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

I believe we lost our way. We can’t establish American culture and colonize foreign lands. We can help them, but if it takes 20 years, what are we really doing? Our national security interests have been global. With today’s technology and the belief that we should interfere only when there is a national defense reason. Otherwise, diplomacy and aide to build allies. Invest our blood and money wisely with the foundation that we use full force in targeted missions. Colonizing drains resources and creates enemies. Ask the British or the Russians. I’m glad that Biden ended what Trump started. It is never pretty when you leave. There is a sadness and feeling of loss, but we were as successful as we could ever hope for considering the context and culture. This was not a wasted effort or mission. We gave them a chance to change. Let’s hope they figure the rest out.

If a terminator tells me he can kill off the rats in my house for only $50, GREAT! If I come back to find he burned my house down, well, I'm a little less enthusiastic about his methodology. It's not the "what" but the "how" and it's ramifications that disturb me.
I believe we had two opportunities to leave with our heads held high:
1. Under "W" after the Taliban were driven out, Al Qaeda was in shambles and OBL was scurrying away.
2. Under BHO right after the SEALS put a hole in OBL's head.
I'm not surprised that terrorists have taken it back over; Hell, it's their f***ing country and the non-terrorists can't seem to hold it therefore, so be it.
I fear the 2020's post-Afghanistan military will look like the 1970's Army post-Vietnam military and with China's machinations in the Pacific and in the cyber world, this does not portend a bright next few years.

I still remember this part of our curriculum at Command and General Staff College- civilian leadership of the military. It is difficult to understand, but it would appear that the withdrawal of forces was not becoming of a military operation, almost capitulating to civilian leadership in the wrong areas. I am personally concerned, just as I was when the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, GEN Milley testified before Congress that he wants to know what "white rage" caused the January 6, 2021, attack of the Capitol Building. Our military is not a corporate feel good entity, but a well organized and trained machine of war. We are concerned about winning wars, not social experiments. In the Army, we are all green, and when this is violated, then the leadership takes corrective action. Finally, I saw the deployment of the National Guard to Washington, DC, as a total failure of military leadership. Military support of Civilian Authorities is one of the missions we train for, but the degradation of perishable military skills or our National Guard, as well as the improper employment in a law enforcement role, should have heads rolling, just as this embarrassing Afghan withdrawal.

Our brave men and women sacrificed so much, some did not make it through to the end. And for what? For this? I don't disagree with getting out... but the way it was done was lacking strategy... and I am being very generous.

It seems no one in a leadership position in today’s military has ever heard of a thermite grenade. Pull pion as you’re existing the AO. Don’t leave anything sensitive for the enemy to have and/or use.

If Trump was President (as he rightfully is) that wouldn't have happened.
We got people who are so delusional that 'mean tweets' ruin their entire lives and now look at Dementia Pedo Joe.
Great job! Ignoring America. Rising prices in a lot of things.
Mounting evidence of election fraud by the Left and so much COVID misinformation.
Recently leanred we got some 'transgender thing/it' E6 who's talking about shooting American people?
I don't care what is in Afghanistan or Iraq. Leave those sh**holes, bring all Americans home, and finish the wall while running it up CAs eastern border. Put another on our N border.
America FIRST permanently and a lot of our problems will get fixed.

My gut feeling is that the Taliban has for as long as there is a Democrat as POTUS and/or control of Congress is Democrat, to be/do whatever the [deleted] they want to be. Once the GOP gets back into the White House, and/or the GOP take back Congress, then they might need to consider how to play nice. If I were them, I'd use the present time to practice.

Of course, they're not me, and are likely unwilling to listen to my advice. In that case, I'll get some popcorn...

It's kinda' looking like we (the general public) are giving our returning Afghanistan servicemembers more respect then we gave our returning Viet Nam veterans. I was only a teen at that time, but that was truly sad. While the circumstances could certainly be better, I'm happy that we're giving our returning vets more respect (assuming my perceptions are correct).

This is garbage. We have turned our backs on our countrymen, our allies, and those we promised to help. We are embarrassed on an international stage, tucking tail and running after we literally allowed our enemy of twenty years take over and dictate terms of our exit. WE ARE LETTING THE TALIBAN, WHOM ARE PARADING AROUND IN US MILITARY UNIFORMS, GEAR, AND WEAPONRY, "pull security" and have check points up for the airport? What in the actual shit is this? WE LOST the war, and the enemy, whom is also still considered a terrorist organization, is gloating by parading around in our shit. That's a psychological jab at their victory also.

POTUS cannot be disturbed with it and the high brass is more concerned with their paychecks and retirement than upholding the values instituted by each branch. The same values they evaluate their subordinates by. Talk about not practicing what they preach.

Lt. Col Sheller sacked up and said this is wrong, and wants accountability - as a leader should, and it's cost him everything.

We couldn't and shouldn't be there forever. We tried to bring that country, kicking and screaming into the 20th Century, and they just plain didn't want it. The bad guys screwed the pooch, they could have had reliable electricity, clean water, medical care, and we would have been gone within five years if they had just left us alone, but they didn't.
I am most pissed about the total Charlie Foxtrot withdrawl, and the factors influencing the timeline. A boot Lieutenant writing on the inside of a matchbook with a grease pencil could have done better, and 13 brothers and sisters paid the price for it... I don't have much confidence that any heads wi roll in the the top tiers of "leadership".
We have already watch one LtCol get blown out of the water because he wanted accountibility... That's what makes me IRATE about this whole train wreck.