Because it's relevant to future US policy choices, it's worth pointing out that the Trump Admin did not, in fact, push the Taliban into negotiations through military escalation. It drew them to the table by making a concessionary policy change. 1/3 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/afghanistan-peace-talks-biden/2020/11/09/713498e0-1de5-11eb-ad53-4c1fda49907d_story.html
With Biden headed to White House, Afghan government hopes for tougher stance on Taliban

Slight changes could provide more leverage to government negotiators in Doha and move stalled peace talks forward.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/afghanistan-peace-talks-biden/2020/11/09/713498e0-1de5-11eb-ad53-4c1fda49907d_story.html
The change was acceding to Taliban demand for negotiating bilaterally on US troop withdrawal *before* any talks between Taliban and Afghan govt. The concession is what got the peace process moving; impt to recognize it wasn't some US show of strength that produced result. 2/3
The bit of the article I'm reacting to: "President Trump escalated the US air war to push the Taliban to the negotiating table and secure a historic deal charting the course for the full withdrawal of U.S. troops by next spring." Not disputing that's what Trump Admin *says*. 3/3
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