While the world watches America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, there’s enormous potential for human catastrophe — in the weeks, months and years ahead. At best, the future of Afghanistan is uncertain.

But what about the future of America’s role in the world? How does it impact the geopolitical landscape? What are the strategic implications for the West? What does it mean for China, Taiwan and Japan? For Russia? For Turkey? Is the new US policy in Central Asia simply one more step towards American disengagement, globally?

On this podcast, we focus on covid-19’s lasting impact on our economy and geopolitics. But what is playing out right in Afghanistan is too consequential. So we are going to dive into it today with Fred Kagan.

Fred was based in Afghanistan for a year and a half, where he was a top strategic advisor to General Petraeus, and then General McChrystal and General Allen.

As it relates to Iraq, Fred was one of the intellectual architects of the successful “surge” strategy. He is the director of the American Critical Threats Project and a former professor of military history at West Point, where he taught for ten years. His books include Lessons for a Long War and End of the Old Order: Napoleon and Europe, 1801-1805.

Fred earned his PhD in Russian and Soviet military history at Yale University.

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