A few thoughts from an Afghanistan veteran to the Veterans Advanced Energy Network

Photo credit: Army Staff Sgt. Jason N. Bobo watches as a CH-47 Chinook prepares to land to provide transport for U.S. and Afghan soldiers after a key leader engagement in southeastern Afghanistan, Dec. 29, 2019. Photo by Army Master Sgt. Alejandro Licea

From one Afghanistan veteran to others

Colonel Greg Douquet, US Marine Corps Retired, directed strategy in Afghanistan under Generals McChrystal and Petraeus and is now the Co-Director of the Veterans Advanced Energy Project.

We’ll leave it to the pundits to point fingers and pontificate about consequences rising from the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban. My message isn’t to pundits—most of them didn’t serve—it’s to those few among you who fought and sacrificed to deny Al Qaeda safe haven and establish security and stability in a country of vital US national interest.

It’s a simple message: remain proud of your service. Endeavoring to bring security and stability to the “graveyard of empires,” a country beset by war with abysmal literacy levels and even lower regard for women, a country fraught with the cancer of corruption, a country encircled by foes to US interests who provided safe-haven for our enemies, you willingly tried the seemingly impossible.

You accepted this task with a brave and willing heart and a spirit of optimism that is fundamental to the American fighting man and woman. It is you who should be sharing your insights, but you rarely speak out—why? Your thoughts are tempered by the fire of combat and your perspective is balanced by the harsh realities on the ground. You keep your own counsel or share it with trusted comrades, who know as you do that Afghanistan presents no good options, just bad and worse.

You’ve earned the respect of those that matter, the fighting men and women on your right and left. When the puzzle of Afghanistan finally clarifies decades from now, that will be enough. You’ll continue to serve US national interests in the energy industry because that’s how you’re wired. It’s an honor to continue our service together.