AustraliaOn the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the article reflects on the legacy of the U.S.-led intervention in Afghanistan, arguing that the collapse of the Afghan Republic cannot be attributed solely to inherent cultural failures or 'orientalist stereotypes' suggesting democracy was doomed to fail. It highlights significant progress made during the 20 years of the Afghan Republic, including economic growth, expanded access to education for girls, development of civil society, and improvements in health care. However, it also acknowledges serious flaws in governance, such as excessive centralization of power, widespread corruption, electoral fraud, and the creation of an Afghan military that was overly dependent on U.S. support. The author emphasizes that while the U.S. did not fulfill its promises, the failure of Afghanistan's democratic experiment was not inevitable.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced view of both successes and failures in Afghanistan under the Afghan Republic, acknowledging the role of external factors like U.S. influence and internal challenges like corruption. It avoids overtly blaming any single group or ideology and instead focuses on systemic
