Five Years After Kabul, Afghanistan's Ghost Haunts US-Iran Conflict

Five years after the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the ghost of that exit hangs over Washington as the Trump administration seeks a way to end the conflict with Iran without projecting the same image of weakness. The withdrawal concluded on August 30, 2021, after the Taliban's rapid offensive collapsed the Afghan government and military, ending America's longest war. Source: infobae

The legacy

The Biden administration defended the pullout to protect US troops and promised Kabul would not be "another Saigon," but the rushed evacuation and a deadly airport attack that killed 13 US service members and over 170 civilians tarnished America's image as a superpower. Source: diariolibree After two decades, billions invested, and more than 2,400 US soldiers killed, the Taliban have controlled the country for five years. Source: infobae

Political weapon

Trump has turned the withdrawal into a political weapon against his predecessor, blaming Biden for lost prestige, even though the Doha Accords that set the framework for the exit were signed by Trump himself in 2020. Source: diariolibree In May 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a new Pentagon review of the withdrawal and the Kabul attack, but the final report has not been released. Source: infobae

The Iran dilemma

Now, the US is embroiled in an offensive against Iran, which has shown its ability to disrupt global energy markets by blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Source: diariolibree The US has not deployed ground troops, but at least 17 US military personnel have died in Iranian attacks on bases in the Middle East, and the war is unpopular with voters ahead of key November legislative elections. Source: infobae The lesson from Kabul is not just the risk of endless wars, but the price of lacking a clear strategy. Source: infobae