After Toppling Al Qaeda, America Wasted a Staggering Amount of Money in Afghanistan
There will likely never be a full accounting of the war's cost, but as much as $600 billion might have simply vanished due to waste, fraud, and incompetence.
Military
9/11's Lesson: War Doesn't Work
Historian Stephen Wertheim says two decades of failed wars have finally made America more likely to embrace military restraint.
Americans Cheer Afghan Departure, But Criticize Chaotic Management
Shameful scenes like those in Kabul don’t have to happen if we avoid military interventions.
Rep. Peter Meijer Is 'Furious' at the White House's Afghanistan 'Lies'
In an interview, the Michigan Republican explains what he learned in Kabul, why Tucker Carlson is wrong about Afghan refugees, and how the 20-year occupation was an "abject failure."
America's Longest War Is Over
Plus: Backpage on trial, Texas abortion providers ask SCOTUS to stop ban, vegan "butter" and "cheese" are safe, and more…
This Navy Veteran Was Deported Over a One-Time Marijuana Offense. After Nearly a Decade in Exile, He's Back in the U.S.
Howard Bailey spent years serving his country, supporting his family, and running two small businesses. Then he got kicked out of the country.
Was It a U.S. Drone or an ISIS Attack That Killed 3 Adults and 7 Children Outside Kabul?
The deadly Sunday explosion is a reminder of the hundreds of civilians U.S. strikes have killed in Afghanistan.
Kabul Attack Is a Vivid Reminder of Why America Should Leave Afghanistan ASAP
The Pentagon says 12 Americans were killed and 15 more wounded in a pair of suicide attacks near the Kabul airport. At least 60 Afghans died as well.
Afghan Refugees Coming to the U.S. Aren't Unvetted Security Threats
Nativists like J.D. Vance warn that we need to be "properly vetting" the Afghans coming to the U.S., neglecting to mention just how safe these people are.
The Taliban Got Their Hands on American Military Gear Because We Invaded Afghanistan, Not Because We Withdrew
After a nearly 20-year occupation, this was one inevitable outcome.
If Government Is Good at One Thing, It's Making a Crisis Worse
The same institution that's unable to run the Postal Service or Amtrak orchestrated our invasion and withdrawal of Afghanistan.
We Will Keep Spending Trillions on the Afghanistan War Long After the Last Soldier Leaves
The final price tag could eventually exceed $6 trillion, and American taxpayers will be paying the tab when the 50th anniversary of 9/11 arrives.
Nothing Was Gained From 20 Years in Afghanistan
Why did it take presidents so long to realize this?
Facebook's Taliban Policy Could Delete a Lot More Than Just Pro-Taliban Content
Plus: Biden won't budge on Afghanistan, the link between cruise ship vaccine passports and free speech, and more...
After 18 Disastrous Years, the U.S. Should Withdraw All Troops From Iraq
I witnessed firsthand how U.S. actions that favored one group inevitably angered another, which is why the war is an endless game of whack-a-mole.
Biden: It's Time for Afghanistan Forces 'To Fight for Themselves'
Plus: YouTube and radicalization, the infrastructure sham, and more...
Resolution To Repeal 1991 and 2002 Military Force Authorizations Advances to Senate Floor
It may look like Congress is reclaiming its constitutional war powers, but the president still has plenty of ways to justify his military actions.
On Paper, Biden Is Ending the U.S. Combat Mission in Iraq. He's Actually Leaving American Troops in Danger.
Saying that American troops are in Iraq for "training and advising" and not "combat" might sound nice, but it doesn’t get them out of harm’s way.
Senate Considers Requiring Women To Register for the Draft
A proposal obtained by Politico would get rid of male-only language in an upcoming military service bill.
Don't Ask U.S. Troops To Solve Haiti's Problems
It’s unclear what a military intervention could even accomplish.
Withdrawing From Afghanistan Is Still the Right Thing To Do
Sen. Lindsey Graham says it would be Biden's "biggest mistake yet," but the U.S. troop departure is long overdue.
Denied American Visas, These Afghans Were Forced To Make a Perilous Escape After Helping U.S. Troops for Years
Unable to tap into the immigration pathway for Afghan helpers, these men and their families opted to flee elsewhere.
Government To Blame for Texas Church Shooting That Left 26 Dead, Says Court
Plus: Trump's absurd lawsuits against social media, states take aim at Google app store, and more...
Airstrikes Against U.S. Troops in Iraq Highlight Dangers of Our Presence in the Middle East
Keeping American boots on the ground means keeping them in harm's way.
The U.S. Quietly Departs Its Largest Military Base in Afghanistan
Plus: Sha'Carri Richardson might miss Olympics over positive pot test, 130 countries agree to broad strokes of a global minimum corporate tax, and more...
An Afghan Engineer Who Served the U.S. Military Had His Visa Denied Because the State Department Can't Reverify His Kidnapped Supervisor's Support
The Kafkaesque visa program for U.S.-affiliated Afghans puts thousands at grave risk.
Donald Rumsfeld, Architect of Disastrous 21st Century Foreign Policy, Dies at 88
Upon his passing, it's worth remembering how badly things can go when a man has such great power, even a man with elements of conventional decency.
House Votes To Repeal 1957 and 1991 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force
Repeal would do little to change how Congress and the president collaborate—or don't—on military operations.
RIP Mike Gravel, Unapologetic Opponent of War and Star of Absurdist Presidential Campaign Ads
A heterodox hero and committed antiwar activist, Gravel put the Pentagon Papers in the public record.
The Publication of the Pentagon Papers Still Sets an Example 50 Years Later
Whistleblowers and publishers are crucial for keeping government officials reasonably honest.
America Is Back to Bombing Syria
Plus: Remembering Steve Horwitz, Oregonians can temporarily pump their own gas, and more...
U.S. Space Force Finds 30 Kilos of Cocaine While Looking for Sea Turtles
The drug bust blurs the line between military operations and civilian law enforcement.
Repealing the 2002 AUMF Won't Be Enough To End Forever Wars
Repealing the law that allowed America to depose Saddam Hussein won't stop us from waging war elsewhere.
U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Afghanistan Almost Halfway Done, but Full Exit Isn't Assured
Even as U.S. troops come home, ongoing operations could allow a covert conflict to continue.
The U.K. Is Accelerating Resettlement Efforts for Afghan Interpreters. The U.S. Should Do the Same.
Time is running out for Afghan personnel who have aided U.S. troops.
On Memorial Day, Remember Skepticism Toward a Large, Standing Military
Thank the troops, but question the uses to which they’re put.
Afghan Interpreters Risked Everything To Help American Soldiers. Now They Might Be Left Behind.
"I am currently very afraid," an interpreter tells Reason. "I...have no doubt that I will be targeted and get killed."
Does America Need To Be Involved in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?
Neither side needs military aid funded by U.S. taxpayers.
ACLU Study Finds Obama-Era Restrictions Failed To Slow Flow of Military Gear to Police
The study comes as House Democrats press to completely abolish the Pentagon program.
Small Cracks in the Restrictive Wall of Occupational Licensing Across the Nation
With depressing job reports, why not eliminate more laws that keep people from doing jobs they want to do and people want to pay them to do?
U.S. Troops Were Supposed To Leave Afghanistan on May 1. Biden Will Keep Them There Until September.
After nearly 20 years, America's longest war could soon be over. But delaying withdrawal for what seems like symbolic reasons is questionable.
The Public Has No Real Way of Knowing How Many Troops Are Actually in Afghanistan
By playing with definitions, the military is able to keep more troops in Afghanistan than it publicly reports.
Biden Says He Wants War Authorizations Repealed
Just keep an eye on the small print. The wars might officially end while still allowing inappropriate military meddling.
Let's Finally Get Out of Afghanistan
The Biden administration should take advantage of the opportunity to cut our losses instead of continuing the forever war.
Don't Let Biden Sink Troops Back Into the Afghanistan Quagmire
We have an agreement to pull out by May. We should honor it regardless of the state of the country.
