We also have a duty to stand by our Afghan allies who continue to fight our common enemies. We promised as much when we signed strategic partnership agreements with them in 2005 and 2012 and a bilateral security agreement in 2013, and when we designated them a major non-NATO ally. Withdrawal from Afghanistan is abandoning our allies in the middle of the fight. What would such abandonment tell the world about American character and reliability in future moments when we look to make alliances in our strategic interests?

The United States has made mistakes in Afghanistan during the past 20 years. But we should not let errors from the past lead to even worse mistakes today. If we lose Afghanistan, we will lose our ability to combat terrorists in the region. Our nation will be less safe. And we will have failed our allies who need our support.

It is not too late for the Biden administration to reconsider—and to act.