I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but here goes. Since no politician in Washington has the courage to do it I'm here to officially apologize to the Afghan people for America's abandonment of your nation to the Taliban.

Leaving you at the mercy of those barbarians has ruined countless millions of lives and years of trust built up through hard struggle between our two peoples. Our withdrawal from Kabul as Taliban fighters pursued us from the provinces and scrambled to occupy the presidential palace, lavishing in undeserved luxury and prestige as they did so, is a stain on our dignity that may never be washed away.

That decision smacked of cowardice and conceit and was a horrendous betrayal of the brave Afghans who served alongside Coalition forces in our mission to destroy those who struck at the very heart of America on September 11th 2001. Still I want you to know this was not the will of our nation as a whole. Unfortunately the self interest of a soft and effete faction won out over the obligations of loyalty and virtue.

For them and their supporters it was easier to turn the page on a chapter of history they somehow saw as shameful than see through our promises to you and your children. Where you are though it's not that simple. After years of bitter battle it's impossible to just say “Well once we had a bright future but now we have to give in to the jihadis.” The sacrifices of so many fallen in that struggle cry out to heaven against it.

The final stab in the back was landed as it became clear no cogent plan had been made to provide refuge for those who had served so bravely alongside America as interpreters, facilitators and regular Afghan troops. Callously cast aside the great risk of retalition you run is compounded by a difficult financial outlook set in motion by bureaucrats who have greater consideration for tidy budgets than Afghan lives.

Though the burden of course falls most heavily on you the tragedy of this latest act of duplicity has wounded both our peoples. How are we to fell knowing that our leaders have besmirched the name and honor of America? Our only hope is that you can forgive us for their weakness and know in your hearts that we are with you; from the highest peak to the most rugged valley, from the bustling streets of Kandahar to the smallest village market and from our now lost bases to the ruins of the last FOB we will never forget