# Afghanistan crystallises the failures of the West [[2021-08|August 2021]]. The United States-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 has ended in a complete fiasco. The US has decided to retreat without consulting any of its NATO allies, and have left the country in the hands of the talibans they were supposed to eliminate. As of August 31st 2021, the death toll is of 160,000 Afghans, 2,400 US soldiers, 1,500 NATO soldiers and 1,800 contracted civilians. The US has spent more than $2,000 bn in the operation. What is more, Afghanistan has become the biggest opium producer in the world; it hosts 90% of world-wide opium production, which accounts for 15% of its GDP.