Regarding  “A Dishonest Afghan Accounting,” Review & Outlook, September 1, I would like  to add a point:  The need to destroy Bagram Air Base in order to deprive China-the Taliban’s new benefactor-from using it to project its military influence in the region as well as a concrete  symbol that it is has replaced the US as the preeminent foreign power in the Middle East. A few “mother of all bombs” would do the trick.

Abandoning  Bagram will  go down as one of the greatest military blunders in American history. Located  thirty miles from Kabul, the US,with more troops temporarily deployed, could have created a secure route to the base for Americans and SIV holders, warning the Taliban not to  interfere  or they would be killed. Instead,  Biden’s national  security team inexplicably chose to evacuate from Kabul airport, ceding control of airport access to the Taliban. This, of course, resulted in chaos and, the death  of thirteen service members who would not have been killed if they were at Bagram.

Lawrence L.Tracy

Colonel, U.S. Amy (Ret.)

Chevy Chase, MD.