An Update from CUFI Action Fund
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Tragedy has befallen Afghanistan. As Pastor John Hagee, the founder and
Chairman of Christians United for Israel (CUFI) recently noted, "While
there may be no easy answers to Afghanistan's history of troubles,
there could have been an organized and professional effort to ensure
that every American and every person who aided our efforts there these
past twenty years, was able to exit the country. To our utter shame,
that is not the case."

In this week's Action Update we discuss the implications of the
Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan just weeks shy of the 20th
anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

How did We Get Here?

There is no simple conclusion to the question posed above. Some
partisans will likely try to put the blame entirely on President Biden,
who's withdrawal from Afghanistan, including his appalling misjudgment
about the effectiveness of the Afghan armed forces and the disorderly
and unprofessional evacuation of American and allied personnel, has
caused images in Kabul reminiscent of scenes from America's retreat
from Saigon. Others, equally as partisan, will put the blame entirely on
President Trump who made a deal in February of last year with the
Taliban.

Some months after President Trump's agreement with the Taliban,
several Republican Senators expressed misgivings. Discussing a
unilateral withdrawal of forces, Sen. Marco Rubio encapsulated the
sentiment of the time when in November 2020 he said, "The concern
would be it would turn into a Saigon-type of situation where it would
fall very quickly and then our ability to conduct operations against
terrorist elements in the region could be compromised."

Likewise, Sen. Mitch McConnell noted at the same time, "A disorganized
retreat would jeopardize the track record of major successes this
administration has worked hard to compile."

Neither President Trump nor President Biden headed these and other
warnings. And as in most catastrophes, no one person or policy is to
blame. There is plenty of blame to go around, and it stretches back
decades.

Enter Iran

Not long after the Taliban swept into Kabul, the Iranian government
issued a statement welcoming the American "defeat." Despite the fact
that the Taliban and the Iranian regime make somewhat strange
bedfellows, it does not come as a surprise that the Tyrants of Tehran
would welcome the disgraceful series of events that has taken place in
Afghanistan in recent weeks.

Iran has also harbored al-Qaeda operatives over the years, another odd
yet real relationship. As al-Qaeda reconstitutes itself in Taliban
controlled Afghanistan, Tehran will no doubt continue to look for ways
to work with this group as far as their common enemies: the United
States and Israel.   

Perhaps more instructive than Iran's foolish commentary, is the
reminder that any deal struck with someone as evil as the Taliban, such
as with the regime in Iran, isn't worth the paper it's printed on.
Perhaps the Biden administration will learn that one cannot sign an
agreement with terrorists and call it a day. And one can never trust an
adversary who remains unapologetically bent on your own destruction.

Now What?

The people of Afghanistan are not the only ones who will suffer as a
result of their country's fall back into Taliban hands - though they
will, severely. Al Qaeda remains a key Taliban ally, and terrorists will
begin to setup camp, just as they did before 9/11, in the country.

Hamas, which has a religious-ideological connection to the Taliban
welcomed the American "downfall" in Afghanistan and will no doubt be
emboldened by the Taliban's swift rise. Taliban and Hamas leaders met
just weeks ago. In sum, the threat of terrorism will become more
apparent as a result of the massive safe haven Afghanistan has become to
jihadis of all stripes.

In the coming weeks, months, and years, we will hear and read about
great suffering in Afghanistan. As such, we conclude this email as we
began, with the words of CUFI's Chairman Pastor John Hagee, "Today,
I ask that you join me in praying for all those still in Afghanistan. I
ask that you pray for the brave men and women of the US armed forces
risking their lives to ensure that as many of our countrymen and allies
as possible are able to flee.  I ask that you pray for the women of
Afghanistan who will now, at best, know only second-class citizenship. I
ask that you pray for the free thinkers who will now be forced to hide
their thoughts. And I ask that you join me in praying for all those who
will now be forced to live under the brutality of the Taliban's
totalitarian regime."

Sincerely,

CUFI Action Fund Team

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