Your words are unimaginable yet horribly true.

I'm by no means an expert on any of this and my heart breaks for Afghani's terrified by the most recent events based on past history. I feel in the case of the USA it's 'damned if you do - and damned if you don't.'

But...

The fact the Taliban could so easily - and quickly gain control of the country leads little old me who knows diddly squat, to wonder to what extent they benefited from the US being there; quietly establishing themselves in the background knowing the day would come to exert their knowledge and power.

As you said, Afghanistan is not the USA; you cannot rule if you are not in power. Did the USA pull out because there was nothing in it for them anymore? Did they really care about the Afghani's? I'm not talking about you personally, but as a country wanting to protect to benefit their own needs. Oil.

I live in hope the Taliban won't live up to their usual tricks and be content they have power and start respecting civilians; esp women. call me naiive...but one has to have faith to make any sense of all of this.