ARLINGTON, Va. — William Ruger, Vice President of Research and Policy at Stand Together Trust, had this to say in recognition of 18 years of U.S. engagement in Afghanistan:
“Today’s 18-year anniversary of the U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan is a sobering reminder of just how long Americans have been fighting this “endless war.” The war we launched in 2001 was necessary and just. We needed to decimate Al Qaeda, kill or capture Bin Laden, and punish the Taliban government for supporting these terrorists. But we satisfied those important goals – and staying any longer isn’t necessary for our interests. Instead, we are in a “forever war” without much strategic purpose that is older than many of the recruits eligible to fight in it.
A prolonged presence in the region serves only to further endanger the lives of our men and women in uniform without making us safer at home. After more than 6,000 days of fighting, thousands of lives lost, and over a trillion dollars spent, it’s time to not only bring our troops home but also to rethink the foreign policy that has allowed us to become embroiled in endless wars.”
Stand Together Trust is working to expand public debate about what type of foreign policy will make us safer and more secure. Find out more below:
War Is the Least Conservative Undertaking – An Interview with Dr. William Ruger
For media requests, please contact:
Rachel Tripp
rtripp@standtogether.org
(571) 481-0783