A continued military presence in the area and reason to keep the military industrial complex spun up. Same reason for basically every intervention/conflict/war since the American revolution in the case of the us.
Then why did they leave?
In both cases because they're wildly unpopular and in the case of Afghanistan because it started the war on terrors ability to strike anywhere anytime. Make no mistake the us is still in the area and droning with impunity.
What did they get?
A continued military presence in the area and reason to keep the military industrial complex spun up. Same reason for basically every intervention/conflict/war since the American revolution in the case of the us.
Then why did they leave?
In both cases because they're wildly unpopular and in the case of Afghanistan because it started the war on terrors ability to strike anywhere anytime. Make no mistake the us is still in the area and droning with impunity.