Top U.S. military official expresses regrets over Afghanistan war outcome

In a candid interview with ABC News, the top-ranking military official acknowledged that, "in a broader sense, the war was lost."

Gen. Milley emphasized that the way the conflict concluded was far from what he had anticipated. He pointed out the strategic setback and failure when the enemy, the Taliban, took control of the Afghan capital, Kabul. "And there's no way you can describe that as a strategic success," he added.

The general highlighted the extended duration of the conflict, with U.S. forces engaged against the Taliban and their allies for over two decades. He acknowledged the complexity of the situation, noting, "Sure, lots of regrets by a lot of us from, from 9/11 on."

Gen. Milley also emphasized that wars are not lost in the final days or months but rather result from the cumulative effects of numerous twists and turns over many years. He expressed the belief that, when the final history of the conflict is written, it will reveal many lessons learned and decisions that could have been made differently. He reiterated his profound regrets, particularly for the loss of every single soldier in Afghanistan, which numbered 2,400 U.S. service members.

The interview sheds light on the sobering assessment of the Afghanistan war's outcome by one of the highest-ranking military officials in the United States, as the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of its involvement in the conflict. (ILKHA)