The Trump administration says it is on the verge of a historic peace deal with the Taliban. The idea is simple: The Taliban will refrain from violence for a week, after which the United States will begin to withdraw its forces, and intra-Afghan dialogue can begin. While Trump is keen to declare victory and leave Afghanistan, regardless of the consequences, the elephant in the room remains Pakistan.

Afghanistan has long confounded U.S. policy, though the history of U.S.-Afghan relations is often misunderstood. It is a calumny to suggest the U.S. created, let alone supported, the Taliban. During the fight against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Reagan administration supported the Afghan mujahideen, the precursor to the Northern Alliance and today’s Afghan government. The Taliban first emerged in 1994, meaning they were toddlers during the Soviet occupation. Say what you will about the CIA, but they do not arm kindergartners.