May 26, 2021 The Biden administration is committed to withdrawing all remaining U.S. armed forces and contractors from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021, a process that began in late April. Many Democrats and Republicans have praised the move for “ending” the 20-year war in Afghanistan. But the removal of personnel only signals that the United States is taking its military options off the table, the best source of leverage in the peace process; this action will not bring about an end to Afghanistan’s ongoing violence or the involvement of other states in the conflict. In fact, violence is escalating, and U.S. interests are still at play. A mismanaged withdrawal risks a return to civil war, the empowerment of terrorist groups, a renewed refugee crisis, and severe political consequences for the United States. Without ongoing international support to the Afghan security forces, other terrorist groups, neighboring states such as Pakistan and Iran, and emerging citizen self-defense forces will compete with the Taliban to fill the security vacuum. Congressional action that looks at a wider scope of U.S. interests can help manage and even avoid these consequences.