What are your feelings as the Taliban reclaim Afghanistan after 20 years of US involvement?

It's a sad time for the citizens of Afghanistan. I support the troops coming home. There was no easy way out. How long were American lives to be sacrificed? Especially, if the local Afghan security forces won't fight for their own communities. Where are Afghan leaders? Although the US trained and secured for 20 years I don't believe all was lost. It gave all people, the women, the chance to dream and achieve possibly more than they would've ever hoped. The men MUST stand with the women. They now know what is possible. However, there's always going to be an evil force in power, this is the greatest obstacle. Taliban Ideology is still the same. Women have no rights. Only the strength of the Lord can help make a difference but we all have free will.

Under our system the military follows the policy and directives of the administration. Nevertheless it is painful to see the Afghan people fall back under the thumb of the Taliban. They shall never know the freedoms we enjoy.

I was never in theater. Only in GTMO. I am feeling depressed after the Haitian earthquake recent and 2010. Feeling hopeless, but will speak to group therapy at the local VA and non profits I have been volunteering for here in Hawaii. Just keep myself busy until I do not feel anxious. My uncle was a Vietnam vet, so I'll be hearing his words of wisdom.

My heart goes out to all you Afghan veterans. I know how devastating it was for me when Saigon fell.

The Anerican military has never lost a war. The American politicans have never won a peace.

This is enraging and frustrating that this government is allowing it to happen and don't give a darn for the American people trapped in there. As a veteran, I'm in a rage. The president, secretary of defense and the woke general need to resign ASAP and let competent people handle the situation in a better way. I knew from the beginning this administration doesn't give a darn for the American people, the Constitution, and our Liberties. They just want power at any cost.

Was a veteran of the Balkans conflicts before deploying to Afghanistan '07 & had a concept of "Human Terrain" if you will. There was the "Elected" Govt, the Tribal Govt, Leftover Mujahidin, the Shadow Govt/Taliban, and AQM. And then the whole Pashtunwali thing. Why the F we didn't get in / keep the pressure on finding UBL / get the F out (maybe keep KAF or BAF). NO WAY were were gonna figure this tapestry out. So... Not surprised. The institutional corruption predicted the collapse. Few months ago, a FOB worker who keeps up w/ a CAT2 friend, reached out to me for assistance w/ his SIV. He did well document CERP work w mine, and the rotation before me + doc through 2013. Hammered out a letter para/line less less than 60 days ago. We're thinking its in the queue. DoS has had his paperwork for 7 YEARS and ONLY 3 MONTHS AGO told him his 2013 Endorsement Letter was not up-to-snuff. Fellow Brothers and Sisters in Arms... I don't think this was going to happen any other way. Hopefully these days character counts.

I don't watch the news so that part hasn't effected me in the least bit. I also went to Iraq and never got the chance to get over to Afghanistan before deployments because a thing of the past. I honestly don't know how to feel about it. The government started with the "9/11 revenge" goal. Then we transferred to WMDs, then it was regional stability. But we all knew that it wouldn't work. The people who would want infrastructure are in too small a number and the people who would be able to utilize it are even smaller. Folks are so spread out there they might think you're a soviet rather than from the US because that's how disconnected they are. We never went and stayed for an achievable end state and because of that we lost countless lives for what? To leave hundreds of millions of dollars in our "high tech military gear" behind for our enemies to pick apart so when we head back they have a leg up?

I feel sorry for the families who lost Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters and so on for what seems like nothing. This was inevitable and the fact it was drawn out like this is a sad representation of what we are. And why the world thinks so little of us.

I understand why the politicians feel this way but they are flat dead wrong. Afghanistan wasn't the massive battle ground it was 20 years ago. You almost never hear about US fatalities on the news anymore. Not because the press moved on because they just weren't happening anymore. The Taliban was on the verge of becoming a common place street gang. NOW they have modern military equipment and a nice new safe haven for their friends ISIS and AlQuada to hang out. Maybe all the modern Taliban want is to be left alone but they were never the real problem.

Watch out for Gomez. He will bad mouth your comments and then Block you so you can't respond. To me, this is the level of censorship that his kind purveys. Censorship is the opposite of Freedom of Speech, so you know where he is coming from. An Enemy of the Constitution.