Facing the inevitable
Is not always easy to do.
Call it facing reality;
That is what it's tantamount to.

For almost twenty years American
Troops have been in Afghanistan.
Propping up an unstable system
And fighting against the Taliban.

Now we are going to pull out our troops
And stop maintaining the status quo.
Many people feel we should
Have done it many years ago.

Cracking down on Al-Qaeda was
Our original reason for being there.
But after all this time it's hard
To handle what we now are seeing there.

Talks between the Taliban forces
And our previous administration,
Without including Afghan officials,
Have led to a tenuous situation.

Resulting from all the "cease fire" deals,
The Taliban were able to seize
All the regional capitals,
And then take over Kabul with ease.

Yes, the Taliban takeover has
Happened with a speed that is numbing.
Didn't our experts anticipate it?
Afghan forces saw it coming.

Some people say that we should stay there
To fight for the Afghans. The reason's clear cut.
Others say that that is complete
Nonsense--stay there and fight for what?

Giving the Afghans a certain amount of
Stability has been a huge endeavor.
But most Americans do not want
To stay there and fight insurgents forever.

While the country has made advances,
It is depressing to watch it careen
Into utter chaos. And now,
What happens next remains to be seen.

What's crucial at this moment, however,
Is that it's incumbent on us to conceive
Of any possible way to help
Afghans who fear for their lives to leave.

What a jam we find ourselves in
When leaders make unwise decisions!
Then others have to clean up the mess,
Which leads to even greater divisions.

-by Bob B (8-17-21)