I agree. The Taliban and Al Qaeda were routed in Afghanistan, and the only thing that saved them was a sympathetic government next door in Pakistan, allowing them to regroup and rearm. The Americans, had they stayed, could have protected the democratic government until it was strong enough to stand on its own, but war weariness and impatience caused them to withdraw prematurely. This was not a sign of jihadist strength and resilience, just good luck. Interviews with some of the fighters suggested actually that they were tired of war as well.