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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Leaving Afghanistan: For Better or Worse?

    The search for Osama bin Laden turned into America's longest war and a vastly expensive exercise in trying to build one of the world's poorest nations. But critics say much of the country has been left out, while US dollars have fueled corruption that's even now raising the cost of American withdrawal.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    The search for Osama bin Laden turned into America's longest war and a vastly expensive exercise in trying to build one of the world's poorest nations. But critics say much of the country has been left out, while US dollars have fueled corruption that's even now raising the cost of American withdrawal. Meantime, the Taliban reportedly are divided, as one faction talks peace while the other waits to wage more war when Afghan forces are on their own. After twelve years of US involvement, what does Afghanistan look like now? What's in store for the future?

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Was Afghanistan Worth the Cost?
    1. 0:00South American Pope Visits Brazil
    2. 8:19Leaving Afghanistan: For Better or Worse? You’re reading this
    3. 43:44Congress Questions NASA’s Plan to Redirect Asteroids
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

      Sonya Geis

      Senior Managing Editor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Kerry Cavanaugh

      editorial writer at the Los Angeles Times

    • KCRW placeholder

      Kevin Sieff

      Washington Post

    • KCRW placeholder

      Matthew Rosenberg

      New York Times

    • KCRW placeholder

      David Sedney

      Defense Department (formerly)

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Was Afghanistan Worth the Cost?
    1. 0:00South American Pope Visits Brazil
    2. 8:19Leaving Afghanistan: For Better or Worse? You’re reading this
    3. 43:44Congress Questions NASA’s Plan to Redirect Asteroids
    Back to To the Point