You don't need me to tell you that our withdrawal from Afghanistan is Topic A. You also don't need me to tell you that taking apart the reasons behind its position in our national discussion are varied, and complicated. I want to discuss them in detail but, unfortunately, do not have the time to do so today.
At the same time, I've always been a big believer that true, lasting, effective power is the kind that comes from the bottom up, and not the top down. The people of Afghanistan have never needed the benefit of that power more than they need it now. As tragic as the current state of affairs is, there is an opportunity to "build back better" by reminding the whole world that, to borrow a phrase, Americans can always plead "not guilty" in the court of world opinion when it comes to the charge of stingy aid for our neighbors.
I'll be back here in this space in a couple of weeks, and will attempt to do a more extensive job of unpacking my views on President Biden's decision to withdraw our troops, and the effects of that decision on various issues here and around the globe. In the meantime, there are several ways that you, and I, can make an immediate difference. Nineteen of them, in fact.
Please take a few minutes to read this article, and take a look at the various ways by which you, as a private actor, can make a big difference in mitigating the damage at the street and village level that the combination of our withdrawal, and the return of the Taliban to control of the Afghan government, will do for millions of Afghan citizens, especially for Afghan women and girls.
How much you can give is never a problem. Making sure that you don't fail to give (and I have given) is essential. Please get it done with the next 24 hours.
And exercising your giving muscles will be essential to meet the other challenges we face.
See you in September.
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