Black Alliance for Peace Unveils Who's Behind Drive to Keep United States in Afghanistan

The Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) Solidarity Network's Afghanistan Committee produced information on a group of high-powered individuals who are trying to keep the United States in Afghanistan past the May 1 deadline set out in the U.S.-Taliban agreement brokered in 2020.

The Afghanistan Study Group (ASG) appears to be driving for a prolonged U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. The ASG is a bipartisan group of financial, political and foreign policy elites:

- Former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), who serves on the boards of Caterpillar and Newscorp;
- Retired General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., who led U.S. forces in Afghanistan and now serves on the board of Lockheed Martin; and
- Nancy Lindborg, who worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development

The ASG recommends the United States abandon the peace agreement and disregard the May 1 deadline in favor of a conditions-based withdrawal. Its proposal would require at minimum a $50 billion/year economic support package until U.S. objectives are met.

"The ASG is attempting to keep the United States in Afghanistan because it represents big business, neocons and military contractors," says Zach Kerner, a member of the BAP Solidarity Network. "Keeping troops in Afghanistan means violence is likely to increase."

In fact, the Solidarity Network's analysis of the positions of the ASG concludes that if the U.S. fails to abide by the agreement it would almost inevitably result in military clashes between the Taliban and U.S. forces.

"The ASG’s recommendation guarantees a huge increase in troops," says Danny Haiphong, co-coordinator of the BAP Solidarity Network. "This would lead to more war and instability in Afghanistan and throughout the region."

The BAP Solidarity Network encourages anti-imperialist, anti-war activists and organizations to use a fact sheet on the Afghanistan Study Group in teach-ins. It also asks people to sign a petition to demand the Biden administration exit Afghanistan. Beyond that, it has developed a template to help the U.S. public write letters to the editors of news organizations to demand an end to the U.S. intervention.

No to the New Cold War!
U.S./NATO Out of Afghanistan!

Banner photo: Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with reporters on Sunday after meeting with the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani. The defense secretary declined to comment on a withdrawal deadline for U.S. troops tentatively set for May 1. (Afghan Presidential Palace, via Reuters)