Choice #1 was to beef up our presence and maintain enough of a footprint to keep the Taliban from resuming power. The attached article makes the case for that option. This option would have inevitably meant armed conflict with the Taliban, with US troops fighting for the Afghans when their own Army lacks the will, and is only motivated by money. But, history may quickly prove that this was still the better long term option.
Choice #2 was to continue with the deal made by the Trump Administration and the Taliban. Obviously, that deal contemplated the safe withdrawal of US troops and assets. With low troop numbers and logistical challenges in resupplying our needs, the US was in a weakened negotiating posture. Whether Biden could have bought more time is unclear. It appears he wanted us out by the 20th Anniversary of 9/11. Although politically appealing, that decision was a huge mistake, as it gave the Taliban a hard timetable to unleash their retaking of power. Biden should have told them we would be out by Christmas. The Taliban have waited 20 years. What’s a few more months?
Without any violence so far, there appears to be some “meeting of the minds” between the United States and the Taliban. We will see how secure that arrangement is over the next week or so.
Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/08/16/trump-afghanistan-withdrawal-biden-catastrophe/