CEP Advisory Board Member Dr. August Hanning quoted: "'It was clear to all experts that [the withdrawal] meant the great danger of the Taliban taking power in Afghanistan,' Dr. August Hanning, former German state secretary of the Federal Interior Ministry and director of Federal Intelligence Services, explained. 'But the prevailing mood in Germany was that government, Parliament and public were tired about the mission and the poor results of the mission in Afghanistan. Therefore, this announcement was also associated with a feeling of relief.'"