Posted on Aug 16, 2021
What are your feelings as the Taliban reclaim Afghanistan after 20 years of US involvement?
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I can't say I'm surprised that this is all happening. Right now I'm just sad and frustrated.
Posted in these groups: 
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 536
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It's been a heavy day for many of us. With all the negativity in the news, I couldn't be more proud of my fellow veterans who answered the call when we needed you the most. Regardless of the final outcome, your service mattered and I'm proud to call you my brothers and sisters.
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SSG Robert Velasco
Yes its wonderful, but how do you feel about unqualified personnel attempting to plan a return to Afghanistan without Pentagon approval ,on an ill fated rescue mission for the fast dissolving numbers of Americans?
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SPC Edward Drain
Kristen Cook - We are NOT complaining about the war fighters or the Nation-builders. We ARE complaining about the lack of any kind of cohesive plan for US citizens and Afghan allies, alike. And the way our military works, enlisted ranks are only required to serve the length of their contracts. No one is OBLIGATED to re-up every time, That is an individual's RIGHT.
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Kristen Cook
SPC Edward Drain I'm not sure why you are addressing me when reading your post the only thing we disagree with is the US citizen on the ground have known for over a year, why did they wait until the last moment? I seriously hate what's happening over there and it breaks my heart thinking of the 13 troops that made the ultimate sacrifice right before going home, I do take comfort in knowing (hoping) they died doing what they meant to do and that's to "serve for the greater good rather than self". It also breaks my heart for those who also gave with their lives and who are still fighting this war every single day and it makes me sick to my stomach another 22 veteran lives will be lost tomorrow do to suicide!!! Enough is enough our troops needed to come home, our families need them, they need to not be forgotten for another 20 years. People are so up in arms over the equipment left behind well that's what we do and have at least since Vietnam, no ones been complaining our troops have been fighting a war that is not called a war so don't shoot unless shot at (that's gotta mess with one's head waiting for someone to pull trigger) but because people are so divided and want something to do while collecting unemployment they "act" like they really even care! The caring, yellow ribbons, apple pie clapping at airports when a service member in uniform gets off all stopped about a year after 9/11 and that's being generous. Hell lucky to get a 10% off on a cup of coffee. Unless you are married to or a have afamily member in the United States Military most don't bother having a clue what they go through even not in combat. Indeed no one forced them into joining thie military or re enlisting when they could seperate but that's what they do, that's what run through their blood and that's why no one is forced to and why we sleep safe in our beds under one nation safely! Because they are doing what they were called to do and that's why it sucks we don't take care of them or even acknowledge them! This same thing happend in Iraq minus the people needing/wanting out, we left tons of equipment and set Isis up just like it appears we left the Taliban and no one was up in arms over it not even in 2014 when we had to send more troops back to fight of Isis, who we armed! The radical Islams have been in a Holy War from the beginning of time and will b till the end of time, Isis, Alkada, Isis are all the same and enter mingle when it suits them! Is one more life of another troop worth it? Not even for a second!
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Look, what happened in Afghanistan was always going to be what happened. Had we been there one year, ten, twenty or a hundred, we still would have arrived right here..
Unfortunately it was a foregone conclusion. At no point was the Afghan National Army ever going to be what we wanted it to be.
Our military is a product of our values, our population, our history, our budget, our executive priorities etc...
The ANA can only be what it's going to be based on it's own organic values, desires, population, objectives, etc...
If you're angry that Trump made the agreement with the Taliban, or that Biden adhered to that agreement, don't be. It doesn't affect the inevitable outcome.
This is not our issue. This is their issue.
I know we're used to throwing enough bombs at a problem to get what we want, but despite all the bald eagles, apple pie and flag waving, sometimes we don't get what we want. That's life.
Unfortunately it was a foregone conclusion. At no point was the Afghan National Army ever going to be what we wanted it to be.
Our military is a product of our values, our population, our history, our budget, our executive priorities etc...
The ANA can only be what it's going to be based on it's own organic values, desires, population, objectives, etc...
If you're angry that Trump made the agreement with the Taliban, or that Biden adhered to that agreement, don't be. It doesn't affect the inevitable outcome.
This is not our issue. This is their issue.
I know we're used to throwing enough bombs at a problem to get what we want, but despite all the bald eagles, apple pie and flag waving, sometimes we don't get what we want. That's life.
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MAJ Karl Swenson
SPC Eduard Romanov - Your kind of bias, racism, bigotry, and sexism has no place anywhere! Why is it so hard to accept people for what and who they are? You state that SPC (Join to see) needs to "deploy at least once and see some blood on his face." What the hell does that have to do with anything?? It sure sounds like the words of a REMF wannabe to me. If you have -been in combat - sounds like a big if - and if you have depended on someone to have your 6, chances are good that someone may have been called one of the derogatory terms you mentioned. Oh my!! What would you say then?? How would you thank such a person for protecting your life?
Get off your ass and learn about people. You never know, your best friend might be a "faggot"....
Get off your ass and learn about people. You never know, your best friend might be a "faggot"....
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SFC William Linnell
Holy Balls!!! Y'all just went full tard mode. I had to stop reading as this just went to left field and people are pissy bc no one is throwing them any balls. STAY ON POINT!! Some opinions are most likely from careerist Soldiers who actually did the day to day training with the National Army. As well as the National Police and Border Police. It was one soul sucking mission in trying to train a 75% illiterate populace with the mind set of 8 year olds. Having to explain a task 4 different ways in order for them to understand.
For those that did work hand n hand with these three entities are close to being subject matter experts on the subject on how the ANA would and did collapse. Our government were damn fools in thinking otherwise. And all those thousands of civilians that wanted to escape claiming asylum. Well, suck it up buttercup. It's your country, pick up a rifle and eliminate the Taliban. But they won't. Why? Lazy? Cowards? It's up to them now to decide. Those working for the US and our allies there should've gotten priority along with American civilians working there. One can beat this like a dead horse with the same go around.
All that reinvention of Win the hearts and minds failed in Vietnam. Who was the dumbass that brought it back thinking they would put their name stamp on it? The Afghan Tribal Leader can read the PRT team like a fat kid reads a candy bar. In 15 short minutes he know what he can get from Mr GI Joe and the deep pockets of Uncle Sam. They had no fear of us. BUT they did fear the Taliban. Why? Because they would come in, ask a question, they didn't like it, they would grab someone and say right answer or we shoot him, her didn't matter. Down right to the soul fear. That's why we couldn't find them in the villages or hiding near by. Or find their weapons cache' and so on. And we built it for them. New schools. School supplies, desks...you name it. New wells. Fix buildings. Taliban didn't. Nor the Russians.
Shoulda, coulda woulda.....doesn't change the outcome as it was inevitable.
For those that did work hand n hand with these three entities are close to being subject matter experts on the subject on how the ANA would and did collapse. Our government were damn fools in thinking otherwise. And all those thousands of civilians that wanted to escape claiming asylum. Well, suck it up buttercup. It's your country, pick up a rifle and eliminate the Taliban. But they won't. Why? Lazy? Cowards? It's up to them now to decide. Those working for the US and our allies there should've gotten priority along with American civilians working there. One can beat this like a dead horse with the same go around.
All that reinvention of Win the hearts and minds failed in Vietnam. Who was the dumbass that brought it back thinking they would put their name stamp on it? The Afghan Tribal Leader can read the PRT team like a fat kid reads a candy bar. In 15 short minutes he know what he can get from Mr GI Joe and the deep pockets of Uncle Sam. They had no fear of us. BUT they did fear the Taliban. Why? Because they would come in, ask a question, they didn't like it, they would grab someone and say right answer or we shoot him, her didn't matter. Down right to the soul fear. That's why we couldn't find them in the villages or hiding near by. Or find their weapons cache' and so on. And we built it for them. New schools. School supplies, desks...you name it. New wells. Fix buildings. Taliban didn't. Nor the Russians.
Shoulda, coulda woulda.....doesn't change the outcome as it was inevitable.
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Sgt Adam Jennings
I remember the American people saying the same thing after WWI about Germany too, and then it became our problem again in 1941. Ever notice Germany hasn't been out problem again since then? Could it be that we've kept a military presence there, same thing with Japan.
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I'm pissed and feeling betrayed by the government. I never dreamed we'd end up with another Vietnam.
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SPC Joshua Pruitt
SFC William Linnell - The Same ones whom put a White Unit From Tennessee with a Black Unit from Alabama and expected no racism to be involved in the unit and then they put the kids in the unit in prison for trying to cope with it all, I hope that answers your question. No Offense, just speaking the truth.
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Jackson Elliott
Hey, I'm a reporter writing about the retreat from Afghanistan and its impact on veterans. Would you be able to talk with me? My email is [login to see]
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I arrived in Afghanistan during the surge and it was clear to me a week into my tour that the Afghans weren't buying what we were selling. The Afghans I interacted/worked with had no shared commitment to a single/unified Afghan nation and they certainly didn't share our vision of implementing a western style of democracy. That said, there was a top-down push from senior leaders (civilian and military) to force-feed this notion that if we (DoD, DoS, etc) worked hard enough and if we were persistent, the tide would eventually turn (anyone remember the phrase "win the hearts and minds"?). if Afghanistan were a stock, I would have shorted it over a decade ago. Moreover, I think it is naive to think our senior civilian and military leaders didn't recognize this same reality, but regrettably, most simply didn't possess the will to act and if they did, they were likely quickly marginalized. So, to answer your question about how I am feeling....Equal parts pride in the level of effort put forth by our military forces countered by an overwhelming/crushing sadness of the lives lost or ruined.
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Suspended Profile
I feel the hard part is what comes next. The Taliban were not good at running Afghanistan prior to 2001. I agree that it is not a country that has a single national identity in which to rally around. I do not think that in the last 20 years of conflict they have developed the functional administrators or bureaucrats which are necessary for a governing body. They may take Kabul, but I worry more now for the stability of the region.
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I don't have the words to express my thoughts at the moment.
That's a lie. I sure do.
But it's likely better that I don't.
That's a lie. I sure do.
But it's likely better that I don't.
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Jackson Elliott
Hey, I'm a reporter writing about the retreat from Afghanistan and its impact on veterans. Would you be able to talk with me? My email is [login to see]
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MSG (Join to see)
I wish my own social media reflected the level of restraint you display here. I'm not a blathering fool, but this... this is pure gold. Outstanding example, Sir. I hope to remember you next time I approach a keyboard under duress.
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A lot of mixed feelings, for sure. The only way to prevent this would have been for us to stay there forever. The Taliban have been sitting back waiting for this day, and we can point the blame at our elected officials for emboldening them all we want, but at the end of the day all we did was push them back into the caves for the time being. We never went in there with the will to completely wipe them out. As a result, here we are having wasted 20 years, thousands of American lives and trillions of American dollars.
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Sgt Adam Jennings
Okay, I get the whole "we would have had to say there forever" mentality. But, since WWII don't we still have active military units and bases in both Germany and Japan as well as other countries throughout the world? Then why should Iraq or Afghanistan be any different?
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SGT (Join to see)
Sgt Adam Jennings - Because anywhere we have permanent bases are countries where we 1) have treaties and agreements with the governments in place to stay there; and 2) aren't conducting active combat operations.
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Sgt Adam Jennings
SGT (Join to see) yes, and we had to get those countries to that point in order for those agreements and non-combat to be there. We didn't just go into Germany and Japan and jack their $#°¥ up and then leave. Look at WWI,.that's exactly what we did with Germany and what did that lead to? A second world war.
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I am sad for the Afghans who helped us and now fear for their lives. I am angry for the birthdays, school events and life milestones of my children that I missed because I was doing a job I though was worthy of the sacrifice. During my two deployments in that nation. I remember feeling during the first one in 2006-2007 that Afghanistan was the forgotten war. I remember in my second deployment in 2009 feeling that the surge that began that year would stabilize things and give the Afghan people a fighting chance (knowing in the back of my mind that the nation would never be able to survive with a western-style government without significant international support). I knew the mission there would eventually draw down, but thought it would do so in a responsible manner — but it didn’t. This situation (along with the current and previous Administration) have done a great deal to damage our image among our global partners. Personally, I have to struggle with the fruitlessness of my efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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SFC (Join to see)
SSG Robert Velasco - so what you expect? US Army to be there forever? USA tried but we did not fail, it was the Afghan people not wanting to defend themselves against their fanatic religious leaders!
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SSG Robert Velasco
SFC (Join to see) I have no idea 8f you're post is directed at mine ,but I've wanted our troops out since bin laden was eliminated. The manner in which that I'd happening now seems to be a culmination of political gerrymandering! Thank you for your service.
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Jackson Elliott
Hey, I'm a reporter writing about the retreat from Afghanistan and its impact on veterans. Would you be able to talk with me? My email is [login to see]
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1stSgt Nelson Kerr
SSG Robert Velasco - I found it by clicking on his name
PVT Arthur Falbo
Army | Clerk-Typist
Dates of Service: Oct 1966 - Sep 1968
PVT Arthur Falbo
Army | Clerk-Typist
Dates of Service: Oct 1966 - Sep 1968
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SSG Carlos Madden I have to agree that I am not surprised that the Taliban is taking back over, but I am surprised as the speed in which they did it. However, we have to remember that for the past 20 years they were taking pop shots at us and hitting us quickly and retreating ... they were doing this to see our capabilities.. they were doing this to train for this moment. Afghanistan has been a winless war for more that just the U.S., many have tried and all have failed. There is an ideology that can not be beaten into submission nor ignored. I fear for what the next generation will have to deal with... I am sitting by the phone, waiting for the NOD. Very sad times we are in...
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1SG (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) - I have been CA for 19 years. I am passionate about my job and my role in operations.
Sometimes people just need to be left to twist in the wind and come to you. Too often, we sought out targets to work that weren't ready to really affect change in the area.
That's ok, see me when you do.
Believe me, it works really well.
Other times, dudes just need killing. Like all these Taliban muldoons moving in the open down roads. We've been waiting for that opportunity since 2002, and we missed it.
Sometimes people just need to be left to twist in the wind and come to you. Too often, we sought out targets to work that weren't ready to really affect change in the area.
That's ok, see me when you do.
Believe me, it works really well.
Other times, dudes just need killing. Like all these Taliban muldoons moving in the open down roads. We've been waiting for that opportunity since 2002, and we missed it.
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PFC Kimberly Staiti
PFC Ray Gibb
I'm sorry. This is hard. I think your optimism is admirable. We are never going to implement that plan. Americans won't invest that much effort here at home, not to mention we'd be taking over a sovereign nation and straightening it out in ways they don't want. The plan has solid points, but we aren't the boss of the world.
This feels somehow familiar. I want to put my foot down.
I want to put everybody's noses on the wall. And if I so much as hear a change in breathing pattern, everybody DROP.
Do pushups until I can think, dammit.
I'm sorry. This is hard. I think your optimism is admirable. We are never going to implement that plan. Americans won't invest that much effort here at home, not to mention we'd be taking over a sovereign nation and straightening it out in ways they don't want. The plan has solid points, but we aren't the boss of the world.
This feels somehow familiar. I want to put my foot down.
I want to put everybody's noses on the wall. And if I so much as hear a change in breathing pattern, everybody DROP.
Do pushups until I can think, dammit.
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PFC Kimberly Staiti
SSgt Addy R. Thank you for such a good post. I'm afraid you are more than correct. The ugly business of politics: since the Patriot Act (and the Supreme Court saying that
"Businesses are people, too," and have the same ~rights~ as people) we've seen a lot of business in our politics. Politics are everydamnwhere, trying to keep us busy fighting wars for their pockets and fussing amongst ourselves so we don't notice that ~their~ blood isn't getting spilled and our pockets aren't getting filled.
God don't like ugly
"Businesses are people, too," and have the same ~rights~ as people) we've seen a lot of business in our politics. Politics are everydamnwhere, trying to keep us busy fighting wars for their pockets and fussing amongst ourselves so we don't notice that ~their~ blood isn't getting spilled and our pockets aren't getting filled.
God don't like ugly
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Kabul 2021 ... This is not Siagon!!!! ... Biden administration blunders!!!
If you are sad about the comparison of the fall of Afghanistan and Siagon many years ago (I keep hearing/seeing that scenario being portrayed...
Not as sad as it is for our Afghan allies who supported and worked with us who are now on lists in Taliban hands awaiting torture and beheadings underway and to come... you have no idea what that reality is about... and it is not on the fake News of ALL NEWS OUTLETS ...
.
That is the reality that easily could and should have been prevented by this corrupt current U.S. Administration and leadership. They are trapped throughout Afghanistan ... and I may add there are still thousands of foreigners that worked with us in Afghanistan still TRAPPED throughout Afghanistan!!!!
Blaming previous administrations for the hideous situation in Afghanistan doesn't change the truth about facts today discussed hereinabove ad infinitum.
.
Don't pivot away and open your eyes, ears and mind to the devastating way this is being handled and the lives and deaths and misery that this is and will continue to cause...
.I spent 5 years in Iraq and 3 years in Afghanistan (8 years / 8 tours) continuously.
It's not about how we get in or if and when we would leave ...
IT IS ABOUT HOW WE LEFT AFGHANISTAN!!!
What have the social media "keyboard warriors" (trolls) done?
Our government, military, media and corporations are focused on fake Critical Race Theory, fake Social Justice Marxist propaganda and indoctrination to our youth, our population and our military...
We/they were asleep to the real threats in the world while our borders are open letting God knows who is among them as well as Taliban takeover of Afghanistan!
They (Muslim Islamist extremists) will be back to the U.S. in the future! We must fix our government!!!
If you are sad about the comparison of the fall of Afghanistan and Siagon many years ago (I keep hearing/seeing that scenario being portrayed...
Not as sad as it is for our Afghan allies who supported and worked with us who are now on lists in Taliban hands awaiting torture and beheadings underway and to come... you have no idea what that reality is about... and it is not on the fake News of ALL NEWS OUTLETS ...
.
That is the reality that easily could and should have been prevented by this corrupt current U.S. Administration and leadership. They are trapped throughout Afghanistan ... and I may add there are still thousands of foreigners that worked with us in Afghanistan still TRAPPED throughout Afghanistan!!!!
Blaming previous administrations for the hideous situation in Afghanistan doesn't change the truth about facts today discussed hereinabove ad infinitum.
.
Don't pivot away and open your eyes, ears and mind to the devastating way this is being handled and the lives and deaths and misery that this is and will continue to cause...
.I spent 5 years in Iraq and 3 years in Afghanistan (8 years / 8 tours) continuously.
It's not about how we get in or if and when we would leave ...
IT IS ABOUT HOW WE LEFT AFGHANISTAN!!!
What have the social media "keyboard warriors" (trolls) done?
Our government, military, media and corporations are focused on fake Critical Race Theory, fake Social Justice Marxist propaganda and indoctrination to our youth, our population and our military...
We/they were asleep to the real threats in the world while our borders are open letting God knows who is among them as well as Taliban takeover of Afghanistan!
They (Muslim Islamist extremists) will be back to the U.S. in the future! We must fix our government!!!
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SPC Daniel Cahill
John McCain (Dec 2014): Antony Blinken has actually been dangerous to America
John McCain (Dec 2014): Antony Blinken has actually been dangerous to America and to the young men and women who are fighting and serving it. He is not only ...
Watch "John McCain (Dec 2014): Antony Blinken has actually been dangerous to America" on YouTube
Published 8/18/21
https://youtu.be/_J2i8MsS5VE
Published 8/18/21
https://youtu.be/_J2i8MsS5VE
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SPC Daniel Cahill
"Biden has been wrong on every major foreign policy decision in last 4 decades - Washington Times"
By Cal Thomas Monday, August 16, 2021
QUOTE
You have to give President Biden credit for consistency. Unfortunately, he has been consistently wrong. As Robert Gates, former defense secretary in the Obama administration, once put it, Biden has “been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”
UNQUOTE
More...
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. https://amp.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/16/biden-has-been-wrong-on-every-major-foreign-policy/
By Cal Thomas Monday, August 16, 2021
QUOTE
You have to give President Biden credit for consistency. Unfortunately, he has been consistently wrong. As Robert Gates, former defense secretary in the Obama administration, once put it, Biden has “been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”
UNQUOTE
More...
.
. https://amp.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/16/biden-has-been-wrong-on-every-major-foreign-policy/
Biden has been wrong on every major foreign policy decision in last 4 decades
You have to give President Biden credit for consistency. Unfortunately, he has been consistently wrong.
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SPC Daniel Cahill
Stranded Afghans Delete Social Media As Taliban Seizes US Surveillance Equipment
Authored by Ken Silva via The Epoch Times,
QUOTE
The New York-based group Human Rights First announced on Aug. 16 that Taliban fighters captured U.S. surveillance tools. These devices, known as Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment (HIIDE), were used by soldiers to scan the biometrics of Afghans to match fingerprints on improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and for other such forensic investigations.
“We understand that the Taliban is now likely to have access to various biometric databases and equipment in Afghanistan, including some left behind by coalition military forces,” the human rights group said.
“This technology is likely to include access to a database with fingerprints and iris scans, and include facial recognition technology.”
The Human Rights First advisory included multilingual guides for Afghan allies on protecting their digital identities.
The warning corresponds with numerous reports of Afghans deleting their social media profiles in an attempt to protect their privacy from the Taliban. USAID reportedly circulated emails to its partners in Afghanistan to “remove photos and information that could make individuals or groups vulnerable.”
UNQUOTE
More...
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https://www.nationandstate.com/2021/08/22/stranded-afghans-delete-social-media-as-taliban-seizes-us-surveillance-equipment/
Authored by Ken Silva via The Epoch Times,
QUOTE
The New York-based group Human Rights First announced on Aug. 16 that Taliban fighters captured U.S. surveillance tools. These devices, known as Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment (HIIDE), were used by soldiers to scan the biometrics of Afghans to match fingerprints on improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and for other such forensic investigations.
“We understand that the Taliban is now likely to have access to various biometric databases and equipment in Afghanistan, including some left behind by coalition military forces,” the human rights group said.
“This technology is likely to include access to a database with fingerprints and iris scans, and include facial recognition technology.”
The Human Rights First advisory included multilingual guides for Afghan allies on protecting their digital identities.
The warning corresponds with numerous reports of Afghans deleting their social media profiles in an attempt to protect their privacy from the Taliban. USAID reportedly circulated emails to its partners in Afghanistan to “remove photos and information that could make individuals or groups vulnerable.”
UNQUOTE
More...
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.
https://www.nationandstate.com/2021/08/22/stranded-afghans-delete-social-media-as-taliban-seizes-us-surveillance-equipment/
Stranded Afghans Delete Social Media As Taliban Seizes US Surveillance Equipment
Stranded Afghans Delete Social Media As Taliban Seizes US Surveillance Equipment Authored by Ken Silva via The Epoch Times,Concerned that they co
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