SIGAR: American Report Reveals “US Blunders” in [Failed] Two-Decade-Long Afghanistan Invasion! (2.2.2026)

Blogger’s Note: It may be that the US invasion of Afghanistan (2001-2020) will be historically viewed (when analysed objectively) as a far more comprehensive “defeat” for American neo-imperialistic intentions than either the US invasion of Korea (partly in 1945 in the South at the end of WWII – and then in the North between 1950-1953) and Vietnam (either covertly or overtly) between 1955-1975. The US mentality involves throwing bullets and money at problems – but considering the fact the US possessed weaponry of a far more advanced and destructive capability than the malnourished enemy (which carried rusty AK-47s – and were motivated by Islamic and Islamo-fascist ideology) – it is astonishing that after “20-years” – no military victory was won and no political socio-economic vision was accomplished. The US reduces countries to rubble (just look at Libya and Syria) – and refers to this wanton destruction as “freedom” (since 1945 to present – the US has killed around 30-million people around the world in the name of this “freedom”). When the Russians betrayed their Revolution in 1991 – the US was permitted to steal billions from the Soviet economy the workers had spent decades earning and establishing. Between 1991-2001 – around 10 million Russians died of starvation, homelessness, and medical neglect as a caring and uplifting Socialism was replaced by an uncaring (predatory) capitalism. This disaster was ignored in the West and viewed as “normal”. Only the rise of Putin saved the Russian people and put a post-Soviet Russia on an even keel. Ironically, it was the US that formulated Islamofascism in the mid to late 1970s (under Carter) – as a means to undermine the indigenous Socialism being developed in Afghanistan. It was the Red Army that first fought the “Mujahadeen” (later the “Taliban”) which was funded and armed by the US between 1979-1989. Al Qaeda and ISIS developed out of this anarcho-fascist Islamic trend and whilst never attacking Israel – carried-out a number of terrorist-attacks on the US – notably the 1993 and 2001 terror-attacks in New York (the former on February 26th – the latter on September 9th). ACW (2.2.2026)

China Daily 2026-02-02

The final report of the United States Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction reads less like an audit and more like an autopsy. Released in December, the report systematically exposes the failures and culpability of the U.S. two-decade “reconstruction” in Afghanistan. Drawing on nearly a thousand audits and investigations, the report reveals that the U.S. intervention, which cost over $148 billion, failed to deliver so-called “democracy”. Instead, it degenerated into a farce riddled with strategic miscalculations, rampant corruption and significant civilian suffering.

The main cause of the systemic failure was the fundamental miscalculation of trying to create a “democratic utopia”. Washington sought to reshape the war-torn country, characterized by low development and distinct tribal and religious traditions, into a Western-style “democratic model”. The approach disregarded Afghanistan’s historical traditions and complex national conditions.

The U.S. Afghanistan policy was also fraught with internal contradictions. The SIGAR report highlighted that the government set impractical timelines, equating rapid spending with reconstruction progress, which directly fueled corruption and rendered many projects ineffective.

Rampant corruption turned the $148 billion into a “fat lamb to be divided” for interest groups. As of September 2025, SIGAR had identified 1,327 cases of waste, fraud, and abuse, involving over $26 billion. More than 17 percent of congressional appropriations were squandered or embezzled. The “ghost soldier” phenomenon was widespread, with Pentagon overpaying hundreds of millions in salaries.

Arrogance and closed-mindedness also characterized the U.S. decision-making on Afghanistan. At the Bonn Conference, Washington deliberately excluded the Taliban from the political process for Afghanistan. In 2020, it made a hasty withdrawal decision without adequately consulting the Afghan government. Several former senior U.S. officials have admitted that the country never truly understood Afghanistan and that its intervention was doomed to fail.

Washington’s ineffective control over corruption was the crux of the problem. The absence of effective fund-tracking mechanisms and the use of decentralized accounts made fraud detection difficult. Some U.S. officials pursuing “political success” deliberately overlooked clues of wrongdoing and even thwarted investigations.

Furthermore, civilians were neglected. While Washington claimed to improve livelihoods, Afghanistan’s core development indicators remained among the world’s worst. One-third of Afghans faced acute food shortages, life expectancy was just 59.1 years in 2021, far below the global average, and female literacy was under 30 percent. Besides, the U.S. colluded with corrupt Afghan warlords to pursue short-term security interests, ignoring their exploitation of civilians and sexual violence against women.

Failing to establish sustainable social reform mechanisms in Afghanistan, the U.S. so-called rights protections unraveled instantly after its troops withdrew. The security situation was equally devastating. The U.S. military actions in Afghanistan deviated from the original “counter-terrorism” purpose, becoming a source of instability.

The U.S. reliance on airstrikes and special operations to counter “insurgency” targeted civilian villages and resulted in the internal displacement of over 3.5 million Afghans — one of the world’s largest. Besides, its post-withdrawal freezing of $7 billion Afghan state assets in the U.S. put further pressure on the country’s economy.

The U.S. is primarily responsible for this failure. It must stop evading accountability and acknowledge its culpability in Afghanistan. Washington must reform its foreign intervention decision-making processes. The U.S. think tanks should abandon the illusory narrative of “democracy export” and instead provide policy recommendations.

Second, Washington should economically compensate Afghanistan by unconditionally unfreezing the country’s overseas assets, establishing a dedicated compensation fund for affected civilians and fully delivering its committed humanitarian aid through neutral channels such as the United Nations without any political condition. The unilateral sanctions on Afghanistan should also be lifted, allowing the country to participate in normal international trade and the global financial system.

Third, it must respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty and cease interference. History has proven that external intervention is the root cause of Afghan turmoil. The U.S. should respect the Afghan people’s right to independently determine their future and stop exploiting Afghanistan as a pawn to contain other regional countries.

Fourth, the U.S. should aid Afghanistan in post-withdrawal reconstruction and development, focusing on fundamental sectors such as agriculture, health care and education to help the country develop self-sustaining capabilities.

In this context, China’s stance on the issue offers valuable references. China has consistently adhered to the principle of noninterference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, respecting its sovereignty and independence while playing a constructive role. It has promoted dialogue and consultation among Afghan parties to build a consensus on peace. Since 2021, China has consistently supplied food, medicine, and vaccines, benefiting millions of Afghan people. It is committed to integrating Afghanistan into the Belt and Road Initiative, enhancing collaboration in energy, minerals, and infrastructure and expanding imports of Afghan goods. China also aims to improve Afghanistan’s connectivity with neighboring countries and facilitate its integration into the regional economic system. It maintains close cooperation with Afghanistan and its neighbors, firmly opposes the cross-border spread of terrorism, and actively promotes regional security and stability.

The final SIGAR report has, with solid evidence, exposed that instead of bringing stability and “democracy” to Afghanistan, the U.S. intervention resulted in corruption, civilian suffering and regional instability. Moving forward, Washington should learn from these lessons, compensate the country, and collaborate with the international community to support genuine peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan.

Editor: Zhao Li