US and Taliban sign deal to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan

[Mister Agenda]

The original stated goal of invading Afghanistan was to 'get' Osama bin Laden (who didn't get shot until the next administration and by then he was in Pakistan); ousting the Taliban was an ad hoc justification. The reasoning behind staying was that it would be a hotbed for international terrorism otherwise. Without US air support; Afghan government forces can't prevail in the provinces. The Taliban will probably conquer most of the country except Kabul. The Taliban has no designs on the USA, but strong ties to Al-Qaeda. US presidents have been reluctant to withdraw from Afghanistan because there's a fair chance a terrorist attack on the USA will be launched from or through that country. Cost/benefit is that we should leave; but the political risk to a president who makes that decision is huge if such a terrorist attack should materialize. I would say the primary thing that has kept the USA in Afghanistan is the political calculations of American presidents.