Afghanistan unravels as there was a failure of vision and purpose by the USA. There was no justification for the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

Killing Afghans was not enough to civilize and democratize Afghanistan.

The killing will intensify further as the US now decides to use long-range bombers stationed outside Afghanistan in a futile act of revenge for the embarrassment of the Pentagon by ragtag rebels.

Uncle Sam's powder is wet as the Taliban will emerge stronger than they were in 2001 because now they have piles of cash, war machines, weapons, and munitions that the USA left behind.

When will there be an abandonment of US embassies and consulates in Afghanistan reminiscent of the frantic US escape from Vietnam?

The Taliban was once a US ally that had their representatives welcomed by Uncle Sam in visits to Ronald Reagan and George W Bush in the White House. Then after the Russians left Afghanistan, the USA fell out with the Taliban and financed and armed warlords to fight the Taliban.

What an absolute tragedy procured from an act of idiocy and a failure to build on a relationship between the USA and the Taliban back in the early 1980s.

The cost in money has been $trillions. The cost in human misery is yet to be tallied.

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 9^th, 2021 at 9:30am:

All true but why are Western media and governments ignoring the billions donated to the Taliban by Saudi Arabia and other petrolium rich middle eastern autocracies? 

America’s Generals Lied, Lost Wars, And Looted The People They Claimed To Serve

Military leaders failed to properly account for their own efforts, misled the public, and then racked up cushy paychecks after the war. They deserve to be punished.

Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, claimed, in Kabul in 2013, that “[The Afghan] army and … police force have been very, very effective in combat against the insurgents every single day.” He was lying. More than 60,000 Afghan police and military were killed during our occupation compared to just 42,000 alleged Taliban. Afghanistan’s military and government were utterly corrupt. American officials, in private admitted that at least 40 percent of the $103 billion in reconstruction funds spent in Afghanistan went into the hands of insurgents, Taliban, and corrupt “allied” warlords.

If the generals knew this and said nothing to the people, they deserve to be excoriated. If they didn’t know, they should have never been placed in positions of responsibility in the first place.

Instead of profiles in courage, America’s military leaders deserve profiles in grifting. Current Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made $7 million once leaving the service. Gen. James Mattis is reportedly worth $5 million, including $150,000 annual payouts from Theranos for serving on their board. Theranos was a blood-testing company indicted for fraud. Not a single senator asked Mattis about the connection at his confirmation hearing as secretary of defense. Gen. David Petraeus, after leaving the CIA in disgrace after revelations of leaking classified information to his mistress and personal biographer Paula Broadwell, went on to a successful career in academia, public speaking, and private equity. His net worth is estimated at $2 million.

The generals lied, America lost, and the people got looted.
https://thefederalist.com/2021/08/06/americas-generals-lied-lost-wars-and-looted...
Any war over Taiwan would be the final humiliation for the Pentagon. Even Chairman Xi can't get that lucky, can he?

After a large dose of sugar and with a handful of pens, Jo Biden has shaken off his dementia for a bit and revealed strategy.
"Afghan leaders have to come together," Biden told reporters at the White House, saying the Afghan troops outnumber the Taliban and must want to fight. "They've got to fight for themselves, fight for their nation." 

What about Saigon, asked a reporter.
Them too, said Mr Pres. "They have to fight for, for..you want..When ever I,I..excuse me..and and.

Australia sold the Roper Valley iron-ore mine to Vietnam. The Vietcong who conquered the country are now respectable. Given 30 years, the South China Sea will probably be officially respectable and Chinese.