Opinion: Abandoning Afghans who worked with U.S. hurts our credibility

Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth aim to revive the warrior culture in the U.S. Armed Forces, emphasizing a commitment to not leave anyone behind. However, the administration's recent decisions, including halting the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), have resulted in leaving 1,600 vetted Afghans, who aided U.S. forces in Afghanistan, without support and at risk of Taliban retribution. With foreign aid frozen and processing stalled, many of these individuals now face imminent danger, highlighting a profound disregard for U.S. commitments made to those who served alongside American troops.

Shawn VanDiver emphasized the urgent dangers facing Afghans who aided U.S. troops, stating they are considered traitors by the Taliban and are at extreme risk of execution.

Trump's decision to halt the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) left thousands of vetted Afghans in limbo, contradicting the warrior ethos of leaving no one behind.

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