It's a right bloody mess of a country. The Russians gave up on it before the US got involved with their internal feuding.

The faster we get the hell out of there and leave them to sort out their own mess the better. I'm with Biden on this.

They don't like, or want, interference from the West. The people are unruly and almost certainly, unruleable. The men treat women abominably. No woman can go out on her own without a male chaperone. They get stoned if they are adulterous. And much more besides.

Now the Taliban say they are banning music in Afghanistan. Who are these people? Are they people at all?

Forget it lads. They don't recognise what we consider a civilised way of life. Best let them sink in their own sess pit of squalid principles and behaviour.

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

I think you're describing the Taliban, not Afghans.

I know what you're saying, but I can't help believing that the majority are under their influence one way or another. Even their own Government couldn't or wouldn't stand up to them.

I remain firmly of the view that it's theirs to sort out and best for us not to be involved. But, hey, just a personal view.

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

I think the last few posts has got me to a point of acceptance that in Afghanistan there are significant numbers who want to maintain their way of life. And looking at how Westerner Governments conduct themselves, perhaps there is merit in that.
And i have no doubt there will be Afghans left in a system they don't want, they will be persecuted, tortured and perhaps killed.
There is a point (and everyone has their own perspective) when the recent losses of life force Governments to make decisions 'for the better good'.

My wife knows an Afghan taxi driver in East Sussex who is distraught as what is happening to his country. But ultimately, he chose not to fight for it, and to move his family to the UK. He has extended family who no doubt will suffer under the Taliban.

Afghanistan is a tribal area full of mentalists. you can't educate or reason with nutters, so just leave them to it.

I disengage, I turn the page.

Because we went in 20 years ago?

I was living in that part of the world, at 9/11 and during the invasion. At the time I felt it was a mistake and that, given how the Russians failed, it was never going to end well. So, should we have gone in? No. Should we now leave the Afghan people to the mercy of the Taliban? Absolutely not. Unfortunately it looks like it is too late and my thoughts go out to those left behind, especially the women and girls.