Noncombatant Evacuation Operation,
otherwise known as NEO, is something I’ve become familiar with over the last
few years while working in Japan. However, my familiarity with NEO has been limited
to such operations in the Indo-Pacific considering the threat of North Korea,
China, and Russia. Never, in those same few years, would I have considered our
Nation conducting a NEO in Afghanistan.
NEO is an expansive endeavor which
requires multiple echelons of coordinated effort. Without going into detail, if
you’ve never participated or seen what a NEO looks like, I recommend you
consider keeping updated on the ongoing situation in Afghanistan or watch a
movie called Greenland. Despite it being a Hollywood perspective of NEO,
Greenland should give you an idea of the number of challenges every
level of operations might experience to execute a NEO successfully: from the
boots on the ground providing security to the diplomatic efforts required to
ensure safe passage of evacuees … all with the understanding, there is a very
real possibility not every person will make it out.
The rapid fall of Afghanistan to the
Taliban has raised numerous questions as to the United States exit strategy in
Afghanistan, the moral obligation to those Afghans who assisted the US over the
20 years of its occupation, the future of the Afghan people, and the feelings
of betrayal and resentment by scores of veterans who have shed blood in the mountains
and valleys of what is regarded as the “Graveyard of Empires.” Regardless of
one’s opinion, the fact remains clear … debate, analysis, and blame will
continue in the national and global arenas long past the number of decades the
US spent on the ground in Afghanistan.
I’m reminded of the Creation story found
within the Bible. More specifically, the fall of man. For those of you who may
be unfamiliar with the biblical account of Creation and the fall of man, God
made Adam (the first man), placed him in the Garden of Eden, and gave him authority
over everything God had created apart from one tree. “And the Lord God
commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you
must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day
you eat from it, you will certainly die” (Gen. 2:16-17 CSB).
As the story continues, God created Eve
from Adam’s rib (Gen. 2:22) and they lived together … happily, joyfully … in
the Garden. Eventually, however, this blissful existence is interrupted by “the
serpent” (Gen. 3:1). As the narrative develops, the serpent deceives Eve, Eve
eats from the tree and convinces Adam to do likewise (Gen. 3:2-6). Their choice
to eat the fruit of the Tree opened their eyes … exposed them … and destroys
their relationship with God (Gen. 3:7). The real point I’m attempting to make
comes after verse seven. God was aware of Adam and Eve’s disobedience
immediately. When their noncompliance with his instruction is questioned, the Adam
and Eve blame one another and the serpent for their actions as opposed to
taking responsibility for those actions (Gen. 3:8-13).
Folks, the choices we make always come
with consequences. Sometimes, those consequences are good. Other times, we pay
a heavy price for our bad choices. The issue becomes what we do. Do we blame
others to shirk our responsibility? Or do we hold ourselves accountable for our
decisions and actions? Again, per the biblical account, I wonder what might
have transpired should Adam have humbled himself and taken responsibility since
given authority over the place (Gen. 1:26). Would the story have been
different? Only God knows.
As it is, we’re left with a society which
and individuals who continue to cast blame rather than take responsibility. For
those on social media, maybe you’ve seen the number of posts our OEF veterans
have posted concerning their disdain because the US is attempting to exit
Afghanistan? Maybe you’ve watched live feeds of President Biden and Department
of Defense officials standing behind their decisions while the media is
attempting to unravel their credibility? Maybe you’ve taken it upon yourself to
engage those who’ve served in Afghanistan – whether military, contractor,
diplomat, aid worker, or family member – with a hope of encouraging them
because, regardless the outcome, the price they’ve paid both individually and
collectively on behalf of our nation is not quantifiable. And what of the people
of Afghanistan? Who do they blame? America for giving them hope? Or themselves
for allowing the Taliban to take over the country in less than 90 hours?
I urge you, brothers, and sisters, to pray
through this … talk through this in a productive manner. Wait for the entire
story to unfold before you cast your stone. We would all do well to remember
the words of Jesus of Nazareth, “The one without sin among you should be the first
to throw a stone” (John 8:7). And as General Mark Milley suggested today during
his news conference … there will be time in the future for AARs and debates. We
have boots on the ground. Our focus needs to remain on the operation at hand
and the safe return of those service members.
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