conditions, it failed to fully honor any other condition. under the doha agreement and perhaps for the united states national security the taliban has never renounced their linkages with al qaeda or broke their affiliation with them. we in the united states adhered to every condition. in the fall of 2020, my analysis then was that an accelerated withdrawal without meeting specific and necessary conditions risks losing the substance gains made in afghanistan. would potentially damage u.s. worldwide credibility and could precipitate a collapse of the afghan security forces and the afghan government resulting in a complete taliban takeover or general civil war. that analysis was a year ago. based on my advice and the advice of the commanders at the time, then secretary of defense esper recommended we maintain
condition under the doha agreement. and perhaps most importantly for the united states national security, the taliban has never renounced their linkages with al qaeda or broke their affiliation with them. we, the united states, adhered to every condition. in the fall of 2020, my analysis then was that an accelerated withdrawal without meeting specific and necessary conditions risks losing the substantial gains made in afghanistan, would potentially damage u.s. worldwide credibility, and could precipitate a general collapse of the afghan security forces and the afghan government, resulting in a complete taliban takeover or general civil war. that analysis was a year ago. based on my advice and the advice of the commanders at the time, then secretary of defense esper submitted a memorandum on 9 november, recommending that we maintain the u.s. forces that
in the fall of 2020, my analysis was that an accelerated withdrawal without meeting specific and necessary conditions risks losing the substantial gains made in afghanistan damaging u.s. worldwide credibility and could precipitate a general collapse of the afghan government and military resulting in a complete taliban takeover or general civil war. that was a year ago. my assessment remained consistent throughout. based on my advice and the advice of the commanders, then secretary of defenses per submitted a memorandum on november 9 recommending to maintain u.s. forces at a level between 2500 and 4500 in afghanistan until conditions were met before further reduction. two days later, on november 11
withdrawal without meeting specific and necessary conditions, risks losing the substantial gains made in afghanistan, damaging u.s. worldwide credibility, and could precip tatd a general collapse of the afghan government resulting in a complete taliban takeover or general civil war. that was a year ago. my assessment remained consistent throughout. based on my advice, the advice of the commanders, then secretary of defense esper submitted a memorandum on 9 november recommending to maintain u.s. forces at a level between about 2,500 and 4,500 in afghanistan until conditions were met for further reduction. two days later, on 11 november 2020, i received an unclassified, signed order
was that an accelerated withdrawal, without meeting specific and necessary conditions, risks losing the substantial gains made in afghanistan, damaging u.s. worldwide credibility and could precipitate a general collapse of the ansf, and the afghan government, resulting in a complete taliban takeover or general civil war. that was a year ago. my assessment remained consistent throughout. based on my advice and the advice of the commanders, then secretary of defense esper submitted a memorandum on 9 november, recommending to maintain u.s. forces at a level between about 2,500 and 4,500 in afghanistan, until conditions were met for further reduction. two days later, on 11 november 2020, i received an unclassified, signed order