| Dear Friends, A recent report claimed that a U.S. Air Force C-17 transport aircraft landed at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan this past week. While the Pentagon hasn’t confirmed, the possibility raises serious questions—and potential opportunities—for American security in the region. Given the current instability in the Middle East and rising threats from China and Iran, this development could signal a long-overdue shift in strategy, forcing us to reflect on the significance of what was lost. Bagram Air Base was never just another installation—it was the linchpin of American operations in Afghanistan. Its location allowed the U.S. to project power across the Middle East, helping to deter Iran and counter China’s creeping influence in the region. The loss of Bagram severely limited our ability to respond to these threats, maintain intelligence assets, and support American allies. The Biden Administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 emboldened America’s adversaries, compromising both U.S. national security and regional stability. The surrender of Bagram was symbolic of that failure, a physical reminder of promises broken, allies left behind, and enemies encouraged. Americans bravely fought and bled for two decades in Afghanistan. To walk away with little to show for it—no strategic presence, no leverage, no security guarantees—was a betrayal of that sacrifice. While we may not be able to undo all the damage, we must endeavor to restore American strength and credibility in the region and across the world. Follow Veterans on Duty on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and subscribe to our newsletter to join the fight to uphold a foreign policy that honors the sacrifices of our veterans and protects our future. Together, we can restore American strength. |
| Signed, Veterans On Duty |
Honoring Sacrifice
