America’s longest war is officially over, for better or worse

To ensure delivery to your inbox add email@mail.nbcnews.com to your contacts Today's Top Stories from NBC News TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021 Good morning, NBC News readers.     The last soldier has left. The last plane has departed. After nearly 20 years of war, over $2 trillion spent and thousands of lives lost, America's war in Afghanistan is officially over.    Here's what we're watching this Tuesday morning.     The war in Afghanistan is officially over. Now, some wonder, are we back where we started? President Joe Biden oversaw the end of the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan on Monday, when the last aircraft carrying military personnel left the airport in Kabul.   Military officials said the final operation went smoothly, with the cooperation of the Taliban, but many in the U.S. and around the world are scratching their heads and wondering what's been achieved after all the colossal sacrifices for a war that started and ended with the same hardline Islamists in power.   The Taliban, originally toppled by the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, are back in control of the country after having swept aside the Washington-backed Afghan government in a remarkably swift offensive.    Taliban fighters held full control of Kabul's international airport Tuesday. Celebratory fireworks and gunfire marked the departure of the last U.S. plane from the airport before leaders were seen symbolically walking across the runway to mark their victory. The photo above shows fighters standing inside an Afghan Air Force aircraft at the airport.   Now with the U.S. military gone and commercial flights halted, Afghans desperate to leave the country are flocking to the country's land borders.      In Ida's wake, experts worry Covid cases will surge Hurricane Ida barreled into Louisiana as the state was battling its biggest surge of Covid-19 to date.     Now health experts fear that the stage may be set for an explosion of infections given the high number of Covid cases circulating, coupled with the state's low vaccination rates and the forced close proximity that occurs during a storm.    "We've got so much Covid in the Southeastern United States," said Dr. James McDeavitt, senior vice president and dean of clinical affairs at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "The pandemic will probably get worse."   More on Ida:  Mississippi dodges worst of Hurricane Ida, sends help to Louisiana 'All in this together': New Orleanians reflect on their home after Ida's destruction Get all the latest developments in our live blog Tuesday's Top Stories Thousands forced to flee Lake Tahoe as California's Caldor Fire rages The Caldor Fire, which has been burning since Aug. 14, has damaged more than 600 structures, with at least 18,000 more under threat. READ MORE Man convicted of murdering Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts sentenced to life in prison "You, and you alone, forever changed the lives of those who loved Mollie Tibbetts," the judge told Cristhian Bahena Rivera before handing down the sentence. READ MORE China is cracking down on its 'chaotic' celebrity fan culture China's increasing efforts to regulate society have led Beijing to a new target: celebrity culture and the often raucous fan groups surrounding it. READ MORE Also in the News Jersey Shore lifeguard killed by lightning, 7 others injured Man confronts NBC News correspondent Shaquille Brewster on live TV during Ida coverage  Jan. 6 committee to ask phone companies for Republican lawmakers' records Air travel sees sharp decline as delta variant continues to derail vacation plans Supreme Court asked to block Texas' six-week abortion ban Teacher faces backlash for suggesting student pledge allegiance to Pride flag Opinion  THINK  What really motivates many anti-mask Christians? (Hint: It's not the Bible.) Nothing in the Bible says you can't wear a mask. But religious objectors know that, Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, a fellow with the Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative at the Center for American Progress, writes in an opinion piece.  READ MORE Shopping According to the latest CDC guidance, fully vaccinated individuals should wear masks indoors in areas of substantial or high transmission. Here's a shopping guide to some of the best masks for the job. One 'Overdue' Honor  The Harlem Hellfighters, a segregated World War I unit, earned a Congressional Gold Medal The all-Black Army regiment nicknamed the Harlem Hellfighters battled both the German forces and racism during World War I. Now, more than a century after their service, the unit has been honored with a "long overdue" Congressional Gold Medal.   President Joe Biden signed the Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act into law last week.   Replicas of the prestigious medal will be awarded to families of members of the 369th Infantry Regiment in recognition of the unit's lengthy service, which included front-line combat and hundreds of lives lost or affected by injuries.    "These patriots gave their all to America's enduring struggle to secure global freedom while simultaneously being cast away from the very nation they swore an oath to protect," Rep. Adriano Espaillat, whose district includes Harlem, said through a spokeswoman. "Nevertheless, they persevered, and it is never too late to right a wrong." Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown.    If you have any comments — likes, dislikes — send me an email at: petra@nbcuni.com   If you're a fan, please forward it to your family and friends. They can sign-up here.    Thanks, Petra Cahill     FOLLOW US     Want to receive NBC Breaking News and Special Alerts in your inbox? SIGN UP HERE Check out all of NBC Newsletters here.     Get the NBC News Mobile App   30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 View in browser | Unsubscribe | Manage Subscription | Contact | Privacy