What will happen when American military forces withdraw from Afghanistan? Donald Trump told aides that he wanted U.S. forces out of Afghanistan before the 2020 election. There are various reports in the media that an agreement has been reached between the Taliban and the U.S. on a time frame for a withdrawal as well as on the outline of an interim government.
U.S. special representative Zalmay Khalilzad denied reports of an agreement for an interim government, and he didn't mention a possible time from for withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Clearly, we are getting closer to ending America's longest war. But Senator Lindsey Graham, appearing on Fox News, warned of severe consequences if the U.S. withdraws prematurely.
“If we left tomorrow, the Taliban cannot be trusted to take care of ISIS and Al Qaeda,” Graham told chief intelligence correspondent Catherine Herridge. “They don't have the capability. So when you ask our intelligence community…what would happen to America if we withdrew all of our forces. They tell us without any hesitation it would lead to another 9/11 in a matter of time.”
Beg your pardon, senator, but if the Taliban has the capability of taking over 70 percent of Afghanistan, they can take care of their enemies in ISIS. In fact, the Al-Qaeda-Taliban alliance in the 1990's, which gave Bin Laden a safe haven to plan the attacks, would not exist today. Nor would there be any kind of alliance with ISIS, whom the Taliban view as their mortal enemy.
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11.28.2024