The Kabul Tribune (KT) — A former U.S. Navy SEAL has warned in an interview with Fox News that global powers, including China and Russia, are closely monitoring the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict to assess American military strength, while citing lessons drawn from the war in Afghanistan.
Jack Carr said the conflict, now entering its third month,
is being watched by U.S. adversaries to evaluate Washington’s military
capabilities and strategic resolve. He made the remarks during a conversation
on the “Hang Out with Sean Hannity” program.
Carr stressed that previous U.S. military actions,
particularly in Afghanistan, continue to shape how rival nations perceive
American power.
“What do we think Iran is learning from what we did in
Afghanistan?” he said, referring to the two-decade war that ended in 2021.
He argued that the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan weakened
Washington’s global deterrence, giving rival nations greater confidence to
challenge its influence.
The war in Afghanistan, which lasted from 2001 to 2021,
ended with a rapid U.S. troop withdrawal that drew widespread criticism. In the
final days of the pullout, an attack killed about 170 Afghan civilians and 13
U.S. service members, further intensifying concerns over the exit strategy.
Carr said countries such as China could draw strategic
lessons from the outcome of the Iran conflict, warning that failure by the
United States might embolden Beijing to take military action, including a
possible move against Taiwan.
He described the current conflict as a critical moment for
Washington to reestablish its global deterrence, arguing that the outcome will
have implications beyond the Middle East.
From Afghanistan’s perspective, analysts say continued
global instability and shifting geopolitical priorities could affect
international engagement with the country, including humanitarian aid and
economic support.
Carr added that the stakes of the conflict go beyond
economic concerns, such as energy markets, and instead relate to broader issues
of global order and stability.
He emphasized that the outcome of the U.S.-Iran conflict
would be closely scrutinized worldwide, shaping perceptions of American
military effectiveness in the years ahead.
