Bonzo and Backwoodsman, so you'd have the US continue to support the status quo of the few oligarchs who got rich and richer with all of the cash poured into Afghanistan? It had to end. Intelligence seems to have failed, there are now reports and interviews from various high-ranking folks who should have known, who have said the information didn't come to warn how fast the Taliban was moving (because Trump positioned them to buy the cooperation of many regions and towns starting in early 2020. Bribes happened and lots of cooperation was purchased. This was apparently a low-key operation. And Trump released 5000 or so Taliban staff from prison to do the job.)

I think you're missing the point of just what has been going on there since George W. Bush started this absurd project 20 years ago. The question now is did Trump manage to enrich himself in this process. We're going to need to impeach his ass again.