After witnessing the US’ government response during COVID and Afghanistan, the only thing I can think is: weakness.
How do you think allies respond to weakness?
Enemies?

You can debate all you want. At the end of the day, a few proper lockdowns, mask mandates, and test-trace-isolate are 100x easier than organizing a war economy. We didn’t do it because we were weak.

The presence in Afghanistan didn’t make sense. You either go all in, integrate its economy, flood it with Americans, exploit mines… invest foe the very long term and develop the country in the process, or you get out ASAP.
You don’t promise nation-building and then drop it

If you were to leave, leave ASAP. Not 5 years after the goal—kill Bin Laden—is achieved. But leave properly. If the Taliban are going to take the country anyway, negotiate a peaceful takeover and get everybody out first.