advancing Afghan culture into the (Western) enlightenment of the 21st century, or that that would be possible.
Bush and company invaded both to fight terrorism and prevail over other nations struggling for power in that part of the world. The problem isn't that we were doomed to fail to achieve our limited goals, we didn't fail, but that there would never be an end to it. That was known going in, though, and every administration since looked, not for a way to save Afghanistan from its own culture, but for a point to get out.
Meanwhile, over our protracted stay, we did help build some needed infrastructure, including schools and reservoirs, etc, and try to help Afghanistan become more functional, but in furtherance of realistic and practical goals. We were able to help some open some doors for themselves where allowed.
Fwiw, we've succeeded in 20 years without major external terrorist damage to our nation. Al-Queda smashed, ISIS driven into a corner before being rescued by tRump. Instead, our greatest current threat is similar to Afghanistan's and many other nations' -- internal from our own RW extremists.
As for what western well wishers hoped for, at this point we can't know what lasting effects the U.S. presence will have had on Afghanistan's culture. We know it won't be nothing. Afghanistan has changed over this period due to larger forces that are changing the entire planet. Population explosion, urbanization, climate devastation, disappearing water and farmland, displaced people. Internet, smart phones, solar power. New expectations. But the t-shirt effect for now will still be on a very impoverished, mostly extremely conservative, still mostly quasi-medieval society where Islam is still involved in all aspects of life. It's probable that grave troubles from climate change alone assisted the Taliban's return to power by increasing fears and need for strong leadership. Who knows? Maybe the Taliban will establish Afghanistan's first-ever successful central government capable of addressing big problems.
It does seem that we could have paid much less to the Afghan government and gotten as much for us and them, but no doubt we got most of what we agreed to pay for at the time.
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