The first time I saw you was in the Khyber pass. You came with your technology, elite fighters fueled by revenge, and the hubris to believe you could disprove history.
This was a war that you didn’t have the stomach to fight. But I’m glad you tried.
We bled you the same way we bled the Soviets in our Holy Land. We bled you the same way the Vietnamese bled you in their home land. We did it patiently and deliberately.
Patience. Something Westerners never learn.
Our history is millennial. We don’t yearn for an early victory when the Infidel ravages our Holy Land. Our victory is celebrated decades from now. We’ve endured, then ravaged every standing military that crossed our borders. Why? How? We’re patient.
In 30 days, we’ll be stronger, richer, and have control over precious natural resources that you need for your pathetic life dictated by comfort. We will have women, riches, land, guns, and ownership of one of the greatest chapters in military history.
You lose.
If you want to try again, we welcome the challenge. You will fail regardless of how much money you burn in our deserts. For pity, here is free advice that may contribute to your future success; should you ever decide to invade again.
You recruit your warriors and supporters from a drug addicted, distracted, disillusioned population that’s obsessed with comfort and entertainment. A population obsessed with altering their mundane reality. Alcohol, marijuana, pills, and our new favorite -- Tide Pods. Every time your doctors prescribe opiate painkillers, you line our coffers with gold. Your population’s thirst for our pristine heroin has never been more lucrative for our warrior tribes. We will keep feeding you poison for as long as you keep your hands out.
If your population wasn’t so spineless, undisciplined, and self-loathing, then you might be able to compile a raiding party with enough tenacity to outthink ours.
Our fighters are born into war. Raised in it. It’s a way of life that evades your “first world” nations. They live a life of such immense misery and pain that they’re willing to fight barefoot in the snow for the opportunity to martyr themselves. They yearn for the opportunity to die. When they do have the blessed opportunity to sacrifice themselves, they sit above Mohammed at the right hand of God. Blessed in Allah for eternity
What honors do your fighters receive? Their empty sacrifice is remembered in the form of a “three day weekend.” The majority of your population uses this sacred time to get drunk and grow more fat as a way to celebrate their fallen warriors. Sadly, we pay tribute to their death more honorably.
The colored pieces of cloth you pin on their chests are similar to the jewelry worn by our women. What good are accolades and vanity if you don’t have the stomach to endure a fight? We don’t offer the burden of healthcare to our fighters as they often want to die for Allah. Your fighters fight to live. Their inability to reconcile the inevitable outcome of our patience leads them to kill themselves. Your medications, counselors and non-profits will never undo the pain and suffering you’ve forced them to endure. It will never remove the pain we’ve caused your broken nation. You are your own worst enemy.
We will give your fighters credit. Some are creative, tenacious, and fierce. They outgun us in every way possible. But again, we simply wait them out. Allah is patient. You cycle them through our Holy Lands every 3 to 12 months for their combat rotations. After their tour is complete, they return to the comfort of their warm beds and endless entertainment. If you left them here, in our Holy Land, with no way out but to win, then you might of have had a chance of success. The longer you poisoned our Holy Land with your presence, your “rules of engagement” only strengthened our position. There is only one rule in war - that is to win.
Your commanders made you fight with your hands tied behind your back. Your rules also confused our fighters too. “We’re clearly the enemy; why are they letting us go?” Thank you for your compassion as it allowed our fighters to kill more Infidels. We began to feel as if your commanders were on our side. We’re thankful your most vicious dogs were never allowed off their leash.
Your showcase Generals make us laugh. You spend millions of dollars flying them around our country, inventing new ways to win while ignoring the guidance of our most capable foes. Your Generals make decisions to minimize risk to their fragile reputation with the ultimate goal of securing a lucrative retirement--jobs with suppliers that fuel your losing force. A self-serving circle that’s built on the backs of your youngest and most naive fighters.
Your retired Generals “earn” tens of thousands of dollars talking to your political, industrial, and financial leaders about “teams, winning, and discipline.” It’s a mockery of the war they refused to fight. It’s a mockery of the Infidel warriors who died in our lands. We urge you to continue following their vacuous personalities so we can further watch your once great nation collapse.
Your statesman and elected officials are spineless, narcissistic, and more cowardly than your Generals. They crave power over you above all else. They come to our country, hide behind blast walls, and only heed the word of the indigenous leader they put in power. I believe your soldiers call this a “self licking ice cream cone.”
They’ve burned billions of dollars in a wasted effort to bring clean water, electricity, business, education, agriculture, and exports to a region that didn’t ask for it. You should have saved yourself the effort and simply given the money directly to us. Don’t worry; your diplomatic friends gave us plenty of your American tax dollars. If you want to give it another shot with your “soft power,” send those with real experience, not fancy degrees and silver tongues.
Over the next few months, we will make the world understand that you failed worse than any fighting force that’s ever invaded our lands. Today we celebrate victory.
As you evacuate your embassy, our fighters will be standing in the shade. Our RPG marksmen will be patient. We thank you for the parting gifts. You’ll find surface-to-air missiles staged in the back of Toyota pickup trucks that you purchased for us.
We saw what Extortion 17 did to your nation and the morale of your fighting force. Do your citizens even remember that victory? We’ll be repeating and improving upon our victory while your citizens and sympathizers evacuate in disgrace. Every one of your foes around the world will know exactly how to break you.
You are welcome to fly your empty drones, target our cell phones, and send your spies. But they, too, will ultimately fail. We’ll use their failures to show the world that you’re not all-powerful. You’re a false front--an empty shell. You lie, cheat, steal, and are easily defeated because you lack the spine to fight. This is your history now. We’re grateful Allah gave us the opportunity to show the world how to defeat the Infidels.
We look forward to seeing you again across the battlefield.
Praise be to God,
The Taliban
***Authors’ Note***
If you’ve read this far. Thank you. I’ve spent the past week trying to find a way to communicate this to the American people in a manner that would cause anger, rage, action, and understanding. Writing in the voice of a Taliban felt right.
If this made you angry, cry, or contemplative--then our goal is achieved. Our hope is that it inspires you to take action with your elected officials. They’ve been repeating the same failing playbook since World War II with your sons, daughters, and tax dollars. If you want this to keep happening, do nothing. If you don’t, then do something. If we all do a little, together we do a lot.
About the Authors:
Matthew Griffin is a 2001 United States Military Academy Graduate, Army Ranger, Combat Veteran with the 75th Ranger Regiment (3x Afghanistan, 1x Iraq), CEO of Combat Flip Flops, author, and 2019 Henry Crown Fellow with the Aspen Global Leadership Institute.
Scott Chapman is a 2000 Murray State University Graduate, Army Ranger Fire Team Leader from Alpha Company 2/75th Rangers (‘01 - ‘05), OGA Blackwater Alumni, entrepreneur, and author. Combat Veteran ( 21x Afghanistan, 1x Iraq)
Comments
It’s not the will to fight that hampers us it’s religion. This stupid believe in a god that doesn’t exist
When a Nation starts to depend on war for part of its GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT there’s a problem – President Eisenhower
War is a Racquet – Ret. USMC MG Smedley Butler
Well written, with a razor sharp perspective. Thank you for writing this, I know how long it took, how many considerations you whittled through before you came up with this salient message.
I agree, an outstanding piece. It just reenforced what a disastrous leadership we have in Biden and our government and military leaders. God Bless America🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷
Yes this made me angry, it gave me understanding as well. But above all of that it made me absolutely sick. Our Nation is weak. Our leaders weaker. When we have strong leaders the weak public calls for their heads. I’m going to say this as bluntly as I can. We have brought anything that happens on ourselves. The weak men of this country need to go. We need to stop caring about feelings and worry more about our freedoms and rebuilding what we’ve destroyed. Our entire nation is doomed to fail because of politicians, and ROE. May God have Mercy on our souls because our enemies won’t.
God bless all of you.
Thank you for putting your words down on paper for us. With this pattern of defeat, what is going to happen when the combat is with a major enemy such as China or Russia and the fighting is not just there, but here on U.S. soil?
it is way past time as a nation we wake up,these last few months have truly anger me and we must come together as a nation
Excellent treatise. This resonates perfectly with other articles I’ve read. This should be required reading for congress, executive branch, and all high ranking military that would put our people into harm’s way. Thank you for your service.
Listened to your interview on “Kennedy Saves The World” podcast – I am glad I did, more so for your parting comments to returning Veterans with PTS, that I can only paraphrase at best: Don’t give those pr**ks one more victory! As a non-veteran, but Patriotic American, my opinion is more of that attitude is needed, which is further reinforced with your letter above. Sometimes, a hard, cold slap in the face is needed to shake a person back into their senses; this message needs to be continuously, vehemently repeated to shake this Awesome Country awake!
Thank you for this letter and thank you for your service!!
Jesus Reigns! Glory to God!
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Thank You Jesus for your ultimate sacrifice for us all.
I Thank the men and women who sacrificed their lives for war and our freedom.
Jesus payed the price to set us free, and who the Son sets free is free indeed. Hallelujah to the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings!
No one in charge of our nation/wars took notice that Bin Laden was living in Pakistan freely. They didn’t even receive a harsh word from our leaders for harboring him.
Interesting, no one in charge of our wars noticed that Bin
AMEN!!!! Whoever won ANY war with one arm tied behind his back? Fight to WIN, or stay home!!!!!!
Outstanding piece.
Semper Fi
Sad but true.
Needs to be a transparent vote, forensic audited, and Americans to get their heads out of
there comfort zones and get rid of these confused, liberals, rhinos that are destroying our country. Rise up patriots!!
I served 6 combat months in vietnam on saigon river from saigon to cambodia 1968. 18 support months in same AO 1969 and 1970 all with 25th inf. This one as well as former administrations foreign policies are a disgrace. Swamp creatures that handcuffed our soldiers then and now are at fault for this disgrace and should be held accountable. Reelect an incumbent that has done nothing but enriched him or herself then we deserve what we get.
Truth
Truth
So scary, I think this describes our mob in the white house 100% I pray we the people will be on our knees praying for better days and for God’s help. God is and will always be our only hope.
So scary, I think this describes our mob in the white house 100% I pray we the people will be on our knees praying for better days and for God’s help. God is and will always be our only hope.
I knew it was an American when I read “…you might of have had a chance…”
So now all those girls and boys you profess to have helped educate, will go to a deprogramming site and be filled with the same hate of America as you have, that is unless they want to rape them to death. Good job promoting your love for the Taliban.
Thank you. We should be sharing this all over!
I have seen this nation neglect the warriors, disregard them as our watch men of our freedom. Eroding moral and respect for them as schools are indoctrinated our younger generations. My dad taught me respect for the armed forces, even when I was born as a foreigner. I am a US citizen, I love this nation more so than my birth country. Thank you, yes I am crying, so much blood lost, so many families broken, fatherless children, widows, childless parents, missing brothers, gone lifelong friends that fought these wars. I pray the new Plan of taking the armed forces and weaken them down with the juice concoction mandates will fail.
It reminds me of two things. The letter dated November 24, 2002 that was written to the American people, not by army rangers, but by the man himself who told Americans why we were attacked on 9-11 and will continue to be attacked. And the second is the quote by Sun Tsu – “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
So sadly true….excellently described! Many of us concur….however, we must fight on our knees! Sadly, many too busy doing their own thing to even pray! Having ‘fun’ is not a GOD GIVEN RIGHT! I am glad my parents who emigrated to this once great Country are not here to see what they worked so hard for Freedom! This Blessed Country was built and blessed because of our Covenant with ALMIGHTY GOD, the only One True GOD CREATOR! You wanted Him out…He is a Gentleman, so He sadly and not quietly backed out! Soon, He will send His only begotten Son to rapture His believers before the most horrible time in history begins! Oh, ‘never in America!’ Surprise….it is here…the Evil is here…within! ALMIGHTY GOD warned and forewarned! But people, who just wanted FUN…TURNED DEAF EARS! Now what , folks??? Turn back to ALMIGHTY GOD…2Chronicles 7:14….If my people….If My People…!!!🙏
Very well done! Scrap the Congress and Senate. Return this nation to one that is not spineless! SIMPER FI
Words that hurt, generate lots of anger and despair, yet true in every single detail. We don’t listen to guys like Kilcullen and others on how to conduct any kind of counterinsurgency operation, should we even venture to do so, yet we get bogged down time and again in pointless wars in desolate places. No concept of chronic mission creep, and the right time to disengage. I especially like the characterization of generals and politicians. Perfumed Princes and spineless assholes. We were a much different country in 1945. Look how far we have slid since into a self-loathing reprobate, full of greed, addictive behavior, slothful attitudes, and loss of esteem. We care more about critical race theory, political correctness and defunding police than quality education, physical fitness, civics education and trying to help each other. Soft power, indeed, especially from a people who really didn’t ask for their country to be totally remade in the western image, only help in removing a radical scourge which did not allow them to peacefully live their lives according to ancient customs and Pashtunwali norms. When we actually got Bin Laden, that was the time to leave.
Afghanistan has sadly been a punching bag for various countries, including the US, for generations. As with many countries, we have destabilized, gutted, demolished the peoples and their country. I enjoyed reading your letter from Taliban. With how many of the points made do you agree?
very proud that my grandson recently became a Marine. He and his father (my son) are equally proud. VERY sad that he is now working for a government (and) commander in chief that was so well described in the narrative and following coments: arrogant, EXTREMELY narcissistic and completely clueless.
At this point I cN only pray for my country and my grandsons safety.
If this country continues to ignore God, and continues its ungodly practices, we WILL as stated by the authors, collapse and fall.
Truly sad!!
Unfortunately, the “Powers That Be”, The politicians in charge of the Generals, in charge of the Ground Forces, that actually perform those missions with their Hands tied behind there backs, are the ones that will only pay a fraction of the cost of this fiasco. The real cost of this fiasco will be to all of the Afghanistan people, that those Leaders have conveniently forgotten about…
Yep. Spot on – they know it and now most Americans know it. We can’t win in their religion-oriented civil war when TIME is on their side – should have learned from Vietnam – we didn’t. We can’t make others live our way. We seem to repeat our mistakes. Navy Seabee Vietnam Veteran (3x – Vietnam & Thailand – 1966-68). But, God bless our service members still over there, those that served and those who didn’t make it safely home. May the latter Rest in Peace.
Probably one of thebest piece of writing ever seen.I sincerely hope that it is able to be conveyed to the American public(and their allies). I have always thought that for a
fighting force to be shackled by rules of engagement was a joke,sadly it is not.
My father, a veteran of New Guinea and the Philippines who retired a Bird Colonel told me that the last thing a professional solider ever wants to do is go to war! But if the professional solider has to go to war, he goes to WIN period, full stop! Thirty eight years, eleven months and twenty nine days later for retired military pay, I do believe those words still ring true. May God Bless America!
Marcus luttrell said it best”We have to go in there and get them.” This is The United States of America! Whatever it takes we must do! No one left behind!
The greatest warriors in history came out of the steps of central Asia. Attila and Tamogen did not hamstring themselves with “The Rules of Engagement” and laid the mightiest empires of their times low. Today, warriors from this same region have broken the USSR, and now wrecked the mighty USA. Does no one read history? And, if they do, do they not learn from it? When you fight, you win, or you lose… you do not win by half measure. The Pentagon is part of Washington, Washington is corrupt. This end was predicted long before it occurred, but those of us making the prediction are no longer listed to by people who think :Rules of Engagement" are a wise thing.
I can’t explain the feelings. Thanks for what you do and the crappy flops.
I came across this when googling " how do Taliban fight in sandals "
I’m not a soldier or an American but it makes no difference , I’ve seen the coffins of my countrymen, and the legless soldiers and can only try and imagine how they must be feeling, not in the leaving of Afghanistan but the manner of that leaving , and to heap misery on our soldiers they are the ones to look into the eyes of desperate people and decide who can pass and maybe escape what is to come .I have cried over the last days , looking at the faces of the Taliban fighters and shuddering at the thought of the young woman who will be handed over to them .
No shame should be attached to American or British forces any failure is on the heads of politicians.
As I say I am not a soldier but it did stick in my craw to hear your president blame the Afghan army for running away , I believe more Afghan forces died than any other nationality many times over .
Where did this message come from? Was it a letter? When was it written?
Knew this was where we were going in 2002, when emphasis & resources shifted from Afghanistan to Iraq (or from Sparta to Syracuse, review your history notes). Hubris all round (more history notes).
Condolences to all who lost Loved Ones & Colleagues, as did I. RIP
Very Respectfully,
Iraq 2005
Afghanistan 2004
Iraq 2004
Balkans 1998
Balkans 1996
Mogadishu 1993
Congo 1991
DESERT SHIELD/STORM 1990-91
JUST CAUSE 1989-1990
El Salvador 1987
Beirut 1985
Sinai 1982
There is only one way to solve this problem. You know it and I know it.
The United States didn’t lose this war, the democratically elected government led by President Ashraf Ghani and the Afghan people lost this war. We trained an Afghan Army 180,000 strong, and equipped them with U.S. Taxpayer purchased uniforms and weapons. We gave them all of the tools necessary, and the knowledge in how to use those tools, so they could fight for their own country. They instead refused to fight. If the Afghan people do not have the will to fight for their own freedom, then that is the fault of the Afghan people. The Afghan people chose Taliban rule over the purple finger of self-determination. I do not consider this a U.S. loss when the withdrawal of 2,500 American soldiers causes an entire country to collapse. it was a mistake on our part to believe that the Afghan people yearned to be free. Instead, they have demonstrated that they yearn to live under strict Theocratic Islamic Law. The lesson to take away from Afghanistan, which was the same lesson we learned from Vietnam, is that if the people are unwilling to fight for their own freedom, then we cannot force them to do so. The Afghan people made their choice to embrace the Taliban. My only regret is the 2,311 American lives that were wasted trying to free a people who did not want to be free.
Sad but true. Not making any reference to a Metallica song. This is sad but true.
This is like Siagon in 1975, only worse. I served in that time in the usaf and realize we need an exit strategy to get people out well before crisis time, clandestinely and at night under the radar and away from the sight of the media whores. The sight of those refugees chasing the plane and falling off at takeoff is beyond heartbreaking to all who see it,
but is a stain on military intelligence and logistics.
Most of all, I can only imagine how 21st century combat vets must feel about their sacrifice, both mental and physical. They will need help coping with this fiasco.
Well written..
Brilliant.
The caliber of man that stormed the beaches of Normandy or island hopped in the South Pacific is a dying breed , America is but a shell of its former Glory , history is repeating itself , people are to blinded by greed , Self importance , self loathing to see the bigger picture. I see America and it hurts my soul , we have made great strides in America in equality , Yet have made so many strides in the wrong direction . I fear that America is to far gone to come back , the pride people once had in America is but a past time at this point. I look at my ancestors the sacrifices they made for our future and I’m glad they aren’t here to see what we have become as a nation , We have let the government get corrupted over zealous , the government is no longer for the people it’s for its self , we have let the government divide us …. I must remind you a nation divided cannot stand , there is evil in this world that is always looking for a way to destroy our way of life ,we must not let that evil stand in our way .
Veteran myself. Submariner. Very powerful- and true- message. Although my politics inclines to the left, I am in favor of a draft because if our elected “leaders” had to worry about a friend or relative being drafted to fight in another war of their making, they perhaps wouldn’t put our military in harm’s way in such a cavalier fashion.
Some knives and stories cut, this one cuts to the bone. Made me think.
I hope America learns from this experience. We have been calling what happened in Washington insurrection, now have vids of what that really means. America’s streets have been littered with protestors claiming to fight against oppression. We now see what true oppression is…. People continue to vote for corrupt politicians who don’t stand for anything substantial, giving our up to date technology to the enemy to deconstruct and reproduce. The Taliban claimed a huge victory and any intelligent person knows, they will push forward to our soil again. The maintenance to help Afghanistan is far cheaper than the cost that is coming. The last unnecessary bailout would pay for over 20 years…