Worth Watching – Afghanistan: Getting Out

This gripping BBC documentary told in two hour-long programmes focuses on the period from 9/11 to the final withdrawal of American troops in 2021. The story is primarily from the American point of view (though there are a few British talking heads, too) but the most powerful sections are the reactions of various Afghans to Americans’ decisions and actions. It seemed obvious throughout that the eventual Taliban takeover was inevitable. As one of their spokesmen said: ‘you have the watches; we have the time.’ The operation was called ‘Enduring Freedom’ but that is not what has happened. Available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001b6s1/afghanistan-getting-out-series-1-episode-1 and https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001b6s1/afghanistan-getting-out-series-1-episode-2