A friend of mine, who’s quite well-known in political circles, has been deeply involved in efforts to rescue Afghans from Afghanistan and help them settle in the United States, something for which many credit him. He already has a full plate with his job, and there were nights when he’d work tirelessly into the early hours, hardly taking a break.
We have our fair share of political disagreements, but I genuinely respect his patriotism. He faced significant hurdles before joining the military and later volunteered in Afghanistan. However, I find myself questioning whether it’s wise to resettle Afghan refugees in the U.S.
“As soon as American troops withdrew, the soldiers there just gave up. We don’t owe them anything; they owe us.”
Sadly, it seems that some former soldiers, despite their good intentions, may feel more connected to foreign allies than to the interests of the United States, the nation they vowed to protect.
Joe Kent, a veteran and now head of the National Counterterrorism Center, has even called out on social media for the deportation of our so-called “Afghan allies.”
He expressed that, “Judging individuals in combat zones to see if they will combat our common enemies is totally different from assessing whether they should live in our country.”
Journalist Daniel Greenfield highlighted a worrying attack on two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. — a sad example of a broader pattern of violence that has occurred since we allowed many Afghans to resettle in the U.S.
Significant Disparities
Having spent time in various third-world countries, I’ve learned to be cautious about the notion of “friendship.” That’s not to say people there are fundamentally untrustworthy, but the socioeconomic divide between affluent Americans and those in poorer nations can create awkward dynamics.
What often feels like a true connection with someone can quickly turn into requests for assistance. I can’t say I blame them; I might do the same in their situation. While real friendships can develop, they’re less common than some may presume.
This issue is magnified in a country like Afghanistan, which has faced so much turmoil. It’s rather arrogant to believe that American politicians truly grasp the nuances of life there, especially after witnessing how quickly our efforts collapsed following the military exit.
Wade Miller, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and head of Citizens Reclaiming America, has countered the narrative that we need to help Afghans, stating that “many were playing both sides,” some just for financial gain, and others had longstanding feuds with the Taliban.
Moreover, none of these individuals necessarily feel a long-term loyalty to the U.S., a critical factor when it comes to residency claims.
This reality is clear to those who care to look. Unfortunately, common sense is often overshadowed by an overwhelming sympathy that blinds many, including those who’ve fought in combat.
“We don’t owe them anything.”
Miller also dispels the myth that we owe Afghans something while suggesting that we did them a favor by spending lives and resources to support them against the Taliban. But in the end, when U.S. troops withdrew, many Afghan soldiers just quit. “We don’t owe them anything; they owe us,” he argues.
This perspective, while harsh, isn’t entirely unjust. Mark Lucas, another Afghanistan veteran, pointed out troubling behaviors among some Afghans who, while allied with U.S. forces, engaged in despicable acts.
He noted that many would have harmed the women they were supposed to protect had it not been for the presence of male soldiers.
Lucas emphasized that simple questions about support for practices like child marriage or honor killings could quickly disqualify many asylum seekers, as these views starkly contradict American values.
Shockingly, one Afghan refugee in my state of Montana committed a sexual assault shortly after arriving, a fact that was, rather conveniently, downplayed by local news.
Towards a More Rational Policy
Even if we were to accept we have a duty towards those we believed helped us in Afghanistan, that obligation shouldn’t mean resettling them in America but rather finding safe havens elsewhere. If we had clearly stated from the beginning that entry into the U.S. was off the table, the number of “refugees” would likely have decreased significantly.
The idea that resettling Afghans here represents a moral imperative stems from Joe Biden’s flawed leadership. His administration, along with previous ones, exhibited an overconfidence in their ability to reshape foreign societies vastly different from our own. Their policies came off as culturally arrogant masquerading as friendship.
Let’s hope President Trump’s pledge to halt new Afghan visas and relocate post-war arrivals to third countries marks a shift towards a more sensible refugee approach that prioritizes American interests.
