A recent oversight report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction stated that “the Taliban now controls more territory than at any time since 2001. Vicious and repeated attacks in Kabul this quarter shook confidence in the national-unity government. A year after the Coalition handed responsibility for Afghan security to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), American and British forces were compelled on several occasions to support ANDSF troops in combat against the Taliban.”

In light of Obama’s end to formal American combat operations in 2014, the Taliban is stronger than ever in Afghanistan.