“I thought it was bad in Saigon. This is even worse,” says three-time Pulitzer nominee Ronald Yates, who witnessed the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. Yates has also reported firsthand from Afghanistan under the Soviet occupation, and for three and a half years, he did military intelligence work with the U.S. Army Security Agency. Editor’s Note: During the interview, an incorrect number is referenced as the amount of U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan. The correct number is an estimated $28 billion. $85 billion is the estimated total cost of the United States training and equipping the Afghan army. Subscribe to the American Thought Leaders newsletter so you never miss an episode. You can also follow American Thought Leaders on Parler, Facebook, or YouTube. If you’d like to donate to support our work, you can do so here. Follow Epoch TV on Facebook and Twitter.