Please Think Back on When and Why We Went to Afghanistan

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66. At the time we went in, as I remember

we were supporting the Northern tribes and they were doing most of the fighting and taking territory from the Taliban. There were reports that many towns would just switch sides as they saw the tide turning. It was like they really didn't have a moral stake in anything and it was a transactional decision, as in who would promise the local warlords more in money and power. And also at the time, that it was pretty much their way of doing things. I remember thinking at the time that it was pretty cool that we were able to sweep in and take over so quickly and at the same time realizing that their switched loyalties could be reversed very quickly. I think it was not a total mistake to invade but there was no reason to stay. I was also thinking at the time, nation building would take an incredible amount of effort and time that America wasn't willing to do.