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

I'm not surprised the Taliban never left they were in the army. That's why they folded so easily.

I sincerely hope this is fresh enough in people's minds about a year from now.

After serving in this area and also having my Son serve here I feel that the current leadership has failed the Afgan people our allies and our Nation. God Bless the USA and our Service Members and our fallen Heros.

That is one heck of a question SSG. One that does touch the strings of those who physically trained and did missions with the Afghan National Army, National Police and Afghan Border Police.

I actually went over with a team of Advisers for the 201st Kandak, ABP along the Pak/Afghan border. The situation that happened could be blamed on our politicians and the Pakistan Government, who are suppose to be our allies/friends. As we reported on this back in 07' having the PakMil train, house and equip groups against the New Afghan government and its allies. We have caught PakMil in civilian clothes driving in Afghanistan with loads of weapons, ammo, grenades, RPGs. We even reported on a PakMil training site which was confirmed by some people.

So all the ground that the Tali took in such a quick fashion, mostly contributed without a shot being fired. We knew that the Afghan forces could not would not stand against anyone if we were there for them to "prove" themselves. That's the only time they actually showed initiative. Once it hit time for lunch that was it. They became lounge lizards. So it is of no surprise to a good deal of those who served/trained directly with them.

Also a huge blame goes to the Afghan government itself with Karzi. For fear of a coupe' they kept the three branches at odds with each other. With the main focus for everything going to the National Army, then the National Police and lastly for the scraps was the Border Police. Their whole government was corrupt. Could never track down or get a clear view of their pay. With the Pay officer taking his cut, then the Kandak Commanders down to Company Commanders. They would keep men on the books even though they upped and disappeared.

So with the news coming out of men not being paid for months, I understand how a lot of them just changed clothes and went home. Family is more important to them. Where were the US advisers that was suppose to be helping the new president in advising him with the Nations money? Looks like their President took off with a lot of it. The so called "political advisers" screwed the pooch here. They failed the US taxpayer, US forces and allies and worse they failed the Afghan People.

Upon hearing how our "experts" didn't see this coming? They all should be fired. They failed at their jobs and ignored decades worth of valuable intel of just how quickly the Afghan country would fall. it was all right there written in black n white and for what ever reason, whether they were too high on themselves, too smug, or just plain stupid passing up false analysis to make themselves look good, they seriously screwed that one up.

Upon the notice of President Trump saying that the US was going to start pulling it's troops out, the "geniuses" should've have had a plan in play to start the second round of screening of the Afghans that served the US and other allies. Since they were heavily screened before they could work for us and come onto any camp or FOB. So a second part to get them cleared should've been the last step before getting them on the planes. Another epic failure.

Now, with Bagram being the main hub of ALL that was Allied Forces, should never have been vacated. It was much more fortified than Kabul air field and could house those thousands of Afghans and American civilians with ease. They wouldn't have had the cluster they did at Kabul. But the "geniuses" in charge took a double whammy on that one.

Now we hit on the most heated topic. How in the name of Christmas baby Jesus did ALL those SENSITIVE ITEMS get left behind?? We all know that those sensitive items are individually signed for. It's a life or death situation for the individual to lose them. SO who was the authority that said specifically to leave them behind?? Plus to leave all those vehicles and helicopters serviceable? Those should've all been treated with a thermite grenade. Along with some much other equipment.

Now the Biden Admin is bargaining with the Tali like their a legit government?? It's only going to lead to an avalanche of other would be terror groups to be pushing for the same. They already done it with the Muslim Brotherhood. Everything that has happened and will continue to happen is ALL on Biden and his Administration. They can't use Trump as an escape goat, all his fault excuse. Own it and take responsibility for your actions. It's what is meant to be in the leadership position. Complete incompetence.

Was that too much?? I guess I could've made it short by saying, A complete and total command failure. I hate every action that was taken and so very embarrassed and ashamed of the President and his Cabinet.

To put it point blank… I’m pissed, sad, hurt, degraded, but most of all scared! I lost several friends in Afghanistan. I’ve lost several friends from suicide who returned jacked up from Afghanistan. Now we are watching everything we tried to help with over there disappear in minutes!

In one sense, we did not accomplish the mission
BUT - there was no mission.
In war time - we should demand unconditional surrender.
if ii takes 10 divisions to accomplish the mission - send in 15

I was there twice and quite frankly thought we could never win this war. The problem is our elected leaders will not let the military do what it's supposed to do. Instead they establish these ridiculous rules of engagement that many times tied our hands.

During World War II, Eisenhower and McArthur's hands weren't tied. Their job was to defeat the enemy and we did. Politics started to get involved in how we fight wars during the Korean war. Truman fired McArthur because he spoke the truth. We had the North Koreans and the Chinese on the run, but when they crossed back over the 38th Parallel, he was told to stop pursuing them. That allowed them to regroup and resupply and come back across once again.

The wars in Vietnam and Afghanistan have so much in common. I remember the fall of Saigon very well. I was stationed at Ft. Eustis and watched it on the news. All the Vietnam veterans in my company were pissed.

My deployment to Afghanistan in 2010 was to front line train the Afghan National Police (ANP) and Afghan Border Patrol (ABP). We had about 200 Asian Security Group (ASG) personnel and 100 local national workers, interpreters/translators to be managed by about 75 US troops. My experience has given me a very cynical view of the Afghan people which I won't delve into. Because of that experience I predicted for years that the Afghan government would fall 24 hours after a NATO/US pullout. The fact the Afghan government lasted 11 days deserves a golf clap.

To my fellow Afghan veterans I have this: we did our jobs. It doesn't matter if you were a grunt, cook, MP, engineer, or a human resource specialist that never threw on your armor. We did the job required of us. Those that were injured, perished there, or fighting the war that followed them home did their jobs too. Their lives were not in vain and should never be forgotten. Never let the poor decisions by politicians and politically motivated ranking service members detract from the mission you did and accomplished.

The whole thing is disgusting, and now the Taliban are holding Americans hostage until the US Government recognizes them a legitimate! Unbelievable how did we get here, who is going to pay for this? Someone needs to be held accountable and not just a single someone either.

No one can ever know if we would have had future attacks whil the country was under control, what we do know is the is no evidence that any attacks, large or small that have been based out of the country. As we have Military deployed around the globe for strategic reasons, this was as well. I would venture to bet that no Intel professional who has been a part of the data mining and analysis thinks it was wise to give this up.

I won’t drone on, the force that should have remained would have been in an advisory/air strike control team. The numbers in the low thousands. I will say that not staying and providing over watch for the Afghan Army was a mistake that we will pay for for years to come.

God Bless our Service Members, and our country. I pray I am wrong.