This event kicked off Hindsight Up Front, the Wilson Center’s new Afghanistan initiative, with a discussion between Gen. David Petraeus and Sir John Scarlett, co-chairs of the Wilson Center’s Global Advisory Council and two of the world’s foremost public intellectuals. Their conversation—moderated by Wilson Center President, Director, and CEO Mark Green—focused on the implications of the withdrawal for Afghanistan and the world.

They examined 20 years of U.S.-led war, considered what has and has not been achieved, and assessed President Joe Biden’s withdrawal decision. They discussed the withdrawal’s potential impacts, including terrorism risks and refugee flows. They weighed in on global reactions to the withdrawal—including from U.S. adversaries like China. They also offered insights on what U.S. policy should be in Afghanistan moving forward, and they