Will this be the latest example of "America works in spite of itself"? For example, Vietnam was a similar "defeat", but then the Viet Cong victors did not create an invasive communist menace as feared. With America out, natural rivalries caused them to turn on China, and invade Cambodia to defeat Pol Pot (who was a much worse communist). The American military lost, but the American culture won, as Vietnamese learned to like American products and lifestyles more than Russian or Chinese. I'd imagine w Americans out, the Taliban will now face rivalries with Pakistan and Iran, while Russian/Chinese overtures will be rebuffed and Americans missed (after all, Taliban are proud, Americans pumped a lot of $$ into economy and were more fun than humorless Ruskies for instance). Meanwhile, US takes many expats (like Vietnamese, Cambodians, Hmong, and now Afghans) who become wealthy/educated and then a force in their home country's politics. You see, in the long run, we "win" by "losing"! Obliquely, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam (and now Iraq and Afghanistan?) are dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century, a kind of warped Marshall Plan if you will…