November 8, 2022
After last year’s chaotic troop withdrawal, there’s been a lot of soul-searching over the US deployment in Afghanistan and the purpose for being there. How is it possible that the same Taliban who opened their doors to Al Qaeda and were thrown out of power by the U.S. invasion in 2001 are now back in charge?
Retired four-star Gen. Joseph Votel, our next speaker, is uniquely positioned to give an overview of the 20-year deployment and the lessons learned from it. He has the view from the ground and from the senior command level.
As a commander in the 75th Army Rangers regiment, then-Colonel Votel led the forces that parachuted onto an airfield in Kandahar in October 2001 and secured what would become a major Marine base. It was called Operation Rhino.
His last post was commander of the U.S. Central Command from 2016 to 2019. There he oversaw the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria as well as the war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
Gen. Votel served in the U.S. Army for 39 years, starting as an Infantry officer fresh out of West Point in 1980, and retiring in 2019 with four-star rank. He did tours in Germany and Italy then went on to serve in Sarajevo with the NATO Peace Implementation Force. Besides Afghanistan, he did front line combat tours in Panama and Iraq and led forces including special forces at every level. He also served with the 82nd Airborne Division.
President Barack Obama nominated Gen. Votel in 2014 to serve as commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command. He then named him commander of the U.S. Central Command.
The Central Command’s area of responsibility is the greater Middle East, an area that stretches from Morocco to Pakistan and includes some of the most unstable places on the planet.
He’s currently the CEO and President of Business Executives for National Security
Forced displacement represents one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Individuals and families, torn from the fabric of their communities, find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, often without basic necessities or a clear path to safety. There are currently some 110 million forced displaced, and this number is growing by 10 million each year!
At the heart of this crisis are the political triggers. Armed conflicts, ethnic or religious persecutions, and systemic human rights abuses force millions to flee their homes in terror. Many are displaced within their own national boundaries, while others seek asylum abroad. If these factors change as a result of political shifts at home or the pressures from abroad, they can return to their homes. Forced displacement is thus different from environmentally driven displacement, as victims of climate change may never be able to return to their homes.
The ramifications of any sort of displacement are profound, not just for those directly affected, but also for host communities and countries. Overburdened infrastructures, socio-economic strains, and cultural tensions can arise, necessitating comprehensive strategies to foster harmony and integration. Yet the root causes of forced displacement can be remedied with a concerted focus by local players and international diplomacy.
Organizations like Refugees International play a crucial role in this arena, advocating for the rights and needs of the displaced, conducting on-the-ground assessments, and influencing policymakers to take informed actions. Their relentless work underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency ofinternational cooperation. But they, too, are overwhelmed by the rapid expansion of the crisis.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with its core principles centered on the protection of civilians during conflicts, plays a pivotal role in this discourse. Yet, despite clear legal frameworks, compliance remains
inconsistent. This initiative emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing these international standards.
It’s not just about recognizing the problem; it’s about active engagement. We urge governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize the rights and needs of the forced displaced. Through collective efforts, informed policies, and sustained advocacy, we can shift the narrative from passive acknowledgment to proactive intervention.
