Ending the Forever War

Dexter Filkins, Robin Wright, Luke Mogelson, and Steve Coll on the Afghan conflict. Plus: the new “never resign” school of politics, and the Carter-era pleasures of “The Muppet Show.” View in browser | Update your preferences Dear reader, President Biden has announced that the United States will withdraw its last troops from Afghanistan by September 11th. This move, of enormous consequence, puts an end to this country’s involvement in what has come to be known as the Forever War. The Biden Administration is aware that the removal of U.S. troops may hasten more ominous turns in Afghanistan, including the possibility that the Taliban will take power in more areas of the country, or even in Kabul itself. And yet Biden said that he was determined to put an end to that military commitment, particularly as the United States faces so many other profound challenges and demands on its people and resources: the rise of China, ever-worsening relations with Russia, climate change, and myriad domestic issues. An event like this demands assessment and reassessment, and today we’re bringing together work by four New Yorker writers who have, for many years, reported from Afghanistan and Washington on this wearing and bloody conflict: Dexter Filkins, who only recently returned from Kabul; Steve Coll, the author of “Ghost Wars”; Luke Mogelson, who has extensive experience as a war correspondent in the region; and Robin Wright, a veteran reporter in Washington and abroad, who has a considerable network of sources in diplomatic circles around the world. —David Remnick The Forever War A Reporter at Large Last Exit from Afghanistan Will peace talks with the Taliban and the prospect of an American withdrawal create a breakthrough or a collapse? By Dexter Filkins Profiles Looking for Mullah Omar Will the United States be able to negotiate with a man it has hunted for a decade? By Steve Coll A Reporter at Large The Shattered Afghan Dream of Peace Trump upended peace talks. Civilian casualties keep climbing. After eighteen years of war, Afghans are suffering more than ever. By Luke Mogelson Our Columnists Why It’s So Hard for America to End Its Wars Is there any way for Biden to achieve peace with honor in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan? By Robin Wright More from The New Yorker Our Local Correspondents Andrew Cuomo, Matt Gaetz, and the “Never Resign” School of Politics In recent years, many politicians seem to have realized that remaining in office is often the best path out of a scandal. By Eric Lach Cultural Comment Daunte Wright and the Grammar of Kim Potter’s Resignation Potter insists she “has loved every minute of being a police officer,” even if some of those minutes were spent annihilating a man. By Lauren Michele Jackson On Television The Low-Key Carter-Era Pleasures of “The Muppet Show” On the original show, which is now streaming for the first time on Disney+, bits of fabric and glue and yarn become complexly real. By Naomi Fry Dept. of Anthems Will Húsavík Earn an “Óskar”? Residents of an Icelandic village have launched an Academy Award campaign for the ballad, from the Will Ferrell movie “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga,” that is now the real town’s anthem. By Michael Schulman Fiction “Alvin” “ ‘Derivatives,’ Alvin said. ‘I don’t speculate about the future, I trade it.’ ” By Jonas Eika This Week in Fiction Jonas Eika on Hope and Defiance The author discusses “Alvin,” his story from the latest issue of the magazine. By Cressida Leyshon Humor and Puzzles Daily Shouts All My Friends Are Buying Houses and Having Babies Meanwhile, I am becoming increasingly and worryingly obsessed with bright lights. By Natalya Lobanova Crossword The Weekend Puzzle Title for Doug Emhoff, as of 2021: fifteen letters. By Anna Shechtman You're receiving this e-mail because you signed up for The Daily from The New Yorker. Was this e-mail forwarded to you? Sign up. Unsubscribe | Manage your e-mail preferences | Send newsletter feedback | View our Privacy Policy Copyright © Condé Nast 2021. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.