Should we be awarded the Afghan Freedom Medal?

It should be up to the awarding government to decide who it gets to decorate.  Anything else is politics.

I think we , The United States, should have accepted this. I see this turning into an issue similar to the Korean Medal. Only after waiting decades, was the medal accepted and authorized. By then many of the service members were dead. Service members should be awarded with the medals they earned when they earn them.

Oddly, I was handed a Kuwaiti medal, by the Ambassador to America himself. I remember thanking him, shaking his hand and feeling a little shocked when I realized he was literaly blinking back tears as he shoved them at us. I remember thinking that this was a bit over the top, because I'd seen the man and his staff doing everything from handing out food to families caught up in the "Persian Excursion." Reservist famlies literaly going hungry because their checks weren't coming... so that Ambassador and his staff bought and handed out food and toys for all the families in need... and then, there he was, handing out thise big honking medals... I mean, have you seen these things? They are enormous!
Once the Iraqis were out of his country, they began cleaning it up, and tossing out the Palestianians, who's helped and cheered for the Iraqi's. The difference in that country, pre-war and post-war, was night and day... but Afghanistan... not so much. Even should I have earned the right to this medal, I don't think I'd choose to wear it, because I feel as if we pushed and fought, and bleed for that country, and Excuse Me for being blunt, but I don't see that they worked half as hard as we did, to help themselves.... and yes, I know, I'm probably wrong....
Now, as to the Afghan Freedom Medal, I agree, that, given the state of the country, it would seem pretty depressing to wear it, given the state of the country even now.

Let me get this straight. Prior to the recent ending of the official NATO mission soldiers deployed to Afghanistan could expect to receive two medals (ACM, NATO) and a ribbon (OSR) and you want to add a fourth piece of flair to the list? You must really want to express yourself!

I say again: Is Afghanistan "FREE" at this time? How do you define that word?

Afghanistan is not free.

It makes me wonder how Korean and Viet-Nam Veterans feel when they see a SP4 with 5 rows, I mean we have so many medals and ribbons now, the Higher ups have resorted to only wearing the highest 2 rows.

What is the difference? Did the command learn that soldiers in war need something to feel like it was worth it, or do we need to show what ad who we are through medals this day and age of "me" and "mine"?

The Cold war was a time where I felt most useful and needed and it felt like a very important mission with a clear objective. I served in Iraq, got the medals: the Bronze Star and an Arcom and all the campaign starts and such BUT if the Cold War Medal was authorized, I woudl have to say that would be the most meaningful of all Medals, even over the Bronze Star.

In the end I guess we are trading medals for time and the Leaders know we all love them, I just think it should be possible to recognize one of the largest Armed Forces in American History; The cold War Military and the Viet-Nam Veteran...

Would it rank before or after the USAF "I graduated from Basic Training" medal?

Don't we have enough damn awards?

I'd wear it. Hopefully it would be worth some promotion points as well. Gotta get my military bling on while I am young(ish).