It is beyond dispute that the Pentagon and other elements of America's deep state were determined to keep those records secret from the American people.That's because it took three years and two federal lawsuits to force deep-state officials to finally release the records.

No one is accusing the Post of publishing lies. It is undisputed that what the Post has published is the truth.

Why then did the deep state oppose release of the records? Why was the deep state so insistent that they be kept secret?

The answer is: Because the deep state knew that the records recounted the truth, and the last thing the deep state wanted was for the American people to know the truth about its war in Afghanistan — that "Operation Enduring Freedom" was built on lies, just like the Vietnam War was.