These 15 Incredible Photos Show The Remnants Of The Trillion-Dollar Afghan War

More than a year ago, the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) looked on as the white flag of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was rolled up, marking the end of America's "13-year combat mission of peacekeeping and reconstruction in Afghanistan."

After spending nearly $1 trillion on the mission, President Barack Obama said that the International Security Assistance Force was coming to a “responsible conclusion.”

As the US gradually withdraw its military presence in the war-torn country, Reuters' Lucas Jackson went to Afghanistan to photograph the remnants of what Obama refers to as "the longest war in American history".

The photos are incredible, no doubt. But there's always a depressing feel to them, especially when you think about the thousands of lives lost, on both sides, in pursuit of peace. See for yourself.

 
"A tent covered in insulating foam about to be demolished on the massive Bagram Air Field in the Parwan province of Afghanistan, January 2, 2015. The base is being shrunk by demolishing large groups of housing in order to hold an estimated 13,000 foreign troops, mostly from the US, who will remain in the country under a new two-year mission named “Resolute Support” to train Afghan troops."

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

Signs on a post declaring the distance of Bagram Air Field to various U.S. bases across the world, Parwan province of Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2015.

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

Burned Afghan National Army trucks soon to be demolished on the massive Bagram Air Field, Parwan province of Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2015.

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

A door lies on the floor of a dismantled tent, Parwan province of Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2015.

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

Cases of water bottles waiting to be cleared in order to shrink the massive Bagram Air Field in the Parwan province of Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2015.

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

A view of filled sand bags stand stacked around concrete shelters to protect from rockets and mortars in Bagram Air Field, Parwan province of Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2015.

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

Tents waiting to be dismantled, Bagram Air Field in the Parwan province of Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2015.

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

Concrete barriers stored in a yard after being removed during work to dismantle huge swaths of the massive Bagram Air Field in the Parwan province of Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2015.

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

Russian guns seen in front of debris left over from demolished housing, Bagram Air Field in the Parwan province of Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2015.

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

Doors of deserted container housings tand waiting to be demolished, Bagram Air Field in the Parwan province of Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2015.

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

A massive field of demolished concrete inside Bagram Air Field in the Parwan province of Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2015.

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

A message is scrawled on debris left over from demolished temporary housing, Bagram Air Field in the Parwan province of Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2015.

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

U.S. Army MRAP vehicles loaded onto local trucks about to be shipped to Kuwait during work to shrink the vast Bagram Air Field in the Parwan province of Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2015.

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

Shipping containers waiting to be either shipped back to the US or disposed of are stacked inside Bagram Air Field in the Parwan province of Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2015.

Reuters / Lucas Jackson

 
H/t PBS