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 readingAfghanistan: The Taliban takeover - what are the lessons for the workers' movement internationallyhttps://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/32926/25-08-2021/afghanistan-the-taliban-takeover-what-are-the-lessons-for-the-workers-movement-internationallyAfghanistan in crisis:A colossal failure of western capitalismFight for a socialist alternativehttps://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/32951/25-08-2021/afghanistan-in-crisisEditorial of the SocialistAfghanistan disaster - Unite to fight for funding for refugees and local communitieshttps://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/32927/25-08-2021/afghanistan-disaster-unite-to-fight-for-funding-for-refugees-and-local-communitiesHistorical reprint: The Russian defeat in Afghanistanhttp://socialismtoday.org/archive/61/repreint.htmlThe Afghanistan disasterThe limits of US powerhttp://socialismtoday.org/archive/205/afghanistan.htmlThe consequences of 9/11A world turned upside downhttp://socialismtoday.org/archive/151/911.htmlAfghanistan aftermathhttp://socialismtoday.org/archive/65/Afghanistan.htmlTaliban, Islam and Oilhttp://socialismtoday.org/archive/59/taliban.htmlCheck out all our articles on Afghanistan going back to 2001 here https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/keyword/Afghanistan,all,180