Bush never even defeated the Taliban.
By 2003 there should have been no Taliban.
Doing things half-assed is the Bush Way.
Not to worry about withdrawal, the People’s Liberation Army will soon occupy the territory, if only to assure greater supplies of both opium for the world trade, and to mine the rare earths that will be so much in demand for the manufacture of the batteries needed for the electrification of all land vehicles.
The PRC might even turn a profit by entering into this “trade agreement” with Afghanistan. More like colonization and exploitation.