There is no such thing as limited warfare. Either you fight to win or you loose. WWII ended because the enemies will to fight ended. Their choice was simple. End it or face annihilation. The Afghan president said he fled to avoid bloodshed. It can only be assumed he meant his own. I am sure his bank account is well funded with US Afghan Aid money.

isn't it the same story repeating over and over, such as previous withdrawals from Afghanistan, not just by the US but Soviet Union as well, and going back all the way to the Anglo-Afghan Wars.

I mean, the way it was (mis-)managed tactically was a colossal failure by Biden administration but was there really another strategic solution, except for not invading Afghanistan in the first place.