Gen. Jack Keane: Leaving Taliban In Control of Afghanistan ‘Looms Heavy’ Over 9/11 Anniversary

“The Taliban are in charge of Afghanistan, al-Qaida has a safe haven again,” Keane told Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.”

“ISIS will have an opportunity to grow and other foreign terrorists will have an opportunity to come to Afghanistan,” Keane continued. “So the future is uncertain as a result of what took place in Afghanistan. It looms heavy over us today and it’s uncomfortable, I think, for many who served and fought in that war to see the Taliban now in charge and it is disturbing.”

The former U.S. Army deputy chief of staff said the “implications” of the recent withdrawal from Afghanistan “loom heavy over this 9/11 ceremony” and will affect America’s “remembrance” of the 9/11 attack.

“But it is a fact and it’s undeniable that we went to Afghanistan clearly to get after the al-Qaida, take the Taliban regime down who enabled them to conduct that attack on 9/11, and we accomplished that,” he said, noting that he is “concerned about going forward.”

Keane maintained that “Osama bin Laden didn’t understand America” and that he thought taking out the Twin Towers and damaging the Pentagon “would crush America. That’s why he attacked our symbols, our economy, our military strength, our political system, democracy at the Capitol – which failed, of course.”