Longest War of America
Did the longest war begin with clear targets but end vaguely?
4.5 (15)
61 mins
Explore how a swift US invasion after 9/11 turned into the longest war in American history. Discover how intelligence failures, global alliances, and shifting goals led to partial victories and deep instability.
Ep 1:
Afghanistan's Fault Lines Before the Fall
Before 9/11, Afghanistan was a fractured land of warlords and extremists—discover how bin Laden's alliance with the Taliban and Massoud's assassination set the stage for America's longest war.
Ep 2:
Victory's Illusion, War's True Face
American airstrikes shattered the Taliban in weeks, but beneath the swift victory lurked intelligence gaps, alienated tribes, and the first sparks of an insurgency no one saw coming.
Ep 3:
Iraq's Shadow Over a Forgotten War
As Bush pivoted toward Iraq, Afghanistan slipped into dangerous neglect—warlords thrived, Pakistan turned hostile, and a forgotten war quietly spiraled toward disaster.
Ep 4:
Elite Hunters, Endless War Machine
Inside Task Force 11's classified hunt for Al-Qaeda's leadership—and the unsettling truth that tactical triumphs abroad masked deepening strategic failure and rising chaos at home.
Ep 5:
The Scandal That Toppled a General
A explosive Rolling Stone article ended General McChrystal's career overnight, exposing the deep rift between military commanders and Washington's civilian leadership.
Ep 6:
Twenty Years, Trillions Lost, No Peace
As NATO allies withdrew and Obama sought an exit, Petraeus fought for time—setting the stage for a reckoning with what two decades of war truly cost America.
Discussions (19)
Yale
Level 3 · 9 mo agoI don't buy that the US just overlooked the tribal politics. They knew the warlords were corrupt but worked with them anyway because it was easier.
Tobiah
Level 6 · 8 mo agoMcChrystal felt like an idiot losing his job for running his mouth to Rolling Stone. Getting taken down by a mag with Lady Gaga on the cover holding guns is a rough way to go out lol
Jeremy
Level 7 · 8 mo agoYup, ISI backed Taliban.
