Hi there,

Some folks have asked for my input as they've sorted through the different reactions to President Biden's decision to end the war in Afghanistan. No one wants war forever, but they still feel uncertain.

That's normal. Ending a war is never a simple matter -- especially this particular war. In fact, despite working in Afghanistan as a civilian advisor in 2011, visiting in 2019, and serving on the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees today -- I also struggled with what to do.

But after significant thought, here are some of the key reasons why I support President Biden's plan to withdraw all US forces by September 11 of this year, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

[A photo of ground zero in downtown Manhattan, taken shortly after the 9/11 attacks]
I took this photo at GroundZero, and had it with me while I worked in Kabul. It's now in my congressional office. We must never forget that tragic day, nor the Americans we lost.
When Congress first authorized the war, its sole objective was to stop future attacks. Al Qaeda in Afghanistan is currently decimated. Their level of activity and organization has been low for years now, and Bin Laden was killed a decade ago. So, what is driving the debate about ending the war?

Well, over the years, the war effort and our mission have expanded from their original authorization. As that authorization has expanded, so have our commitments: Congress has appropriated more than $143 billion to support the reconstruction of the Afghan government, military, and civil society. Which begs the question: When will it be enough?

[A photo of Andy Kim walking down a road in Afghanistan with General John Allen and two others. The photo includes a thank you message written at its lower margin, addressed to Andy, from General Allen.]
A thank-you photo from General John Allen. I was honored to serve as a Civilian Advisor to Gens. Petraeus and Allen in Afghanistan. Those experiences deeply inform my perspective, and the safety and sacrifices of our service members are always front-of-mind for me in this discussion.
One of the principal fears weighing on some folks' minds is that Al Qaeda could reconstitute as quickly as ISIS did in Syria and Iraq. Simply put, conditions are different in Afghanistan: ISIS Khorasan was the main threat I worried about when I visited Afghanistan in late 2019. But, their position in eastern Afghanistan was deeply damaged over the last year -- including by the Taliban.

Overall, as details emerge in Afghanistan, I'm paying close attention to the structure of our intelligence operations and whether we can maintain any surveillance from unmanned drones. Essentially, how do we maintain eyes on potential terrorist growth?

However, we also have to recognize that our ability to shape the future of Afghanistan doesn't exist in drones and guns alone. We still have capable diplomats on the ground and economic tools that can help provide the kind of stability needed for long-term success.

One time in the Situation Room, I remember hearing President Obama say, “The one thing in this room I never ask for is a guarantee.” That line lingers with me. Our nation has significant power, but we cannot conflate power with control -- especially on matters of war and peace.

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An Oval Office meeting with President Obama. I'm deeply grateful for the leadership lessons I gained from my time as a White House National Security Advisor and mindful of the incredible responsibility our leaders have to wield their powers judiciously.
So, while I believe it's time to end this war, we also must recognize that we are embarking on a new direction that carries inherent risks. As the last soldier leaves this year, we'll turn a page on this era. But what comes next? What will define this new era, both for us and for Afghanistan?

In the coming weeks, I'll share my thoughts on the new chapter of global politics that's about to begin on my Twitter page. I also hope sharing these thoughts may have helped inform your own. I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve my country and my community, and for our shared commitment to finding the right path forward together -- both here at home and abroad. >> [link removed]

-- Andy

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