U.S. out of Afghanistan By John Catalinotto posted on July 5, 2021 The Pentagon withdrew its forces from Bagram Air Field in Kabul July 2. Corporate media presented this event as an irreversible step in Washington’s departure from the nearly 20-year-old occupation of Afghanistan. Some 650 U.S. troops still guard the U.S. Embassy, and there are many thousands of “contractors” — mercenaries — but many Afghans will see the U.S. departure as guaranteeing a victory for the Taliban-led resistance. Afghan protesters in Kabul rally against the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, 2001. According to articles in the July 3 New York Times, and other newspapers that reflect opinions in the Pentagon and other government agencies, change may come quickly to Afghanistan. Many strategists expect that recent takeovers of territory by the Taliban-led forces will soon put them in a position to overthrow the Kabul regime and replace it.