This archive report was first published on 11 November 2019.
On Veterans Day, the US is deploying approximately 200,000 troops abroad. The Eurasia Group Foundation, a non-profit seeking to make public debates about US foreign policy more inclusive, interviewed five veterans from diverse backgrounds who oppose continuing the war in Afghanistan.
These veterans, who served in Afghanistan or supported the war effort, share their personal stories of the conflict's futility. They argue that the US should withdraw all troops from Afghanistan, as the war's outcome will remain unchanged regardless of the number of American lives lost.
February saw a significant shift in public opinion, with The New York Times editorial board calling for an end to the Afghan war. A Pew survey conducted this summer found that the majority of Americans, including veterans, believe the war has not been worth fighting.
The interviewed veterans include Lyle Jeremy Rubin, who served in the Marine Corps from 2006 to 2011; Donald White, who served in the Marines from 2005 to 2014 and had three tours in Afghanistan; Arti Walker-Peddakotla, who served in the Army from 2000 to 2006; Danny Sjursen, who served in the Army from 2001 to 2019, including combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan; and Daniel L. Davis, who served in the Army for 21 years, including four combat tours, and was awarded a Bronze Star for valor in the first Gulf War and another for service in Afghanistan.
