The collapse of Afghanistan to the Taliban without a fight undressed the American Empire to expose its impotence, incompetence, sterility, passivity, shameless mendacity and moral vacuity. The Taliban are, technologically and culturally, straight out of the 7th century BC; but they have a moral core, a cult of virility and heroism, a religious purpose for which they will fight and die. They posses what we, in my lifetime, have lost.
Graduating high school, 1965, I entered college seminary for the Maryknoll Fathers, the epitome of Catholic, American, masculine idealism, confidence, and purposefulness. In the following years I imbibed the leftwing critique of American power, arrogance, consumerism, and materialism. More specifically I partially accepted Ivan Illich's more deep and devastating evaluation of Irish-American Catholicism and the entire technological project of modernity. His views were, however utopian and entirely unhelful for actual life.
Moving through my adult life, I deepened and intensified my Catholic convictions including a passionate aversion to cultural liberalism as well as the technocracy, bureaucracy, meritocracy, consumerism, and materialism of bourgeois late-Protestant America (by reading Communio). At the same time, however, considering the alternatives (communism, Sharia law, fascism) I developed strong neo-conservative sympathies for the liberal project of human rights, rule of law, free markets and enterprise, democracy (by reading First Things). I was ambivalent on America: at once negative about its underlying anti-Catholic, Calvinist, individualist, technocratic soul; but defensive of it as the world's best option. The fall of Afghanastan is symptomatic of the liberal regime of Biden: the very worst side of America has prevailed... the cowardice, impotence, mendacity, and disloyalty. We have betrayed those who risked their lives for us. We are unworthy of trust. I am ashamed of my country. The world has become dark.
The world today is an arena in which four ideologies compete: communism, Islamic fundamentalism, secular liberalism, and traditional Christianity. The USA is no longer a nation with a heart and a soul; it is two nations with two hearts and two souls. It is two different peoples who hate each other; or more precisely, they hate what each other stand for. We are so engaged in the Culture War with each other that no ally can trust us for anything. Our generals are focused on the rainbow flag and incorporating Critical Race Theory: they cannot be relied upon. Many of our military men are still heroes as were our fathers and uncles in a different time...these include Southern Evangelicals, Catholics, Afro-Americans. But the military, the last conservative holdout, is at the highest levels capitulating to cultural liberalism as it did to the Taliban.
Our primary antagonist is Chinese communism. The outlook is bleak: not so much militarily or economically, but culturally and morally we are decadent. If we cannot contain the Taliban how will we contain Communist China when we lack a moral core, we lack heart and soul, will and intellect. We are soft, indulgent, narcissistic.
Our relationship with the other two opponents is more complicated: we must fight against but also along side of liberals and Islamists both. Over the last week, the Taliban have been surprisingly cooperative as we airlift out of Kabul. It is in their interest to obtain the collaboration of Afghans who can operate the technology and bureacuracy we have left there. It is in their interest to maintain the respect of the world. It is in our interest as Americans to have them as a ally against China. It is in our interest as Christians, as John Paul showed at Cairo and Beijing, to work with them against secular liberals on abortion and related global issues. Likewise, it is in our interest as Christians to ally ourselves with secular liberals in defense of women's rights, rule of law, democracy, and all the freedoms.
On the micro level, the Benedict Option becomes more pressing: it is urgent that we join together...passionately, intimately, profoundly...in communities of faith, hope and love.
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