Tucson veterans react as Taliban gains control in Afghanistan

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TUCSON, Arizona (KOLD News 13) – The world watches the Taliban take control of Afghanistan, and local veterans say they fear for innocent Afghans.

Keith Jones and Rocky Parkerton served in Iraq and were deployed together in 2003.

“I’m going to go to my grave, it was the best hour I spent out there on these missions,” said Jones.

They went with a group of nearly 150 Tucsonans serving on the United States’ Amy Reservation.

“I support the military and the military missions with heart and soul,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking to see the events of the past few days and how it all falls apart.”

He fears the worst for the innocent people in Afghanistan.

“You’re in danger right now,” said Jones. “You and your families, and I think about you a lot now.”

Parkerton says the purpose of sending troops to Afghanistan was “to prevent a parade ground for people like ISIS”. When the US pulls back, he is not shocked that the Taliban are gaining a foothold so quickly.

“As soon as you suck our people out of there and there is no more control on site,” he said. “The government is obliged to fold.”

He feels that if chaos breaks out, all progress could be lost.

“To have that kind of progress thrown away in a period of months, and most importantly, to give everything that was sacrificed over there, including blood and treasure,” he said.

Copyright 2021 KOLD News 13. All rights reserved.

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