Extrication from a long war is the trickiest of decisions. It can get tougher when the world’s most powerful nation—the United States—has to do it.
It took 19 years, the longest armed engagement in American history, for the US to realise that despite possessing by far the most modern army and sophisticated weaponry, it no longer wanted to play ‘policeman’ in Afghanistan, particularly when caught in a quagmire. Rather, it was prudent to cut losses and run.