governor arrangement with the afghan government. but it did authorise the release _ government. but it did authorise the release of— government. but it did authorise the release of 5000 prisoners last year, including _ release of 5000 prisoners last year, including some of the taliban and's top war— including some of the taliban and's top war commanders, among those that 'ust top war commanders, among those that just took— top war commanders, among those that just took control of afghanistan. by the time _ just took control of afghanistan. by the time i_ just took control of afghanistan. by the time i came to office, that taliban— the time i came to office, that taliban was in its strongest military— taliban was in its strongest military position since 2001. controlling or contesting nearly half of — controlling or contesting nearly half of the country. the previous administration's agreement said, if we step— administration's agreement said, if we step to — administration's agreement said, if we step to the may one deadline that they had _ we step to the may one deadline that they had signed on to leave by, that taliban— they had signed on to leave by, that taliban wouldn't attack any american forces, _ taliban wouldn't attack any american forces, but _ taliban wouldn't attack any american forces, but if we stayed, all bets were _ forces, but if we stayed, all bets were off — forces, but if we stayed, all bets were off. so we were left with a simple — were off. so we were left with a simple decision, either follow their bad equipment made by the last administration and leave afghanistan or say— administration and leave afghanistan or say we _ administration and leave afghanistan or say we weren't sleeping and, it another— or say we weren't sleeping and, it another tens of thousands more