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The Enemy of My Enemy is Still a Terrorist

It would seem that Joe is not wrong insisting that he was simply executing the agreement settled by Trump: an agreement that we can now infer included Taliban control of Afghanistan as well as diplomatic recognition (that's coming).

Obviously, the powers-that-be thought this was a good idea regardless of the person sitting in the Oval Office. The real question is why? Why surrender a key piece of real estate within striking distance of Iran and China (and of interest to Russia for pipelines)?

Prior to the Trump drawdown, there were ~8,000 military members in Afghanistan, of which maybe 2,000 were combat personnel. 8,000 people were keeping 80,000 Taliban fighters at bay and half of Afghanistan enjoyed something that resembled a peaceful (and even western) existence.

Not only have we armed the Taliban to the teeth, but American technology will soon find itself in the hands of Iran, China, and Russia. Anything the Taliban cannot operate or maintain will be sold to the highest bidder.

There will be a resurgence of both ISIS and al Qaeda on a regional and perhaps global scale now that they have state-of-the-art training facilities and an uncontested base of operations.

The Taliban will put on a pretty face for the UN and NATO while harboring and even funding the world's most wanted fugitives.

It's hard to believe none of the stooges in government would contemplate this eventuality, which begs the question, (aside from the disastrous withdrawal) was this the plan all along?