The shrill ring of my phone pierced through my focus as I watched the news coverage of Taliban fighters celebrating in the streets of Kabul. It was Jane, the widow of a Marine killed in Afghanistan in 2011. Her voice, thick with tears, echoed the pain and frustration felt by countless veterans and Gold Star families. “Everything is happening too fast,” she sobbed. “It’s going to be a bloodbath, and everything you and Chris fought for will be meaningless.”
Jane’s words struck a chord deep within me. The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan was a betrayal of the promises made to our Afghan allies and a slap in the face to the sacrifices made by our service members. We had been sent to Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban and prevent another 9/11, but now our president was abandoning our allies and handing the country back to the very people who had facilitated the attacks.
Jane’s husband, Chris, was one of the many who had given their lives in service to their country. His death had left a gaping hole in her life, a hole she had spent years trying to fill. She had become an advocate for other Gold Star Families, a voice for the Afghan people, and a champion for the women and girls who were left behind in the chaos. Now, she was desperately trying to help an Afghan woman named Arianna escape the clutches of the Taliban.
As I listened to Jane’s pain and frustration, I couldn’t help but think of the countless other veterans who were struggling to cope with the moral injury inflicted upon them by the botched withdrawal. The feeling of betrayal, the realization that their sacrifices had been in vain, the overwhelming sense of hopelessness – these were the wounds that were tearing at their souls.
Over 80% of veterans from the Afghanistan War feel betrayed by the withdrawal. Suicides have spiked, and mental health issues are rampant. This is not simply a matter of post-traumatic stress; it is a deeper, moral injury that arises from the realization that their values and beliefs have been violated by those in positions of power.
The moral injury inflicted on veterans is not a partisan issue; it is a matter of national importance. It is a wound that demands accountability, not just for the sake of those who served but for the sake of our nation’s future. Without accountability, we risk losing the trust of our allies, alienating our veterans, and undermining our ability to defend our national interests.
This is a critical moment for America. We must recognize the moral depth of this issue and demand accountability for the betrayal of our allies and our veterans. We owe it to those who served, and we owe it to the future of our nation.
