Michael Hughes: The U.S. exit from Afghanistan was partially based on rolling the dice that the reconstitution of al-Qaeda under the Taliban would be a problem for the neighbors in Central and South Asia, not the Western powers. This was also based on the supposition that should al-Qaeda begin to plot another 9-11-style attack, U.S. counterterrorism organizations would not be asleep at the switch. The U.S. has more antiterror capabilities today, so goes this argument, hence the al-Qaeda threat is not seen as imminent. Al-Qaeda, for its part, may not have its eyes on the American homeland, yet, but it is certainly getting stronger by the day, including by securing millions worth of straight profit from mining proceeds and stealing aid funds. Click here to read more.