McChrystal: Lack of Leadership Credibility Led to Iraqi Army Collapse

Fussell, a New America Foundation senior fellow, said it is easy to train great fighters.

“The Taliban has been around for generations. The warrior spirit in Afghanistan has been there forever so it’s no surprise that – it was certainly an awakening for well-trained U.S. soldiers to show up and meet the fighter in Afghanistan who is a 24-year-old in flip flops that can sprint up and down a mountain in 3 minutes,” he said.