U.S. EXODUS FROM AFGHANISTAN
The Taliban are overrunning Afghan military outposts, towns, and villages, and major cities as the US prepares to leave by September 11th, after two decades of war, reigniting worries that they might topple the government. Afghanistan is on the verge of a new civil war, thanks to the resurgence of armed regional militias to counter the Afghan Taliban onslaught. The Taliban were deposed by US-led forces in Afghanistan in 2001, but the organization has steadily rebuilt strength since then and is once again capturing territory. Many northern districts have been taken over by the Taliban, and some large towns have been besieged. They now have control of the main highways going to Mazar-I-Sharif. Afghan government forces have abandoned their posts in several locations without a struggle. Soldiers have joined the rebels in certain situations. The Taliban have taken control of the major border crossing with Tajikistan, which is an important commercial route. The Taliban has accused...
