Behind the Scenes of America’s Longest War | Mainstage

After the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, President Biden declared that the era of relentless war is over. According to General David Petraeus, Chairman of KKR, the scale of the war and resources devoted to war have reduced, but the Islamist extremist threat remains. Pushed by Gerard Baker, Editor at Large for The Wall Street Journal, General Petraeus expressed concern about the damage to American reputation and credibility after withdrawal, as well as the loss of operational options without bases in the region. It is hard, he said, to see this as an enhancement to national security with decreased capacity for intelligence on the ground. General Petraeus attributed the swift collapse of the Afghan government on the withdrawal of U.S. troop and contractor support. He called it a predictable epidemic of surrender. It is too early to tell, he continued, whether the Taliban will be up to the task of governing. Governance is more difficult than insurgency.

Turning to China, Baker asked if the Biden Administration is taking the correct approach. General Petraeus praised the recent deal with Australia to deliver nuclear-powered submarines and other new technologies. He stressed that the U.S. needs to focus more on trade in the region and rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership. General Petraeus suggested that a relationship with China will struggle while Xi Jinping looks toward reelection.

• It remains too early to tell whether the Taliban are up to the task of governing Afghanistan, or if the U.S. retains its ability to strike at insurgencies without troops or bases in Afghanistan.
• The U.S. should watch closely for China’s moves in the region.