The war in Afghanistan is finally over. What was all that for?

It is a soldier's job to do his or her duty for their country. It is arguably the noblest calling in the world. They don't get to pick the wars. They serve.

It is a citizen's job to question their government. Particularly the wars it chooses to fight. Perhaps we didn't ask enough questions or challenge politicians as forcefully as we should have.

Because what did America actually accomplish in Afghanistan?

For twenty years, the U.S. has fought in that country. Leaders in both parties have told us for two decades we must stay or it would all fall apart and the Taliban would retake control.

Today that war finally ended. The country is falling apart and the Taliban is once again in control.

So what were we there for all that time?

JUST IN: Last US military plane leaves Afghanistan https://t.co/RCGe7rDJV2 pic.twitter.com/bbPZ0sbqIR

— The Hill (@thehill) August 30, 2021

Obviously, the U.S. was justified in going in after 9/11 because the Taliban was harboring the terrorists who attacked us. But we didn't just go in, accomplish the mission and then leave.

We stayed. We nation built. We bore the costs in not only dollars, but far more importantly, lives.

For what? One is tempted to do a cost/benefit analysis, but to do that there would have to be some benefit. There is none.

If we went in to punish the Taliban, we rewarded them on the way out the door with billions in U.S. military equipment.

Why?

By every metric imaginable, we lost the war in Afghanistan long before anyone, including its supporters, could clearly explain what our mission was there.

American soldiers did their duty and we salute their service and sacrifice. But by seemingly not challenging the government enough, I worry that we citizens let them down.

One thing is clear: Any politician who wants to do that again - and Washington is full of hawkish people eager to do so in both parties - is unfit for office. Because they haven't learned a single lesson from what has to be one of America's grandest mistakes.

But we can learn lessons. We must. Doing so might be the only bright spot amongst the darkness left behind.