Afghanistan war’s lingering responsibilities

Joe Laude, executive director of Operation Allies Refuge Foundation, reflected on the difficult decisions made during the 2021 evacuation of Kabul, where approximately 123,000 people were evacuated from Afghanistan.

Laude, a former Marine, and others who participated in the 20-year war experienced what psychologists call moral injury, the psychological harm from witnessing or participating in actions that violated their values. This injury stemmed from the responsibility they felt toward Afghan colleagues and friends as the Taliban regained control.

For two decades, American soldiers, diplomats, and aid workers collaborated with Afghan interpreters, journalists, and other civilians, building relationships founded on shared risk and trust. When the U.S. withdrew, many Americans felt a sense of betrayal and a failure to protect those who had assisted them. Lida Kharooti Sayeed, a former Afghan judge, expressed gratitude for the Americans who tried to help her, even as she rebuilds her life as a visiting scholar at William & Mary Law School.

Laude channeled his guilt and sense of responsibility into founding OAR, an organisation supporting veterans with moral injury and providing humanitarian aid. He and others find meaning in continuing to support their Afghan partners, believing these relationships offer a path toward healing and reaffirm the value of their service. Despite the political failures surrounding the withdrawal, these enduring relationships demonstrate that the connections forged during the war still matter to those involved, and obligations to one another persist.