After two decades of war in Afghanistan, President Joe Biden has abundant justification for withdrawing all U.S. troops by Sept. 11.

Yet his decision has the feel of a loss because of what is likely to follow.

Sept. 11 is the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that led to the U.S. invasion. The short-term goal was clear — to obliterate the terrorist infrastructure that supported the attacks. And that goal largely was met through the rout of the Taliban and, in 2011 in neighboring Pakistan, the death of al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden.

But because the U.S. never established a concrete long-term goal for the occupation, it is hard to even measure success or failure.

Attempts to establish democratic governance produced enthusiasm among the populace but epic corruption among political leaders. The reach of fundamentalist terrorists was such that U.S. and allied soldiers often were killed by Afghan soldiers. The welfare of women clearly improved as the loosening of the medieval Taliban’s grip on the society opened opportunities for education, employment and mobility.

The lesson was the same as it was regarding Vietnam, Somalia and Iraq. The United States, at the beginning of any such incursion, must have not only justification for going in but clear objectives and a plan for getting out.

The impending withdrawal will save American lives and money. But the resulting cost to Afghan people, whom the United States purported to champion, is going to be high.

— Tribune News Service