KABUL — As the United States marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, CBS News has revisited Afghanistan to examine the enduring legacy of the conflict that ended five years ago with the Taliban’s rapid resurgence to power.
Upon the departure of the last U.S. and allied troops following a brutal two-decade campaign, Taliban fighters captured billions of dollars worth of American-supplied military equipment. President Donald Trump, whose first term saw the negotiation of the peace deal facilitating the withdrawal, has publicly criticized the Biden administration for mishandling the exit, claiming it resulted in a significant loss of U.S. assets.
Today, the tangible remnants of America’s longest war remain visible across Kabul. Taliban combatants are frequently seen patrolling in armored vehicles originally provided to Afghan forces, outfitted in American tactical gear and armed with U.S. weaponry. In one instance documented by CBS News, a Humvee in the capital still bore a faded decal from the Green Bay Packers, a leftover from its previous operators.
Pentagon data released last year indicates that approximately $7 billion in hardware and weapons fell into Taliban hands during the collapse of the Afghan National Army. Shortly after the 2021 withdrawal, CBS News filmed members of
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The Packers decal is a strange detail, but kind of sad. It really shows just how many resources were abandoned in such a hurry.
I honestly did not realize the Taliban retained this much equipment five years on. How do we stop them from using it now?
Five years later and they are still using our gear. That is a staggering indictment of the entire withdrawal process.