NATE BERG | When the U.S. government officially pulled its military presence from Afghanistan, it left behind a valuable piece of real estate. The U.S. embassy in Kabul, a sprawling 15-acre complex of more than a dozen buildings and annexes, was built at an estimated construction cost of $806 million. As the Taliban takes over, it is […]
REPORT FOREIGN POLICY — Military analysts trying to understand the stunning collapse of the Afghan military is increasingly pointing to the departure of U.S. government contractors starting a month ago as one of the key turning points. The Afghans had relied on contractors for everything from training and gear maintenance to preparing them for intelligence […]
According to the Department of Defense, the U.S. military is planning to leave Afghanistan by August 31. The plan for that departure includes not just U.S. service members, but also some of the important military equipment still in the country. But, right now, the Defense Department is busy getting American citizens, Afghans with special immigrant […]
Civilian contractors have frequently played an important role in American military operations. George Washington hired civilians to haul the Continental Army's equipment; supply vendors followed the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. Indeed, today's military recognizes the use of civilian contractors as a force multiplier in stabilization efforts. Although sometimes expensive, contractors are […]
Leaving Afghanistan Will Be More Expensive Than Anyone Expects Penalties for broken contracts, fees for shipping equipment, and salaries for the Afghan military are just a few of the costs that will hit the United States as it leaves. U.S. President Joe Biden has announced the full withdrawal of U.S. and coalition forces from Afghanistan […]