The White House is being cagey, but despite ‘withdrawal’ the military has been operating non-stop on the ground there for 20 years, writes Nick Turse.
![US troops Afg [Getty]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_156x88/public/media/images/99DFBB97-A203-4932-BCDD-C00B14D48854.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=vbb5Wbvz "US troops Afg [Getty]")
![Taliban [Getty]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_156x88/public/media/images/C02AE398-B6BE-4C0A-B5F7-D3FFC908371E.png?h=d1cb525d&itok=8qVZztb8 "Taliban [Getty]")
![Biden [AFP via Getty]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_156x88/public/media/images/A4E7A4A8-2F35-4B94-B784-0E1636647FD7.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=5aZvat6w "Biden [AFP via Getty]")
![Taliban [Getty]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_156x88/public/media/images/686539DF-F08E-4A0D-A001-4442329C46E2.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=CtriBo82 "Taliban [Getty]")
