When the Soviet Union officially dissolved at the end of 1991, the United States was left as the world’s de facto sole authority, unrivalled and without any significant power capable of standing in its way. It then set out to make the 21st century an American century. Having surpassed two centuries of existence, the United States believed it could do whatever it wanted. But very strange things began to happen in a short period of time. Things did not go according to plan at all. So much so that before the first quarter of the 21st century had even come to an end, the United States, once regarded as the sole ruler of the world, began to crack. The shocks eroding the American-led unipolar order can no longer be stopped.

The international order is undergoing major upheavals. Not only the United States, but also the other European states that rose to become key actors after the Second World War are rapidly losing their power, prestige and influence, while some states that had fallen into the background over the past two centuries are recovering and beginning to move to the forefront.

There are, of course, many different fundamental causes and parameters influencing this process. For that reason, we will not go into the subject in detail. In this article, we simply want to draw attention to how these four factors have affected and transformed the world by examining the examples of Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Gaza.

Afghan Mujahideen and the Taliban

One of the most important causes of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Eastern pole of the bipolar world, was the unexpected defeat Moscow suffered in Afghanistan, which it had invaded. That defeat ultimately brought about its downfall. The Afghan mujahideen, whom the arrogant occupiers had never taken seriously—the men in white robes who, even in the freezing winter cold, wore nothing but slippers on their feet and fought in the mountains with rifles against occupiers armed with some of the deadliest weapons in the world—won the war after ten years of struggle and brought about the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The September 11 Setup

The destruction of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001…

Using the dubious Al-Qaeda attacks as a pretext, the United States declared war on so-called “global terrorism.” Fifty-one countries, including NATO members, became involved in the invasion of Afghanistan by sending troops. If we also include the countries that provided permission, bases, intelligence and diplomatic support for the invasion, more than 136 states stood on the side of the United States in the occupation of Afghanistan. Some 130,000 troops invaded the country.

During the 20-year war, hundreds of thousands of tons of bombs were dropped across the country. 3.6 million Afghans were killed. Twice as many people were left disabled. Those who found the opportunity and means to do so fled the country. An entire nation was devastated.

So, how did the 20-year war ultimately end?

As stated above, the country was devastated, millions were killed, wounded or forced to flee, but the richest and most powerful states in the world, led by the United States and possessing the deadliest weapons, decisively lost this terrible war. The terrifying power of the superpower United States was poured into the mountains of Afghanistan and exhausted there. According to President Trump, the United States lost $7–8 trillion in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

After all this, in 2021 the US-led coalition of occupying forces hurriedly fled, barely saving themselves and leaving without looking back. The occupying forces had launched a war against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, whom they regarded as “terrorist organizations.” After 20 years of occupation, they were forced to hand power back to the Taliban. Indeed, the remaining British agents reportedly had to disguise themselves in the burqas worn by Afghan women in order to escape with their lives.

The states that entered Afghanistan with 130,000 troops—including the United States and the world’s most powerful countries—were clearly defeated by the Taliban, which was not even a regular army but a simple militia force. Afghanistan has once again been governed by the Taliban since 2021.

With this achievement, the Taliban shattered the perception in people’s minds that the United States and the West were “invincible.” This was an enormous achievement. The United States, whose prestige had in a sense been badly damaged, began to lose power continuously after this point. Its word no longer carried the same weight. It lost its deterrent capability. The international system operating under US leadership began to lose its validity.

The Victory of the Iraqi Mujahideen

Using the September 11 attacks as a pretext, the US-led “Crusader Coalition,” which had invaded Afghanistan in 2001, invaded Iraq in 2003, this time on fabricated grounds. The invasion was carried out by the approximately 49-country “Coalition of the Willing” and lasted for nine years in practical terms, until 2011, involving roughly 200,000 troops.

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was brutally executed by having a noose placed around his neck live on television during Eid al-Adha, one of the holiest days for Muslims. The purpose of broadcasting these images was not to “deliver justice by showing the end of a cruel dictator,” but to send a message to all Muslims: “If you do not submit to us, this will be your fate.”

Even though the regime fell, the Iraqis........

© Stratejik Düşünce Enstitüsü