3 Afghan War vets interviewed
 

Thought this interview was very interesting. Not political in the slightest, let's keep it that way. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Was the war in Afghanistan worth fighting? 3 veterans weigh in

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I'll admit to not having watched the video, Shaun, but I did see a quick teaser on TV the other day that showed the air base at Baghram(sp?) and what looked like a good amount of 'stuff' left behind.
It'd be interesting to find out how much material we're leaving or have left behind.
I bet it's a staggering amount.

Scott, I have a friend whose brother managed convoys in Afghanistan years ago. The amount of trucks and equipment we leave behind is staggering he said. I think we leave nearly everything behind.

Looking forward to watching the video.

It’s cheaper to leave it behind, rather than bring it back. I read there’s 3.5 million items left at the base. This includes everything from door knobs, tools, etc. A lot of schit.

I have never really agreed with the US being in Afghanistan.

The two takeaway's for me from this were when Col Jason stated @7:10 "we never really had a definitive strategy". In my opinion the US enters way to many conflicts with out a definitive strategy and the military is to often hamstringed by politicians. Since Korea there is to much political correctness. Let the military go in do what they do.

The other SPC James stated @6:00 we have to learn from history. The politicians never learn.

This may not be received well and it may even sound racist but the way I see the best strategy to take in the middle East is not for us to go and fight it but to keep them from getting out. The Middle East has lived the way they live for thousands of years. We are not changing that. But let that way of life stay where it is.

If there is a wild fire, or an oil spill in the ocean how do they combat that? Surround it, contain it, do not let it spread.

Leaving like a thief in the night is pretty sketchy. The Afghans had no idea and within an hour the base was totally looted

"was the war in afghan worth fighting?"

Depends on who you are.
The kids doing the fighting, or their families? No way.
The politicians who got rich off the war machine? Yup.

Nothing has changed since Sun Tsu
It was never a military op.

I've heard that it's cheaper to leave behind. I would like to see the math on it. My gut says it's more about military department budgets and spending pork in DC.

A lot of equipment is extremely expensive. I don't see how the leave behind math pencils out.

Math is simple.
One department paid for the material. That money is spent and off the books.
Another department would have to pack up everything, that money is not in their budget.
Another department would have to physically ship everything, that money is not in their budget.
Gubmit compartmentalizes everything.
Different color of money.

My dad tells of his job when he was on the ship on the way home from fighting in the Phillippines in 1945. They transferred him and a bunch of other guys to a ship that was on its way to the Phillippines loaded with fuel, trucks, Jeeps, airplane parts, etc. Their job was to help throw it all overboard in the middle of the Pacific.

My brother in law was on the Enterprise when we were exiting Vietnam. Same story - everything overboard. The flight deck and all lower storage decks were full to capacity when they left, and empty when they made it to Hawaii.

I agree. Seems some items could be brought back and they were, like heavy firepower, etc. I guess you have to draw the line somewhere.

Edit: I have no proof it’s cheaper to leave it behind. It’s something I’ve always read.

Troops left thousands of civilian vehicles, including many that no longer had keys. Haha!