And my guess is that the most positive expectation for this whole operation was managed decline.

Currently your most reliable ally in Afghanistan is Taliban. They have decent control of their fighters that came from the good caves. They now have something lose. CIA and China have been talking with relevant parties.

The iffy part is that Haqqani network controls the airport security. No idea if something has been promised to them. But since you handed them the list of all Afghani collaborators and most of them are still alive, i'd lean towards some concessions.

Anyways, does someone still think it would have been a good idea to wait a few more months?