Al-Qaeda

The idea that, left alone, the rag tag and unmotivated Afghan National Army would be able to take on and defeat hardened and zealous Taliban fighters was always ludicrous.

Why take people through another security review process given they had been put through the wringer when first employed and periodically during their tenure?

Khalilzad negotiated with the Taliban for the US and its allies to make a military exit from Afghanistan within 14 months. The deal was badly flawed.