Why We Must Destroy Bagram Air Base

Regarding “A Dishonest Afghan Accounting," Review & Outlook, September 1, I would like to add a point: The need to destroy Bagram Air Base in order to deprive China-the Taliban's new benefactor-from using it to project its military influence in the region as well as a concrete symbol that it is has replaced the US as the preeminent foreign power in the Middle East. A few “mother of all bombs” would do the trick.

Abandoning Bagram will go down as one of the greatest military blunders in American history. Located thirty miles from Kabul, the US,with more troops temporarily deployed, could have created a secure route to the base for Americans and SIV holders, warning the Taliban not to interfere or they would be killed. Instead, Biden’s national security team inexplicably chose to evacuate from Kabul airport, ceding control of airport access to the Taliban. This, of course, resulted in chaos and, the death of thirteen service members who would not have been killed if they were at Bagram.


Lawrence L.Tracy
Colonel, U.S. Amy (Ret.)
Chevy Chase, MD.