As US forces pulled out of Afghanistan, local government and military was overrun in record times by Taliban. I think within 72 hours of withdrawal Taliban had control over capital. Saigon-like footage played on the news, with people trying to cling to landing gear of leaving military planes and desperate mothers tossing babies at the troops as they are leaving.

Yet, I still think withdrawal was the right call. The collapse of Afghan military showed that US command was lying and/or delusional and that CIA was lying and/or clueless in assessing the situation. TWENTY years, BILLIONS spent, THOUSANDS dead, and this is ALL THEY GOT TO SHOW for it? Clearly, more of the same would not have changes anything.

I think the root cause is fundamental misunderstanding of how Islamic value system is incompatible with the Western liberal governance. You can't build a nation when people you are building it for do not want nation like that.

What do you think?

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