John --



At the end of a devastating ​month for our country, including the loss of 13 brave American service members and tens of thousands of our allies left behind, it is easy to feel discouraged. Yet, I am also inspired by all of the good people who not only believe in the promise of America, but in keeping America's promises.



Country First has raised more than $125,000 through our Afghan Ally Relief Fund to assist the Afghan families that risked everything to help our Armed Forces.  We've wired $75,000 to No One Left Behind <[link removed]> and another $30,000 to Operation Recovery <[link removed]>. Both organizations are non-profit charities devoted to honoring our promises. We continue to identify great groups doing important work in this space, and our goal is to distribute 100% of any donations we continue to receive within two weeks of receipt.



Thank you to every single person who donated to the Fund <[link removed]>, or has found another way to help our Afghan allies.



<[link removed]>Afghan Ally Relief Fund <[link removed]>



And while the War in Afghanistan was unpopular here at home, I do hope more and more Americans have come to realize the situation was never as black and white as ending or continuing a "Forever War."



Despite what some of our leaders have said throughout the years, our presence in Afghanistan was not about the seemingly impossible task of creating a western-style democracy. It was about keeping it from returning to a breeding ground for terrorists hell-bent on killing Americans. And, thankfully, we'd largely achieved that -- but it did require maintenance by a relatively tiny group of Americans (and allies from around the globe) providing logistical and air support for the Afghan military.



The situation in Afghanistan was far from perfect, but it was hard fought and won over the last 20 years.  Yet in a matter of weeks, we gave all of that up along with too much of our own country's safety and security.  As someone who served in Afghanistan, and lost friends there, that's a punch to the gut.



I wish it were different. But it's not different. And we have to acknowledge the decision to withdraw this way has given terrorists an opening to re-emerge and kill Americans.  Both Donald Trump and  ​Joe Biden refused to acknowledge that fact, and instead made the political decision to surrender Afghanistan to terrorists.



The only hope we had of maintaining a shred of dignity was to keep our promises and save every American and ally still on the ground in Afghanistan.  These people deserved to be rescued, and we shouldn't have left until that job was done, regardless of what the Taliban or any other terrorist group tried to dictate.



At the end of the day, we are still America -- and that has to mean something.



May God bless and protect all those in harms way and comfort those grieving an unbearable loss.



Country First,



Adam



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