The chaotic U.S. exit from Afghanistan left a bitter legacy. Twenty years, trillions of dollars, and thousands of lives—yet the Taliban returned to power. Allies and adversaries alike saw America’s vulnerability. It wasn’t just a military failure. It was a credibility crisis. If the U.S. can’t uphold its commitments in faraway lands, how can allies trust Washington to act elsewhere? Afghanistan revealed a harsh truth: global leadership requires both capability and perception. Americans may debate whether it was worth it, but the world has already answered. Trust is fragile, and mistakes echo for decades. #Military #Afghanistan #US #GlobalLeadership