After two decades, the United States this week completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war and closing a sad chapter in military history. Ripon College political scientist Marty Farrell says it’s likely to be remembered for colossal failures, unfulfilled promises and frantic final exit that cost the lives of 13 service members, some barely older than the war. The goals were to drive the Taliban out of power and stopping Afghanistan from being used by al Qaeda as a base to attack the United States. But Farrell says 20 years later, the Taliban is back in power and Isis-k is still a force. More than 2,400 Americans lost their lives in the long war.
