America and the Taliban
“There’s no shortage of pathos in America and the Taliban, a three-part FRONTLINE presentation about the painfully long involvement of the U.S. with the radical Islamist movement currently in control of Afghanistan. The waste, the futility, the misjudgments and the loss of life portrayed are profound, troubling and presented with such an abundance of bewildering evidence that it is all but overwhelming.”
—John Anderson, Wall Street Journal
Synopsis
How did we lose the war in Afghanistan? Frontline tackles this broad question with exemplary on-the-ground reporting, powerful new interviews, and 20 years of archived material in America and the Taliban. The three-part series offers surprising new insight into America’s longest war, exposing the failures and missteps that led to the Taliban’s stunning 2021 victory. Senior Frontline correspondent Martin Smith and his team link familiar events with little-known facts, bringing viewers behind the headlines and political spin for a closer look. The series is packed with vivid oral histories from everyday Afghans, former high-ranking American officials, U.S. military, and senior Taliban members—some who have never spoken publicly before now. Each voice adds a facet to understanding how the world’s most preeminent military power suffered such a staggering defeat. This impactful series draws a powerful and clear portrait of U.S. military operations over time, with surprising results.
Credits
Directors: Martin Smith, Marcela Gaviria
Producers: Martin Smith, Marcela Gaviria, Brian Funck, Scott Anger