I was deployed in Afghanistan in 2013

[Martin68]

71. Like the Vietnamese, the Afghani people appear feckless and weak because the occupying forces,

whether American or Soviet, just don't get it. "We're just here to help you" they protest, yet civilian casualties outnumber those of the enemy and occur randomly and often. At some point they don't care who is in charge a long as they leave them alone in their particular isolated valley. Educated city dwellers hoped the occupying forces could bring about meaningful change, but without an understanding of the culture that could never happen. The Afghan military isn't weak - they just don't give a shit. And they know the occupying forces will eventually withdraw and they will be hung out to dry. They are treading water until the next regime change. the Afghanis have been through this time and time again. We were warned, but Americans always know better. How could our well-trained well-equipped ground forces fail?