Independent commission holds first public hearing on U.S. war in Afghanistan
The independent commission tasked by Congress with scrutinizing the 20-year U.S. war in Afghanistan commenced its inaugural public hearing. The commission, comprising 16 members, including military experts and policy analysts, convened at the headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars to commence what promises to be a thorough examination of America’s longest war.
Co-chair Colin Jackson set the tone for the hearing, emphasizing the commission’s commitment to a rigorous and unflinching review of key decisions made throughout the conflict. “Our focus is on extracting and applying lessons for the future,” he declared, stressing the importance of learning from both successes and failures rather than assigning blame.
The hearing, occurring just over a month ahead of the third anniversary of the chaotic U.S. troop withdrawal and the Taliban’s seizure of Kabul, marks a significant milestone in the commission’s mandate. Over 800,000 U.S. servicemembers were deployed during the war, which began in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks orchestrated by al Qaeda from Afghanistan.
Throughout the conflict, 2,238 U.S. servicemembers lost their lives, and nearly 21,000 were wounded. The toll on Afghan security forces and civilians, according to independent estimates, exceeds 100,000 lives lost.
Former Pentagon official Colin Jackson, who served as a civilian adviser in Afghanistan, highlighted the unprecedented nature of the commission’s task. “This comprehensive, in-depth study is the first of its kind initiated by Congress,” he remarked, underscoring the need for a critical examination of strategic decisions and their implementation.
The commission’s first witness, former U.S. Ambassador Ronald Neumann, brought a perspective informed by his experience in Vietnam and Afghanistan. He urged the commission to scrutinize how policy decisions were translated into action on the ground, lamenting that crucial lessons from Vietnam were not adequately applied to Afghanistan.
Key among Neumann’s concerns was the turnover of top officers, likening it to an “institutional frontal lobotomy” that hampers the transfer of critical knowledge across leadership transitions.
As the commission embarks on its investigative journey, it aims to deliver its findings by August 2026, with a mandate to delve into what worked, what didn’t, and why, in the hopes of informing future U.S. military strategies and international interventions.
The public hearing concluded with a pledge from the commission to pursue its mission with unwavering dedication, promising to shed light on the complexities and consequences of America’s engagement in Afghanistan over the past two decades.
