The Afghan people didn’t choose the Taliban. They fought and died alongside us.

This is an opinion item.

Author(s)	Condoleezza Rice
Source	The Washington Post
Date	August 17, 2021
URL	https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/08/17/condoleezza-rice-afghans-didnt-choose-taliban/
Quote	More time for the Afghans didn’t have to entail combat troops, just a core American presence for training, air support and intelligence. More time for us might have retained American intelligence and counterterrorism assets on the ground to protect our allies and our homeland from the reemergence of a terrorist haven. More time might have preserved our sophisticated Bagram air base in the middle of a dangerous region that includes Pakistan and borders the most dangerous country in the Middle East — Iran.

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This item argues against the position Withdrawal was justified on the topic Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2020–2021).

This item argues for the position Withdrawal was poorly executed on the topic Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2020–2021).