competence to the presidency is undercut by chaos in Afghanistan. 08/16
Biden’s Afghanistan exit raises questions about his foreign-policy record. 08/15
How does one process defeat? 07/29
Eric Edelman, Roger Hertog Distinguished Practitioner-in-Residence at the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies
The catastrophic exit from Afghanistan. 08/04
Francis Fukuyama, Foreign Policy Institute Senior Fellow
9/11’s long shadow. 09/11
20/20 hindsight. 08/31
No decent interval. 08/16
Lisel Hintz, Assistant Professor of International Relations and European Studies
What might Turkey’s enhanced engagement in Afghanistan mean for Ankara, NATO, and for the future of Afghanistan? 08/26
Josef Joffe, Professor of the Practice of International Affairs
After the chaos in Kabul, is the American century over? 08/21
Carter Malkasian, Adjunct Lecturer of Strategic Studies
What the U.S. has learned about fighting terror since Sept. 11. 09/11
What to expect from a Taliban government. 08/19
Michael Mandelbaum, Professor Emeritus
Biden's Middle East policy challenges. 08/23
John McLaughlin, Distinguished Practitioner-in-Residence at the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies
They created our post-9/11 World. Here’s what they think they got wrong. 09/10
Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. 08/22
Why was there so little resistance when Afghanistan collapsed? 08/16
The endgame in Afghanistan: Darker clouds gather. 07/28
Afshin Molavi, Foreign Policy Institute Senior Fellow
Afghan media pioneer reflects on the future and the "disgraceful" U.S. withdrawal. 08/27
Fall of Kabul: like Trump, Biden has an 'America First' streak. It led to the disaster in Afghanistan. 08/26
Vali Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of Middle East Studies and International Affairs
Biden pledged to end the forever wars, but he might just be shrinking them. 09/08
All in or all out? Joe Biden saw no middle ground in Afghanistan. 08/29
Can Taliban turn from insurgency to governing? 08/24
Can America still help Afghanistan? Eight former officials on what’s next. 08/17
Americans and Afghans fleeing country through airport in Kabul. 08/15
U.S. deserves big share of blame for Afghanistan military disaster. 08/12
James Person, Lecturer of Korea Studies
U.S. credibility with military allies at risk over Afghanistan pullout. 08/22
Iran takes a leaf from the Taliban playbook. 09/11
Why the Middle East no longer trusts America. 09/04
Why this is not the death knell for U.S. leadership. 08/22
Anne Applebaum, Senior Fellow of International Affairs and Agora Fellow in Residence
Liberal democracy is worth a fight. 08/20
David Barno, Visiting Professor of Strategic Studies
Pentagon defends against accusations it wasn’t ready for Kabul’s fall, won’t commit to evacuating all Afghan allies. 08/18
Taliban triumph: Anatomy of a disaster in Afghanistan. 08/18
U.S. risks faltering on world stage amid chaotic Afghanistan exit. 08/14
Cities fall to Taliban. 08/09
Hal Brands, Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs
U.S. humiliation in Afghanistan does not guarantee China superpower status. 09/10
The Afghanistan War wasn’t a cynical misadventure. 08/31
Biden can leave Afghanistan but not the Middle East. 08/26
For a humiliated superpower, Vietnam shows a path back. 08/18
Biden’s Afghan withdrawal achieved nothing but disaster. 08/13
Eliot A. Cohen, Robert E. Osgood Professor
A dishonorable exit. 09/03
Pentagon defends against accusations it wasn’t ready for Kabul’s fall, won’t commit to evacuating all Afghan allies. 08/18
A moment for soul-searching. 08/16
Biden’s promise to restore competence to the presidency is undercut by chaos in Afghanistan. 08/16
Biden’s Afghanistan exit raises questions about his foreign-policy record. 08/15
How does one process defeat? 07/29
Eric Edelman, Roger Hertog Distinguished Practitioner-in-Residence at the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies
The catastrophic exit from Afghanistan. 08/04
Francis Fukuyama, Foreign Policy Institute Senior Fellow
9/11’s long shadow. 09/11
20/20 hindsight. 08/31
No decent interval. 08/16
Lisel Hintz, Assistant Professor of International Relations and European Studies
What might Turkey’s enhanced engagement in Afghanistan mean for Ankara, NATO, and for the future of Afghanistan? 08/26
Josef Joffe, Professor of the Practice of International Affairs
After the chaos in Kabul, is the American century over? 08/21
Carter Malkasian, Adjunct Lecturer of Strategic Studies
What the U.S. has learned about fighting terror since Sept. 11. 09/11
What to expect from a Taliban government. 08/19
Michael Mandelbaum, Professor Emeritus
Biden's Middle East policy challenges. 08/23
John McLaughlin, Distinguished Practitioner-in-Residence at the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies
They created our post-9/11 World. Here’s what they think they got wrong. 09/10
Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. 08/22
Why was there so little resistance when Afghanistan collapsed? 08/16
The endgame in Afghanistan: Darker clouds gather. 07/28
Afshin Molavi, Foreign Policy Institute Senior Fellow
Afghan media pioneer reflects on the future and the "disgraceful" U.S. withdrawal. 08/27
Fall of Kabul: like Trump, Biden has an 'America First' streak. It led to the disaster in Afghanistan. 08/26
Vali Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of Middle East Studies and International Affairs
Biden pledged to end the forever wars, but he might just be shrinking them. 09/08
All in or all out? Joe Biden saw no middle ground in Afghanistan. 08/29
Can Taliban turn from insurgency to governing? 08/24
Can America still help Afghanistan? Eight former officials on what’s next. 08/17
Americans and Afghans fleeing country through airport in Kabul. 08/15
U.S. deserves big share of blame for Afghanistan military disaster. 08/12
James Person, Lecturer of Korea Studies
U.S. credibility with military allies at risk over Afghanistan pullout. 08/22
International Coverage
Daniel Serwer, Foreign Policy Institute Senior Fellow
Analysis and discussion of the end of the U.S. withdrawal in Afghanistan. (Fast forward to 0.58 mark) 08/30
U.S. forces head to Kabul to evacuate diplomats. (Fast forward to 13:10 mark) 08/13
Analysis and discussion of the end of the U.S. withdrawal in Afghanistan. (Fast forward to 0.58 mark) 08/30
U.S. forces head to Kabul to evacuate diplomats. (Fast forward to 13:10 mark) 08/13
The Brief highlights Johns Hopkins SAIS expertise on current events and is produced monthly by the Office of Marketing, Communications and Community Engagement.