In a classic case of projection, Biden recently declared that the Taliban are going through a sort of “existential crisis.” The truth is, we are the ones going through a crisis. As Afghanistan goes down the drain, it’s worth asking what our exodus says about America.

It now appears that we lack the competence to execute a relatively orderly withdrawal, cannot be counted on to stick by our friends and allies when the chips are down, and lack the will or the stomach for the kinds of enduring struggles that are required to maintain order in the 21st century world (and, no, I’m not advocating for quixotic attempts at “democracy-building,” but rather, the long-term commitments that are in our strategic and national interest).

Keeping the world, and ourselves, safe requires constant vigilance. This is a quality that is at odds with our short attention spans, our admirable desire for peace, a governing system that swaps the commander-in-chief every four to eight years, and a newfound willingness to accept perpetual stalemate as tantamount to a “win”—a foreign concept for a country where sporting contests are rarely allowed to end in a tie.