America and the Taliban

How did we lose the war in Afghanistan? Frontline tackles this broad question with exemplary on-the-ground reporting, powerful new interviews, and 20 years of archived material in America and the Taliban. The three-part series offers surprising new insight into America’s longest war, exposing the failures and missteps that led to the Taliban’s stunning 2021 victory. Senior Frontline correspondent Martin Smith and his team link familiar events with little-known facts, bringing viewers behind the headlines and political spin for a closer look. The series is packed with vivid oral histories from everyday Afghans, former high-ranking American officials, U.S. military, and senior Taliban members—some who have never spoken publicly before now. Each voice adds a facet to understanding how the world’s most preeminent military power suffered such a staggering defeat. This impactful series draws a powerful and clear portrait of U.S. military operations over time, with surprising results. For taking viewers on an eye-opening journey across a country and war that are all too often misunderstood, America and the Taliban receives a Peabody Award.