Pentagon watchdog warns of 'existential crisis' and criticizes US 'hubris' in Afghanistan

A Pentagon watchdog report on Afghanistan warns that the country's government could face an "existential crisis" and offered a highly critical assessment of the US's strategy and conduct throughout the nearly 20-year war, just weeks before the withdrawal of American troops is due to be completed.

John Sopko, the US special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction, told reporters Thursday there are two words to describe the US effort in Afghanistan. "One is this hubris that we can somehow take a country that was desolate in 2001 and turn it into a little Norway." The other, mendacity: "we over exaggerated, our generals did, our ambassadors did." He noted countless officials over the years spoke about "just turning the corner" in the fight against the Taliban. "Well we turned the corner so much, we did 360 degrees." The report warns that Afghan National Defense and Security Forces "appeared surprised and unready and is now on its back foot" against the Taliban as the US withdraws, though Sopko told reporters he believes "the last act" hasn't been played and the government still has time to make improvements and try to survive.