GZERO World Clips

The volunteer US military & America's shame post-Afghanistan

The Volunteer US Military & America's Shame Post-Afghanistan | GZERO World

For Elliot Ackerman, leaving no man behind was part of his code of honor when he was first a US marine and later a CIA officer. But the US military principle was not followed when American troops departed Afghanistan a year ago.

"There was no process to get our allies out," he tells Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.

Ackerman laments how US forces were forced to turn their back on Afghans they'd cultivated personal relationships with for 20 years — when they most needed help.

He also shares his thoughts on whether an all-volunteer military is what America needs amid deeply dysfunctional domestic politics.

Watch the GZERO World episode: The fallout from US Afghanistan withdrawal: a Marine's perspective

More For You

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Saudi Arabia, on September 3, 2025.
IMAGO/APAimages via Reuters Connect

To understand the deepening rift between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, following the UAE's exit from OPEC, GZERO spoke with Gulf expert Firas Maksad. He breaks down the tensions between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh and what "OPEC-xit" means for the region.

The President of Argentina, Javier Milei (bottom left), gestures in response to comments from deputies, alongside Secretary of the Presidency Karina Milei (bottom right), Minister of Human Capital Sandra Petovello (top left), and Minister of Economy Luis Caputo (top right), during the Chief of Cabinet's management report session in Congress. (in Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 29, 2026).
Silvana Safenreiter/NurPhoto

Right-wing leaders have been consolidating power across Latin America, driven by voter frustration with rising organized crime. However, with another batch of elections coming this year and next, the right's winning streak could be under threat.