Rep. Lynch on Afghanistan: ‘We wanted it more for them than they wanted it for themselves’

U.S. Reps. Lynch, Keating reflect on American withdrawal from Afghanistan

Patriot Ledger

By Mary Whitfill

QUINCY – Days after the United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, local elected officials are reflecting on a chapter of military history likely to be remembered for colossal failures, unfulfilled promises and a frantic final exit. 

The last of American troops in Afghanistan left the country Monday night, Aug. 30, marking an end to the 20-year war. The withdrawal was a messy one that included a suicide bombing attack near Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport on Thursday, Aug. 26. Thirteen U.S. service members, an Afghan news agency founder and three British citizens were among the dead. 

As of Wednesday, Sept. 1, more than 100 American citizens were still awaiting evacuation from Afghanistan and the public has slammed President Joe Biden and military leaders for the hasty and deadly exit. 

South Shore U.S. Reps. Stephen Lynch and William Keating have spent their careers in federal office heavily involved in foreign affairs and politics. Lynch represents much of Norfolk County, including Quincy, and Keating’s district stretches from Norwell to Cape Cod, including Rockland, Plymouth and Marshfield.

Lynch, who has visited Iraq and Afghanistan more than 30 times, said he agreed with Biden’s decision to leave  Afghanistan “after we lost thousands of our best and brightest and spent more than $80  billion training more than 1 million soldiers, just to have (Afghan natives) just basically walk and let the Taliban take their cities and towns without any resistance.”

“I don’t think another day spent by our sons and daughters would have made a difference,” Lynch said. “Our sacrifice was meant to give the Afghans a chance at democracy, at freedom, at full citizenship for their daughters and wives. … They didn’t want it. We wanted it more for them than they wanted it for themselves.”