Article Introduction

A Boston Globe article published on September 7th, 2019 entitled “Trump Calls Off Secret Meeting with Taliban, Afghan Leaders” by Jonathan Lemire and Deb Reichmann revealed that President Trump posted via Twitter that there was going to be an undisclosed meeting with Taliban and Afghanistan leaders.  However, this meeting was cancelled due to an act of terrorism affecting an American soldier within the past week.  This left America wondering - why would President Trump be hosting a meeting with Taliban and Afghanistan leaders so close to the anniversary of the September 11th attacks (as they harbored the al-Qaida members responsible for this heinous act of terrorism against our country) and why would he cancel the meeting so suddenly?  

Cancelling the discussion with these leaders also goes against President Trump’s claim to pull out most of the remaining troops currently left in Afghanistan.  However, there is some clear reasoning behind his decision.  Not only has Trump been facing some pressure from government lawmakers voicing that it may be too soon to withdraw troops from such a conflict-torn area, but on September 5th, an American soldier was killed on duty by a bombing in Kabul.  Sergeant 1st Class Elis A. Barreto Ortiz (age 34) died as a result of a Taliban car bomb that detonated near his patrol vehicle.  Ortiz was just one of four military personnel killed in Afghanistan within the past two weeks.  

Trump justified his reasoning behind the cancelled meeting on Twitter, noting that, “If they cannot agree to a ceasefire during these very important peace talks, and would even kill 12 innocent people, then they probably don’t have the power to negotiate a meaningful agreement anyway.  How many more decades are they willing to fight?” (Lemire and Reichmann par. 9).  As the anniversary of the September 11th attack is upcoming, viewers should certainly read this article to understand our current relations with Afghanistan and Taliban leaders and the need for our countries to come to a peaceful agreement.  While the time might not be now, this topic of discussion must be brought to the table if we expect any improvements in our relations.