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In 2021 the USA made a hasty exit from Afghanistan.
Two Administrations, one Republican, one Democratic, supported unconditional American withdrawal.
Future history books may debate the merits (or lack of same) of various actions taken pursuant to that withdrawal.
It is not the purpose of this piece to initiate that debate.
One fact may be worth noting, however: the Soviets (read Russians) departed after trying to subjugate the country after a decade, from 1979–1989.
The USA was there two decades, from 2001 (after the horrific events of 9/11) to 2021.
Osama bin Laden, purported mastermind behind 9/11, was killed in Pakistan in 2011.
Yet American troops occupied Afghanistan another 10 years.
One may reasonably ask why.
Now, following the departure of the USA and allies, and the takeover of the country by the Taliban (who offered to surrender in 2001; that surrender was refused by Donald Rumsfeld, then U. S. Secretary of Defense), the country is facing a catastrophe of almost unimaginable proportions.
The USA has frozen over $9B of Afghan assets invested outside the country.
It may be unlikely that the Taliban will once again ask to surrender. They are now in a position of power.
But the people are the ones who are suffering.
