News Analysis As America’s 20-year-long military deployment in Afghanistan draws to a close this month with a deadline of Aug. 31 for completing withdrawal, controversy continues to swirl around what the best policy should be, with continued air strikes and budgetary increases supporting the Afghan government. Former U.S. president George W. Bush has voiced concerns about the “unspeakable harm” the women in Afghanistan will suffer without America’s protection, while former CIA director David Petraeus has said that Biden is playing into the hands of the Taliban. At a July 8 press conference on the matter, reporters badgered President Joe Biden with questions reflecting the Bush-Petraeus concerns. “Is that a serious question?” an incredulous Biden responded when a reporter asked whether he “trusts” the Taliban. “It’s a silly question. No, I don’t trust the Taliban, but I trust the capacity of the Afghan military.” Even though the Taliban is at one …