Withdrawal has opened the region up to more Chinese and Russian influence. These two have no scruples about the practices of the Taliban and will happily coexist with them. Biden seems unaware of the political expediency of keeping Taliban out in order to promote western values. No doubt there are those who don’t think we should be doing that anyway but I don’t see how we can preserve our way of life in a hostile world if we don’t.

**Not even 6 months ago, a huge majority on the left and right were BEGGING us to leave the Middle East by any means necessary.** While I certainly agree things haven't been optimal, here's the thing: If things were done optimally, that would have been the very definition of the war being "over". Any time it isn't over and we leave, it is less-than-optimal. It is going to look ugly. Normally, this is where I would argue that Trump made the Taliban deals, and the Trump administration planned to be out by May when we would be FAR less prepared. However, it has already been revealed by staffers that the Trump administration actually had zero plans to leave at all. They planned to continue things indefinitely and simply use" leaving" as a quick talking point to get elected. Why? Because let me reiterate: **The overwhelming majority wanted us to leave the Middle East by any means necessary.** The absolutely rapid 180 degree turn in narrative has been jarring to the point of whiplash. NOW we SUDDENLY care what happens. NOW we SUDDENLY are talking about the horrors going on over there are though this hasn't been happening for the last 20 years and the news and public discourse weren't just ignoring it. News media just decided to start caring, out of nowhere, the moment it because clear that their military sponsors were going to have a harder time getting their blank checks. If we want to talk about creating a check on Russian or Chinese influence, then the nations we need to focus on building on are OUR OWN. Nothing pushes people away from western democracy and capitalism like corrupt, unchecked corporate entities, healthcare systems that are funded by price-gouging and extorting inflexible demand, or allying with terrorist organizations to stabilize profit margins. We win against other superpower influences by out-competing them. Not by out-bombing them.