worth of demoralization and now this abrupt withdrawal on our part i think solidifies it. so it's like any complex phenomenon. there are a number of reasons for the collapse i think of the afghan forces, but we cannot ignore we had a central role in delegitimizing them and their government. >> i mean, four years ago, would this same result have happened though? three years before that decision was made? because it seems like there was an awful lot poured into this. it's hard to believe that just a recent demoralization, it seems like a pretty inherent, intrinsic lack of confidence among afghan forces in the state itself. >> we were a major backer of the state and of the security forces. symbolism counts. and the symbol of the u.s. military affecting a complete and final withdrawal was