RASC News Agency: General Kenneth McKenzie, former Commander of the U.S. Central Command, recently stated that the Iraq War diverted the United States’ critical attention away from Afghanistan. McKenzie emphasized that this shift in focus allowed the Taliban to reorganize and rebuild strength. Initially, he noted, the Taliban were relatively weakened, but as U.S. priorities shifted to Iraq, the group found the space to solidify and regain momentum.
McKenzie further highlighted that the U.S. mission in Afghanistan was crucial to countering terrorist threats. He underscored the importance of the U.S. presence there in securing peace and safeguarding American interests. “The Taliban were a terrorist group,” he said, “feared even by Afghanistani citizens who had suffered under their brutal rule.” Reflecting on strategic decisions, he added, “The U.S. should have prevented insurgents from finding refuge in Pakistan. We made critical military missteps in Afghanistan foremost among them was failing to eliminate Osama bin Laden in the early stages.”
McKenzie recounted that bin Laden had been within the reach of U.S. forces at one point, but an early plan to capture or eliminate him was not prioritized a decision he described as a major error. Other American officials have also expressed regret over not taking decisive action against bin Laden sooner. As the leader of al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden operated in Afghanistan under the Taliban’s protection, even actively fighting against the Northern Alliance led by Ahmad Shah Massoud.
Al-Qaeda has continued to support the Taliban over the past two decades, maintaining its presence alongside the group in Afghanistan.
