Good morning,

When the United States completed its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan five years ago, many Americans feared that the country would once again become a safe haven for terrorists. But as Carter Malkasian wrote in an essay earlier this year, “nothing of the sort occurred.” In fact, the Taliban have largely contained terrorism, refrained from ruthless oppression, and ushered in the country’s longest stretch of peace since 1979. Malkasian, who advised U.S. officials on and off during the war, writes movingly on why so many American leaders and policy advisers, himself included, “so badly misjudged the risk of withdrawing”—and what the United States risks today by collectively forgetting the “anguish” of Afghanistan. 

Until next week,