Afghanistan in crisis: A colossal failure of western capitalism. After two decades of military occupation and trillions of dollars spent by western governments, millions of Afghans are now back to where they were in 2001 - under the brutal rule of the Taliban. Yet the capitalist politicians responsible for this tragic debacle - Messrs Tony Blair, George Bush, and others - continue to defend this colossal failure. And today's crop of establishment politicians, including Johnson and Starmer, also defend the western invasion and occupation of Afghanistan in 2001. It's clear from the experience of working-class and poor people in Afghanistan, and indeed in many other countries, past and present, that capitalism cannot guarantee democratic rights or decent living standards. That requires ordinary working-class people uniting behind a socialist banner and fighting for fundamental change. We talk with Niall Mulholland from the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI) about the situation in Afghanistan. What does it represent in terms of US and British influence internationally and in the region? After 20 years of bloodshed, how did the Taliban take back control so quickly? What and who are the Taliban and what does this mean now for the working class and poor in the region? What position do socialists take and what did socialists argue at the time of the invasion? What is the way forward for the working class and poor of the region? Further reading Afghanistan: The Taliban takeover - what are the lessons for the workers' movement internationally https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/32926/25-08-2021/afghanistan-the-taliban-takeover-what-are-the-lessons-for-the-workers-movement-internationally Afghanistan in crisis: A colossal failure of western capitalism Fight for a socialist alternative https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/32951/25-08-2021/afghanistan-in-crisis Editorial of the Socialist Afghanistan disaster - Unite to fight for funding for refugees and local communities https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/32927/25-08-2021/afghanistan-disaster-unite-to-fight-for-funding-for-refugees-and-local-communities Historical reprint: The Russian defeat in Afghanistan http://socialismtoday.org/archive/61/repreint.html The Afghanistan disaster The limits of US power http://socialismtoday.org/archive/205/afghanistan.html The consequences of 9/11 A world turned upside down http://socialismtoday.org/archive/151/911.html Afghanistan aftermath http://socialismtoday.org/archive/65/Afghanistan.html Taliban, Islam and Oil http://socialismtoday.org/archive/59/taliban.html Check out all our articles on Afghanistan going back to 2001 here https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/keyword/Afghanistan,all,180