It is difficult to imagine anything more morally jarring than rescuing someone from death—only to deliver them, unknowingly, into the hands of predators. Yet that is precisely the type of nightmare that many American soldiers experienced during our two decades of war in Afghanistan. These soldiers did not lose faith in their mission because of the Taliban or al-Qaeda. They lost faith in their leadership—especially in their own government—which compelled them to witness, and even facilitate, acts of abuse they could not in good conscience condone.
This story is not just about war. It is about moral betrayal, cultural cowardice, and the refusal of political and military elites to defend innocent lives—especially the women and children most vulnerable in Afghan society. It is also about the bravery of U.S. soldiers who, even under threat of career-ending punishment, stood against evil. And it is about how the policies of the Obama administration, in the name of “cultural sensitivity,” enabled systemic abuse and punished those who tried to stop it.
The Hidden Horror of Afghanistan: Not Just Taliban Atrocities
When most Americans think of evil in Afghanistan, they think of suicide bombers, roadside IEDs, or the Taliban’s harsh rule. But many U.S. soldiers encountered a different kind of horror—one far more insidious and, in many ways, harder to stomach: the sexual abuse of young boys and girls by America’s own Afghan allies.
One of the most disturbing cultural practices in Afghanistan is bacha bazi, which means “boy play.” It involves the sexual exploitation of young boys, who are dressed up as women, trained to dance seductively, and then used by powerful Afghan men for sexual pleasure. These boys are often orphans or from impoverished families. Drugged, beaten, and passed around like property, they suffer in silence while their abusers enjoy impunity.
Although Islam officially prohibits homosexuality, bacha bazi is tolerated in practice, especially among warlords, police commanders, and local elites. It is not seen as “gay,” but rather as a show of power, status, and dominance. The boys are considered shameful, but the men are often admired for having “dancing boys.”
Islam is not the holy religion that it claims to be.
American soldiers, trained to fight terrorism and protect civilians, often found themselves stationed alongside these very Afghan perpetrators. And when they witnessed the abuse firsthand, they were often ordered not to interfere—even when the victims were crying out for help.
A Soldier’s Story: “They Are Just Barbarians”
One former U.S. soldier who served in Afghanistan shared a personal account that captures the heartbreak and moral injury many of our troops experienced.
While deployed in a rural Afghan district, his unit encountered a young girl who was facing death at the hands of her own family—an “honor killing” for the alleged crime of premarital sex. Acting quickly, the soldiers took her to what they believed would be a place of safety: the local Afghan police post.
They left her there, intending to return after completing their mission. When they came back, they found the Afghan police raping her. The same people who were supposed to protect her had become her tormentors.
Shaken and furious, the soldier told me years later, “They are just barbarians.”
Today, he struggles with alcoholism, a painful aftermath of what mental health professionals call moral injury—the soul-wounding trauma that occurs when a person is forced to participate in or witness something that deeply violates their conscience.
He is not alone.
“Don’t Interfere”: The Obama Administration’s Role in Enabling Abuse
You might wonder: why didn’t the soldiers stop it? Why didn’t they arrest the Afghan police? Why didn’t the chain of command protect them?
The answer lies in the Obama administration’s policy of noninterference with Afghan “cultural practices.” During Obama’s presidency (2009–2017), the official stance of the Department of Defense and the State Department was that U.S. forces should not get involved in local disputes or practices that might be seen as “culturally sensitive.”
This was not just theory—it was enforced policy.
In 2015, the New York Times broke a story titled “U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Sexual Abuse of Boys by Afghan Allies.” The article quoted multiple soldiers and officers who had seen Afghan police and military figures abusing children on U.S.-funded bases. They had been ordered to look the other way.
One soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland, a Green Beret with a distinguished record, did not obey that order. When he and his team leader, Capt. Daniel Quinn, discovered that an Afghan police commander had repeatedly raped a boy and beaten the boy’s mother, they physically confronted the abuser and kicked him off the base.
For this act of moral courage, Martland was punished—not the rapist. The Army moved to expel him from the service under policies in place during the Obama administration.
Only a sustained public outcry and pressure from Congress forced the Army to reverse the decision in 2016. By then, Martland’s reputation had been dragged through the mud, and the message had already been sent to other soldiers: If you interfere, your career is over.
The Generals Who Knew—and Stayed Silent
This policy of tolerance for abuse did not originate from low-level commanders. It was known and upheld by the highest ranks of military leadership, including the following top generals:
- Gen. Stanley McChrystal – Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan (2009–2010)
- Gen. David Petraeus – Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan (2010–2011)
- Gen. John R. Allen – (2011–2013)
- Gen. Joseph Dunford – (2013–2014)
- Gen. John Nicholson – (2016–2018)
- Gen. Austin S. Miller – (2018–2021)
- Gen. Mark Milley – Deputy Commander in Afghanistan (2013–2014), Army Chief of Staff (2015–2019), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2019–2023)
Gen. Mark Milley was the top Army officer during the Martland scandal, yet he never publicly defended Martland or condemned the practice of bacha bazi. He had access to reports from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), human rights briefings, and firsthand accounts—but chose silence.
This pattern of passive complicity extended across nearly the entire senior leadership structure. The generals may have worn the uniform with honor, but when it came to defending moral integrity, they failed.
The Few Who Spoke Up: Congressmen with Courage
Amid this silence, a few brave members of Congress did stand up for truth:
- Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) was a tireless advocate for Sgt. Martland and led the effort to reverse the Army’s decision.
- Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) demanded answers from the Pentagon.
- Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) called for an investigation into U.S. funding of child abusers in the Afghan police.
- Rep. Steve Russell (R-OK), himself a veteran, denounced the moral cowardice that led to the policy.
Their efforts were not only admirable—they were essential in exposing the rot within our Afghan partnerships and holding military leadership accountable.
The Trump Administration’s Course Correction
When President Donald Trump took office in 2017, he inherited a dysfunctional situation. The Afghan government was corrupt. U.S. troops were stretched thin. Morale was low. And the American public was growing weary of “endless wars.”
Trump made it clear that his goal was to end U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and stop wasting American lives and dollars propping up failed regimes. While not all of his policies were perfect, he made significant strides in the right direction:
▪️ Phasing Out the Afghan Local Police (ALP)
The ALP was one of the most abusive and corrupt branches of Afghan security forces—heavily associated with bacha bazi. Under Trump, the ALP was gradually defunded and shut down. By 2020, it was effectively disbanded.
▪️ Drawing Down U.S. Involvement
Trump began the withdrawal process and reduced U.S. military entanglement with Afghan partners. This not only helped limit our troops’ exposure to corrupt local forces but also reduced the number of incidents where soldiers were forced into moral compromise.
▪️ A Shift in Rhetoric
Unlike Obama, Trump did not romanticize Afghan culture or excuse barbaric practices as “local traditions.” His administration prioritized American values, national security, and the protection of U.S. troops, even if that meant facing criticism from globalist institutions or liberal media.
The Fallout: What We Brought Home
After the chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan under President Biden, the United States initiated Operation Allies Welcome, an effort to resettle tens of thousands of Afghans who had worked with the U.S. or were fleeing Taliban persecution.
In total, between 180,000 and 195,000 Afghan nationals were brought into the United States under refugee, parole, and special visa programs.
The vetting process was rushed. The results were predictable.
Within a year, multiple Afghan evacuees were charged with sexually abusing boys and girls—including at U.S. military bases like Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. One man was arrested for attempting to molest a minor. Another for beating his wife. Still others were caught in disturbing behavior toward children.
While not all evacuees were dangerous, these incidents confirmed what many Americans feared: we had imported some of the very abuses we tried to contain overseas.
The Danger of Uncritical Multiculturalism
What went wrong? At its core, this entire tragedy stems from a deadly assumption: that all cultures are equally valid, and that it is somehow “bigoted” to judge another culture’s practices—even when those practices involve child rape or honor killings.
This ideology—multiculturalism without discernment—was at the heart of Obama’s Afghanistan policy. It is deeply rooted in modern liberalism and finds expression in many corners of government, media, and academia.
But the truth is this: not all cultures are equal. A culture that treats women as property, executes rape victims, and molests children with impunity is not equal to one that values liberty, consent, and human dignity.
Islamic culture in many parts of the world—including Afghanistan—is shaped by tribalism, patriarchy, and religious law that sanction these abuses. That does not mean every Muslim is abusive. But it does mean that Western nations must not ignore the ideological and cultural roots of these practices.
Conclusion: Honor, Betrayal, and the Cost of Silence
The American soldiers Charles Martland and Daniel Quinn, who tried to stop the abuse of Afghan children, were not just good men. They were heroes.
- They acted with courage when it was easier to look away.
- They risked their careers and reputations to do what was right.
- They upheld the values America claims to stand for—when our leaders would not.
And for that, they were betrayed—by their commanders, by their civilian leadership, and by a political establishment that chose appeasement over righteousness.
The four Congressmen who spoke up on the behalf of Sgt. Charles Martland are worthy of honor, as well: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), and Rep. Steve Russell (R-OK).
General Mark Milley is a man who is unworthy to be associated with the honor of serving in the United States military for his cowardice and acts of treason.
Former President Barack Obama is a man who is unworthy of honor as well.
The Obama administration, through its policies and its silence, enabled systemic abuse and punished those who resisted it. The Trump administration, while limited by entrenched bureaucracy, took steps to reverse course, phase out the worst offenders, and begin the long process of ending an unwinnable and morally compromised war.
Now, as we live with the consequences of those choices—both at home and abroad—we must learn the right lesson:
Tolerating evil in the name of cultural sensitivity is not tolerance. It is complicity.
Let us remember the victims. Let us honor the soldiers who defended them. And let us never again let cowardice masquerade as diplomacy.
S.D.G.,
Robert Sparkman
rob@christiannewsjunkie.com
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