Austin encourages discussions of prices, sacrifices of Afghanistan struggle

On the anniversary of the formal finish of the struggle in Afghanistan, Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin acknowledged many People nonetheless have questions on what the 2 decade battle achieved.

In a letter to the power Tuesday, Austin thanked veterans of the struggle and the Gold Star households of greater than 2,400 troops killed in Afghanistan. He additionally referred to as for continued counterterrorism efforts all over the world and signaled help for ongoing conversations in regards to the aftermath.

“As our nation appears again on 20 years of fight in Afghanistan, I perceive that many individuals have onerous questions in regards to the prices of the struggle and what their sacrifices meant,” he wrote. “These are vital discussions, and I hope we are going to hold having them with thoughtfulness and respect.”

The anniversary of the withdrawal punctuates solemn remembrances of the final troops killed in motion in Afghanistan: 11 Marines, one sailor and one soldier through the Aug. 26, 2021, assault on Hamid Karzai Worldwide Airport’s Abbey Gate.

RELATED

“I do know that right this moment’s tragic milestone is agonizing for the households and family members of these we misplaced at Abbey Gate,” mentioned in a message Friday. “I additionally know that that is a particularly tough time for all of us who mourn the two,461 U.S. navy personnel who misplaced their lives in our nation’s longest struggle, and for all of us who served in Afghanistan and proceed to bear the injuries of struggle.”

Trying forward, Austin pointed to the August CIA strike on Kabul that took out Ayman al-Zawahiri, the chief of al-Qaida.

“We additionally know that stopping terrorist violence requires far more than navy would possibly. We’re dedicated to supporting a whole-of-government effort to deal with the basis causes of violent extremism,” he wrote. “Nobody ought to doubt America’s resolve to maintain our individuals protected.”