In October 2001, following the horrific 9/11 terrorist attack on the U.S., American military forces invade Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban regime that had harbored the Al-Qaida organization responsible for the attack. Our goal was not just to punish the Taliban, but to establish a free, self-sustaining government in that country.

Now, nearly 20 years later, President Joe Biden, the fourth president to serve during this war, is pulling all American troops out, ending our longest war. The question remains, is the Afghan government ready to stand alone? Is its military ready to withstand the Taliban forces who have been maintaining an insurgency ever since the invasion?

After 20 years, they had better be. Afghanistan has had ample time to create a government and build a military force. America has done all it is willing to do militarily. It is time for Afghanistan to assume responsibility for its own future.

What form that future takes depends on them. Of course, we don’t want to see the Afghan government collapse and the Taliban roll back into power. America should be ready to support Afghanistan with arms and supplies against the Taliban, but it is time for the Afghans to prove they are made of the same stern stuff as their Taliban foes.