Why Does Afghanistan Surprise Anyone?

Actions based on ignorance, no matter how well-intentioned, are dangerous.

Photo by Azzedine Rouichi on Unsplash

After the longest war in its history, the United States is withdrawing its military forces from Afghanistan, with all of the sad, predictable consequences that will entail. Why did U.S. government leaders think it would end otherwise — that an alien, external culture could transform Afghanistan from a tribal society into a…