Thread by @MarkHertling

"The Generals lied to the American public!"

This - along with the politicians lied, the intel community lied, etc - has been a mantra repeated the last few days on cable news and in print media. 1/

There were certainly LOTS of mistakes over the 20 years of the Afghan war, as outlined in several official governmental reports and well-researched news articles.

There were likely some - many? - mistakes, and maybe even some coverups, corruption, or misleading testimony. 2/

But I'll go on a limb & say the vast majority of leaders - senior, junior, officer & NCOs; governmental officials & reps of State & USAID; reps from the intel community - who served in AFG did the very best they could to serve that nation and its people & represented the US. 3/

"My" war was Iraq. But I visited troops in Afghanistan - US and allied - several times. While I was a "visitor," my view was was based on experience. And those I saw who served there were doing the very best they could to accomplish the mission they were assigned. 4/

Over 20 years, missions changed - expanding and contracting - based on surge decisions & attempts to turn corners. Those leading attempted to understand the culture, the people, the politicians...but that was exceedingly hard.

Most got it right, like LTG Scap, some didn't. 5/

That's the nature of human conflict. It's harsh, complex, confusing. And the nature of a complex insurgency, with counter-terror requirements and an emerging government trying to gain control of a culturally diverse country, is exceedingly difficult. 6/

As I said, my war was Iraq. Having spent several tours there, each tour was different.

The first was conventional warfare. The second was a tough nascent insurgency. The third was working with a growing Iraqi national security organization: army, police, border patrol 7/

All were difficult. When congressional delegations visited, I gave unvarnished reports. Told them which Iraqi divisions sucked, which were doing well, the emerging nation of an untrained police force, a bad Iraqi border patrol

I can honestly say I never "lied" or misled 8/

When ISIS formed, my "bad" Iraqi division folded, the 2 "good" divisions fought then folded, the 1 great division fought to the death. And the Kurds I worked with kicked ass.

Like Afghan vets today, I followed their every move. Cried at the reports of death & failure. 9/

This is a very tough time for Afghanistan, its soldiers, its people...and it's especially tough for those Americans who fought & served alongside the Afghan force and it's people. 10/

The next few days of this NEO (non combatant evacuation operation) will be hard. Likely harder than even the first few days.

But pundits & media ought slow their roll a bit on generalizing & commenting on the honor of those who gave part of their lives in that country. 11/end