FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Moral Compass Federation Acknowledges Critical Insights from Congressional Report on Afghanistan Withdrawal; Calls for Continued Efforts to Address Moral Injury and Fulfill Promises to Afghan Allies
Washington, D.C. [SEP 9, 2024] — Moral Compass Federation, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing moral injury among those who served our country, appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the recent congressional report, “Willful Blindness: An Assessment of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Chaos that Followed”. The report, released by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, outlines key failures and consequences of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, a moment of significant impact on Veterans and Afghan allies alike.
The report highlights the moral injury experienced by servicemembers—those who served honorably and witnessed their Afghan partners and friends left behind amid the chaotic evacuation. These feelings of betrayal and loss have compounded the mental health struggles already faced by many Veterans, leading to a greater crisis of moral injury, an issue central to the mission of Moral Compass Federation.
As an organization representing over 20 Veteran-led nonprofits, Moral Compass Federation and its member organizations provided crucial ground-level testimony and insights into the human costs of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. We are grateful to have been included in this process and to have provided testimony of Veterans and Afghan partners who were directly affected by the events surrounding the U.S. exit from Afghanistan. It is through these stories and ground truth that the report was able to shed light on the emotional and moral toll this experience has had on those who served and sacrificed.
Moral injury occurs when individuals feel they have violated their deeply held moral beliefs, often through no fault of their own, and it has become a pervasive issue for Veterans of the Afghanistan conflict. As Veterans grapple with the consequences of the withdrawal and the abandonment of Afghan allies, this moral injury threatens to erode their trust in the institutions they served.
The work of Moral Compass Federation remains focused on supporting organizations that address the emotional and psychological impact of the GWOT generation’s service, while advocating for continued support for Afghan allies who remain in peril, and supporting current and future generations of servicemembers experiencing moral injury. We believe that helping our Afghan partners is not just a matter of humanitarian duty but is also essential for the well-being and recovery of our Veteran community.
While the report brings much-needed attention to the challenges and failures of the withdrawal, it also underscores the work yet to be done. Thousands of our most trusted and vetted Afghan allies remain in danger. These individuals risked their lives to support U.S. operations, and they are now being targeted by the Taliban. Fulfilling the promises made to these brave individuals is not just a matter of policy but a moral imperative.
As we reflect on the findings of this report, Moral Compass Federation emphasizes the continued need for voices of accountability, healing, and hope. We are committed to balanced, constructive, and bipartisan solutions to address the consequences of the Afghanistan withdrawal—solutions that seek to understand the past and chart a path forward. The moral compass of the nation must be realigned to ensure that we remember and care for those who sacrificed in service to America’s mission, both at home and abroad. Moral Compass Federation continues to support organizations that help our Veterans and Afghan allies. Together, we move forward.
For more information and media inquiries, please contact:
Moral Compass Federation
info@moralcompassfederation.org
www.moralcompassfederation.org
About Moral Compass Federation
Moral Compass Federation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to research, advocacy, and treatment solutions to veterans, servicemembers, and their families experiencing moral injury. We work with a network of over 20 veteran-led nonprofits to provide resources for veterans and promote healing by fulfilling our nation’s promises to its allies.