U.S. troops fly over northern Afghanistan in the early days of the war in 2001. The U.S. fought its longest ever war in Afghanistan, for 20 years, only to see the Taliban retake control of the country as the U.S. withdrew in 2021.

U.S. presidents have promised short, decisive wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. All have proved much more difficult than advertised and fallen far short of the political goals set at the beginning.

(Image credit: Brennan Linsley)

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