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

SSG Madden,
Due to my current duty status I cannot tell you my true feelings. As I told my youngest son who is still in college. When he asked me in the midst of our Soldiers and Marines returning to Kabul to rescue our civilians and Afghanistan allies who wished to evacuate. “Son, as you know I spent 22 months of my 34 months of deployment after 9-11 in Afghanistan and the vast majority of it in Kabul. I am truly saddened at the recent turn of events and that’s all I can say in this forum. Perhaps when you come home for Christmas I can elaborate more. Until then just know that it tears at my heart to even think about it.” Sergeant Madden, I’m sorry I could not be more open with you, but ask me again after I retire and you and I are sharing stories of I time in the military around a camp fire with a cold drink of each of our choosing. Until then God bless.

Jimmy T. Robinson
MSG, USA

When tfg surrendered to them, it was inevitable they would take over the country. They had a year to make deals with the tribal leaders. I don't think the sacrifices of our service members were in vain. We did a lot of good for the Afghanis.

It was to be expected; anything else is just seeing yourself up for disappointment. People have attempted to conquer that region over and over again throughout history an NO outsider has ever been able to do it. The only people capable ate Afghanis themselves. However, constant attack and power in ever changing hands has taught them that everything is temporary and the best way to survive is to keep your head down and wait it out.

I have never served with any ground troops while serving in the navy but they have my undying respect and gratitude for the things that they did and sacrificed. Being over there. I firmly believe that there was nothing to be gained in being in there, we propped up the government and kept the wolves at the gate but in the end it all came crashing down and made the “United States” look bad. We took the brunt of the pain even though there was other countries still present assisting us. I also believe in president “Biden’s” comment that the military should be the last resort in any world situation. I believe if we use our military it should be a swift and decisive action not a long drawn out war or campaign, but before we go to war we do everything in our power to prevent it diplomatically. The people and even the worlds governments and leaders have to come to realize that there is no place to run anymore. There was a time if you didn’t like where you lived you could just up and move but in today’s world that can’t happen because every where you go there’s problems that have to be dealt with. The world even though it is large is getting smaller everyday and we have to start getting along. I feel real sad for all involved what happened was a great personal tragedy but in the end it was what needed to be done and some far off day we will be thankful it happened but not for the loss.

Not surprised, but it was long enough.

I believe we were sold a bill of goods twenty years ago; Afghanistan didn't attack us -- most of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. Moreover, in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD, no foreign power has *ever* been able to attack, subdue, and change the culture of that region of the world -- to include the Soviet Union which SHARED A BORDER with them!! How the hell could we believe we could change the culture over there?? Finally, we were set up by previous administrations for failure in withdrawing from our involvement there.

With regard to the withdrawal: NOTHING IN THE PRESENT CAN CHANGE THE REALITY OF THE PAST. This means, then, that military service characterized by valor, courage, intrepidity, guts, integrity, honor, loyalty, duty, discipline, patriotism, etc. HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED AT ALL BY ANY ACTIONS OR INACTION IN THE PRESENT!!! It may SEEM to make "emotional sense" to say "our service and sacrifice back then over there mean nothing now because of what's happened in the present." No matter what has happened in the present, the present cannot ever change the past! That means that ALL our military service characterized by valor, courage, intrepidity, guts, integrity, honor, loyalty, duty, discipline, patriotism, etc., back then over there STILL HAS ALL OF ITS VALOR, COURAGE, INTREPIDITY, GUTS, INTEGRITY, HONOR, LOYALTY, DUTY, DISCIPLINE, PATRIOTISM -- AND VALUE, no matter whatever else has taken place recently.

I did not join the military until I was in my 50s with no prior service, in 2006. I believed then that we had been lied to about WMD, and that we'd have been better to have "bombed them with butter" (i.e. spent gazzillions of dollars building infrastructure, schools, hospitals, etc. in Afghanistan, given even my rudimentary knowledge of the military history of the place). Given my views at that time, *I* was the type of person whom certain bloviators on cable news were saying "hated the troops." None of them signed up to serve, but I fucking did! None of them would have had to go to the lengths I did in order to garner the age and other waivers I needed in order to be able to serve. None of them would have dreamed of deploying in uniform to a war zone without a weapon, but I did! So to the naysayers who will try to denigrate *my* service because of what I've written here: blessings upon you, and thank you for *your* service!

When I sign up for this I knew this Ugly war would end one day. I did many mission in country Baby sitting The ANA's Training these soldiers blood and sweat. I agree our leaders should of given a emergency meeting with our leaders and allies in this big move and ask if our allies wants to take over if they had any back bone to take on this task but we blame our country for some thing that would of came to and end sooner or later no one is saying any thing about there leader that took his staff and money and fled his own country we gave them the equipment to secure his own country. It were time to take the big bottle out there mouth and let the ANA take over we only spoil them rotten. I take my hat off for those who help The U.S and have much respect for the ones who gave all and were willing to stand up for what were right. Lets move on get ready for China and Russia they planning to take us down. Lets fix home USA We are starting to Crumble deep in side so lets stand together and fix our issue.

I am ashamed that our government handled the pull out this way. We did exactly the wrong things at the wrong time.

The conduct is the President us a disgrace. Abandoning American citizens and frequent half truths are embarrassing and totally unnecessary

Taliban never left they made it look like they did. How do you tell the difference.