Op-Ed: Lt. General Sami Sadat: President Trump can get Washington its global prestige back by helping Afghanistan
Four years ago, Afghanistan fell under the yoke of Taliban. We lost our country, our liberties and the right to exist. America lost a mission that was both strategically imperative to global security and morally right to continue.
The aftermath of the Taliban takeover has been threefold: a major humanitarian crisis expelling around 10 million Afghans and affecting all 30 million who are enslaved to Taliban’s laws. The return of Al-Qaeda to Afghanistan shortly after the Taliban took over the country — all Al-Qaeda leaders, operators, their families and their associate groups moved into Afghanistan, making it their new HQ for global operations against the United States; furthermore, the Taliban has released over 2,500 so called Islamic State fighters who were imprisoned by Afghan and U.S. forces in Pule Charkhi prison. And finally, China’s invasion of Afghan minerals, strategic deposits and locations that has far reaching global impact.
Afghanistan today is a hell for Afghans who live there — but it is a safe haven for our enemies — particularly terrorists, along with the Russians, Iranians and Chinese. Afghanistan under the Taliban is effectively an American hate club.
The day the Taliban rolled onto the streets of Kabul as victors, the American image has changed in the minds of friends and foes globally. For friends it was seen as a questionable choice to be ally to the United States — hence weakening the link with the U.S. and instead empowering the opposition to the U.S. and encouraging BRICS, trying to end dollars as global currency, and shifting alliances.
This is especially true in Africa’s Sahel and in the Middle East. For enemies this was seen as a moment to take on America — terrorists went on steroids, making major gains in Africa, Pakistan and in the Middle East, increasing recruitment and revitalizing their hope for success.
Additionally, countries like Iran, Russia, and China took that as an opportunity to make major global gains, further weakening American influence when it comes to global economies, and increasingly competing with the U.S. military as peer or near peer.
Back in Afghanistan, China is building a major highway from Xiang province to Iran via North and Western Afghanistan; China has signed contracts amounting to a staggering 20 billion dollars of Afghan rare earth metals, lithium, oil and gas, and gold. This looks like a major economic boost for Afghanistan but none of the money is going to our people; it all goes to the pockets of the corrupt Taliban leaders, and some 20 percent is allocated for Al-Qaeda.
The causation of the wars, global economic recession, high tensions among several countries could be traced back to President Joe Biden’s decision to give Afghanistan to the Taliban. Since then, the respect for U.S. prestige has dropped steadily, making China look like a winner on the global stage.
The world is much more insecure and fractured than it was before August 2021. It does not have to be like this; we can change this.
The way to make this right is setting the record straight and defeating the Taliban once and for all. This is peace through strength. This time we the Afghans will lead the fight ourselves; we do not need U.S. boots on the ground, we need access to our money that is frozen in the U.S. and political support to make this happen.
In the upcoming competition with China and an increasingly irritating India, the U.S. needs a friend in Kabul to watch over the region and provide the necessary support as a force for stabilization in South Central Asia. Afghanistan has shown that it’s the right strategic choice, a virtuous fight, and Afghans are more than capable to be a strong partner.
For the past three years, we have established a political and military organization, the Afghanistan United Front (AUF); we have the most capable military leaders from the Republic time, governors, tribal leaders, and young diplomats who have the background of being allies to the U.S. military.
Our aim is to fight back the Taliban and free our country, establish a government that ensures freedom, justice, and helps support the prosperity of our nation. We will fight with or without U.S. support; we will fight as long as it takes and as much as it takes.
In this fight, Afghans have the moral and political support of American veterans and good wishes of the global citizens. Today we have the strategy, the leadership, the manpower, and the motivation to take on the Taliban; all we need is access to our own money and assets in the U.S. and some political support by President Donald Trump to undo what Biden did.
A defeat that was delivered by Biden to Afghans and to Americans alike should be rectified and this should be turned into a victory for both our nations by President Trump.
Last year we came together with seven African and Middle Eastern nations as a coalition which I led to endorse President Trump, for we all knew he is capable and willing to bring back the peace long overdue in Afghanistan.
This is morally right and strategically imperative to global security and to American interests. Afghanistan is also known as the roof of Asia; it’s in higher ground than all her neighbours, including China, Pakistan, Central Asia and Iran, it’s strategically and geopolitically a vital ground.
It has to be controlled by Afghans and friends of American — not by our mutual enemies. It’s time we act together as partners again to show the world that American is back and that Afghans are not alone in our fight against the Taliban.
Lt. Gen. Sami Sadat, is the chairman of Afghanistan United Front — a political organization that is leading an opposition against the Taliban. General Sadat was the former Commanding General of the Afghan National Special Operations Corps. Many Al-Qaida related terror leaders were captured or killed as result of counter-terrorism operations he led. Sadat is a graduate of the Joint Services Command and Staff College at the Defence Academy of the U.K. He also holds an MA in Strategic Management and Leadership from the U.K. Charter Management Institute.