We never should have sent troops to the Middle East and we should have left sooner. Those who made the decisions, all of them are responsible for the lose of life and treasure and not just American losses.

Aren't most of the Taliban Afghans? "American to discover that the Afghans didn’t necessarily care for the Taliban." Factions are something even Americans create inside our country. Something you don't mention that most Americans don't understand (including many of the politicians who voted to go to war) is Borders created by the UK, France, Russia and the U.S. don't really mean as much to the people living inside those borders as we might expect. Afghanistan is majority minority country no one ethnic group makes up a majority of the population. Do these names register with many Americans, Uzbek, Pashtun, Hazara, Tajik.

I am sympathetic to Americans who served in Afghanistan. I find it hard to blame them for the damage they suffered and the damage they did. There is a reason most troops are young.

I disagree with your final line. The war did matter, Vietnam mattered, Iraq mattered, Afghanistan mattered. The lessons learned are weak but the scars are deep. I know that you will never forget. My Dad never healed his scars from WWII. As a people, it seems all people, we are slow learners.

It is sad that anyone would encourage you to believe that your service, your sacrifice would make anything better. I think you know now many ways that you can make a bigger positive difference. Thank you.

TEK