Afghanistan: US partners, allies, betrayals

In an astounding reality show, people around the world watched in disbelief as the world's superpower, the United States - after 20 years of noble and bombastic speeches, over 250,000 dead and $2.3 trillion - rushed its 2,500 soldiers out before its citizens, through helicopters again, leaving tens of thousands of supporters. And then decides to send back 6,000 soldiers - because of barefoot, bombed-out, gaunt-looking, outnumbered desert-mountain fighters, who simply walked into cities throughout Afghanistan within a week without speeches.

People everywhere winced, reminded of similar experiences in war debacles just a generation ago. Politicians in the US skewered President Biden in sadistic glee; others tried to explain.