Regardless of any signed agreement, the Taliban was never going to allow a peaceful withdrawal. [View all]

[RockRaven]

They were always going to make a show of chasing us out, at minimum, if not genuinely doing so. Some asshole signing a piece of paper wasn't ever going to stand in the way of that.

The Taliban seeks to rule by force, not consent. They want the public to submit, not resist -- it's easier and less costly, obviously. So it comes down to fear. They want everyone to believe they are the biggest bully on the block, that nothing can stop them from doing whatever they want. They don't want to be seen as the strongest entity remaining after the US left, they want to be seen as the strongest period.

Chasing/harrassing/attacking the US on their way out is too useful as propaganda to waste the opportunity.

Any politician or pundit who claims a peaceful exit was possible (often accompanied by a "Biden should have done X" as if that would have changed the above circumstances) is a fool or a liar.