Ideally, we would slaughter them and every one of their civilian supporters.
We have no will to do that. And nothing less would do.
Since we can’t, we have this tiny presence there to show people that anyone who attacks us may be fighting their own countrymen backed by a small contingent of US troops for the next 100 years. Now that’s a deterrent.
There is no deterrent from an outnumbered group hunkered down in defensive positions waiting to be slaughtered. Ask the Brits how well that worked out when they were there previously.
The current "rules of engagement" are a proven route to disastrous failure. It's past time for us to leave.
[There is no deterrent from an outnumbered group hunkered down in defensive positions waiting to be slaughtered. Ask the Brits how well that worked out when they were there previously. ]
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-battered-in-kandahar-60-killed-786876876/
The Brits were financed by loot and/or taxes from conquered lands. Afghanistan is a wasteland. There was no benefit to had from it. So they crushed the Afghans and left.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Anglo-Afghan_War
Afghanistan has been repeatedly conquered in the past, typically as a way station to some other destination. Most left because it wasn’t really strategic other than as a way station, and the costs were high, due to its remoteness.
The Taliban spit in our faces by helping to attack our financial and political capitals. It still exists. The Taliban will need to die of old age or despair before we leave. Or such attacks will recur.