Intelligence Squared The New Yorker’s Jon Lee Anderson on Afghanistan: An American Catastrophe (Part Two)
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Feb 23, 2026 
Jon Lee Anderson, longtime New Yorker foreign correspondent famous for on-the-ground reporting in Afghanistan. He shares personal, often dangerous anecdotes from Kabul. He reflects on Western identity in the field, the limits of embedded reporting, the American footprint and withdrawal, Taliban governance and insurgent threats, and Afghanistan’s uncertain geopolitical future.
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Dangerous Encounters And Small Acts Of Defiance
- Jon Lee Anderson recounts being grabbed in a battlefield and instinctively kicking the attacker, creating a tense standoff that ended without bloodshed.
- He also describes snatching back a stolen Pepsi as a small but telling moment of asserting oneself in chaotic settings.
Embeds Can Distort Ground Truth
- Anderson explains embeds can create an American-centric, detached view that misses local realities and produces flat reporting.
- He emphasizes returning off-embed to reconnect with Afghan society and produce more meaningful journalism.
Few Lasting American Footprints
- Anderson contrasts Soviet-era infrastructure with the U.S. approach, noting Americans left little tangible legacy in Afghanistan despite huge spending.
- He argues U.S. efforts prioritized market openings over durable, visible investments locals could point to.