Kyle Shideler: The Afghanistan Band-Aid Comes Off

Episode 8: Kyle Shideler

I believe that this moment—this withdrawal from Afghanistan—is and will be a seminal event in America’s story, unlike the fall of Saigon in 1975. The Vietnam War had begun at the zenith of American power and international prestige; its end, more than a decade later, began five years of the nation’s decline. We are, now, much further along in the movie.

David Reaboi, Late Republic Nonsense @davereaboi

One of the telltale signs of the Late Republic is that—when it comes to Afghanistan—both staying and withdrawing contribute, in their own ways, to the inevitable.

David Reaboi, Late Republic Nonsense @davereaboi

Staying in Afghanistan, at this point, cements the message that the elites don’t care what the people think; they’re committed to failure. Undermines the legitimacy of the regime…

David Reaboi, Late Republic Nonsense @davereaboi

Withdrawing send the (correct) message to the world that the American people can no longer sustain their old, post-war ambitions—and no longer trust the institutions tasked with keeping them safe. Undermines the legitimacy of the regime.

David Reaboi, Late Republic Nonsense @davereaboi

There’s no scenario that doesn’t undermine the legitimacy of the regime.

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Yesterday I sat down to write my thoughts about the matter for Late Republic Nonsense, and it was considerably more difficult than I thought. In short order, I was staring at six or seven chunks of as many different pieces, with strands going off in different directions.

I wanted to talk to my old friend, Kyle Shideler (@ShidelerK) and hash some of these thoughts out before I finish writing.

We’ve worked together on countless projects, and have used each other as sounding boards for political ideas and observations pretty much nonstop for the last decade. One of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done was to have recommended Kyle for a Lincoln Fellowship at the Claremont Institute, where he’s become a key player and trusted friend in our spirited and consequential universe.

Kyle is the Director and Senior Analyst for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism at the Center for Security Policy. He’s on the very short list of credible analysts of the Islamic Movement from both a doctrinal and operational perspective. In recent years, too, he’s deepened his expertise in domestic left-wing groups like Antifa, using the same kind of rigorous analysis he brought to Islamists. His most recent piece, “Taking it to the Streets,” is a review of Andy Ngo’s book at Claremont Review of Books.

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Intro Music

Arranger Gary McFarland’s second album, The In Sound, is a curious record. I’m not sure who the intended audience and customer was, as it arrived in 1965, missing the prime era of bachelor pad music by a half-decade. Regardless, most of those lounge records weren’t half as sophisticated— and they definitely didn’t boast such incredible sidemen: Kenny Burrell and Gábor Szabó on guitars; Bob Brookmeyer on trombone; Richard Davis on bass; as well as percussion legends Candido and Grady Tate.

“Bloop Bleep” is an absurd novelty tune written in 1947 from Frank Loesser who, more notoriously, wrote the songs in Guys and Dolls, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and others. “The faucet keeps a-drippin’ and I can’t sleep.”