As best as I can tell, the United States lost the war in Afghanistan the moment it decided to turn it into a democracy - the moment we decided we were there to do "nation building" - A primitive country run by warlords and riven by blood feuds and religious fighting. Never had a chance. Democracy is a dream of developed nations who can stand on centuries of enlightened thinking and culture. Even Germany and Italy collapsed into barbarism in the mid twentieth century and they had Beethoven and Michelangelo in their history.
Bush lost the war by trying to turn it into the American Revolution.
It is a tragedy - a human tragedy of profound misery. To watch those who got us into it, and who lost it about two decades ago, complain about how we are getting out of it is part of the pain of what is happening now.
As many have said, you don't lose wars gracefully. We are being chased out. Glad to be gone. Sad to have stayed so long. Weeping at the brutality of those taking over.
I have a vague hope that the Taliban will try to become a responsible government and not just a killing machine, but then again, Some had a vague hope that Trump would "grow into the job" of the presidency. They just don't change their natures, in all likelihood.
Actually, civil war amongst various violent forces inside country is not unlikely.
