RASC News Agency: John Sopko, the former Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), has asserted that the United States was not truthful about its involvement in Afghanistan, emphasizing that deception, rather than integrity, shaped much of its engagement. Speaking at the Herat Security Conference in Madrid, Sopko disclosed that many American military officials and diplomats in Afghanistan had deliberately misrepresented the situation on the ground to secure promotions and financial gains. Sopko underscored that while American soldiers fought in Afghanistan, their commanders and diplomats fabricated reports to advance their careers. He highlighted that rampant corruption within the Afghanistan government, coupled with low morale in fighting the Taliban, contributed to the collapse of the Afghanistan Republic. However, he stressed that America itself played a crucial role in the downfall.
“Had there been genuine resistance and sustained support, the Taliban would never have been able to seize control of Afghanistan,” Sopko stated. He further criticized the deceptive practices of U.S. officials, adding: “American generals, diplomats, and contractors consistently misled the public about their actions and the true state of affairs in Afghanistan. They fabricated reports to earn promotions, exaggerated successes to secure more funding, and concealed failures to maintain their reputations.” Sopko confirmed that America’s dishonesty was a key factor in the fall of Afghanistan’s former government.
Additionally, he condemned the lack of financial oversight, remarking:”We measured our success in Afghanistan by the amount of money we spent, yet we had no proper mechanism to track how that money was actually utilized.” Sopko also asserted that the U.S. will no longer provide substantial aid to Afghanistan, and if any assistance is given, it will be minimal and symbolic. His remarks align with those of other former U.S. officials, who have previously admitted that American diplomats misrepresented the Afghanistan war, often prioritizing personal and political interests over the actual realities on the ground.
