Happy Wednesday and welcome to the Bullwork Podcast.

I'm Charlie Sykes.

One of the things I've been really wanting to do this August is to take some time to

look back on what happened a year ago, the anniversary of the fall of Afghanistan, and

the fallout from that.

And who better to talk to than Elliot Ackerman who is a marine combat vet who served nearly

10 years in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Elliot was a lieutenant in the Battle of Fallujah, who he was awarded the Silver Star, also

received a Purple Heart after being wounded by a grenade.

Also the recipient of the Bronze Star in Afghanistan, where he served as a Marine Special

Operations Captain.

Elliot Ackerman was also a CIA tactical officer in Afghanistan, and after leaving the military,

he's authored eight books, including his newest, the fifth act, America's End in Afghanistan.

Thank you so much for joining us today, Elliot.

Thanks for having me, Charlie.

So let's talk about the anniversary.

It is right now August 24, 2022.

On August 15 of last year, the Taliban entered Kabul and took control of Afghanistan.

You have described what it was like for you to watch the chaos and the violence.

So talk to me about that day and where you were and what your reaction was.

Well, for me, I mean so much of the fall of Kabul and the end of the Afghanistan sort

of had a strange, dissociative resident.

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