Twenty-five years after the September 11th attacks, British veterans who served in Afghanistan are voicing deep disillusionment with the outcome of the two-decade-long war, describing their sacrifices as a "pointless waste of time."
The war on terror, initiated in response to Al-Qaeda's orchestrated attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, saw Western allies engage in prolonged conflict in Afghanistan. However, the Taliban rapidly regained control of the country within ten days of NATO's withdrawal in August 2021, establishing a regime that has since imposed severe restrictions on women and girls' education, suppressed the press, and eliminated the right to a fair trial.
Personal Sacrifices and Lingering Questions
British veterans shared their experiences, highlighting the significant human cost of the conflict. A total of 457 British soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, with an additional 2,000 wounded. Many more have contended with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or faced homelessness upon their return.
Ben McBean, a former Royal Marine Commando who lost his right leg and left arm to an IED explosion in 2008, expressed his frustration. "I'm proud of what we did on the ground but the whole thing was an absolute waste of time because we have nothing to show for it," McBean stated. He recalled a time when Afghan girls could attend school, a freedom that has since been revoked. "The country has gone back to how it was before we went in," he observed.
Gemma Gardner, a former sergeant, recounted witnessing soldiers being brought into the medical tent with severe injuries from IEDs during her deployment in 2009. She also saw British soldiers repatriated in coffins on a daily basis while stationed at Camp Bastion, an experience that took a significant emotional toll.
"A lot of us are angry and frustrated in the aftermath when we think about what we had to do with no way to then process it afterwards," Gardner said. She questioned the objectives of the mission in 2009, noting a lack of clear understanding beyond what was presented in the news.
Jack Cummings, who lost both his legs above the knee in an IED explosion in 2010, described the situation in Afghanistan as "absolutely heartbreaking." He feels "pure frustration and anger" over the West's abandonment of the country.
Unraveling Twenty Years of Effort
Western nations invested trillions of dollars in the Afghanistan war, with Britain alone spending an estimated £22.2 billion. Despite two decades of military presence and efforts to establish a stable Afghan government and army, the Taliban's swift takeover in 2021 demonstrated the fragility of those achievements.
Images from the withdrawal depicted chaos in Kabul, with Taliban fighters subsequently seen in Western uniforms and wielding American-supplied weapons, raising concerns that this equipment is now being used to suppress the Afghan population. The withdrawal also left countless civilians under the rule of a regime that has systematically dismantled human rights protections, banned female education, and stifled press freedom.
Veterans like McBean and Cummings expressed a sense of betrayal by politicians who, in their view, have forgotten the sacrifices made. "I feel pure frustration and anger over how the country collapsed so quickly, with the amount of lives lost and the money and effort spent," Cummings said. He added that while he is proud of his service, he questions the ultimate worth of the war, given Afghanistan's current state.