Oliver Thomas, from Brecon, was one of the last soldiers killed in Afghanistan in 2014. We worked together briefly and as the UK and US withdraw from Kabul, I think of his family and the family of every other fallen soldier.
Like many, I am struggling to know what to say. Scenes from Afghanistan are hard to watch for all of us - especially those who were there to do an important job. My partner Tim is one of those.
It is not fair to say that the last few days undermine the last twenty years and the impact our Armed Forces have had. There are 3.6 million girls in education as a result of our intervention. This is a legacy to be proud of. The UK Armed Forces remain a strong and determined threat to our enemies. However, with the US decision to withdraw, it is simply wrong to maintain a unilateral presence. It would be arrogant of the UK to believe it alone can 'solve' Afghanistan. There are too many examples in history where this has not worked.
We must continue to do our duty to Afghanistan and that begins with ensuring we get as many as we can back home. The Secretary of State for Defence has made that clear. And we must use the Ministry of Defence's record-breaking financial settlement to invest in post-conflict reconstruction. I for one will be arguing for the UK to keep up its commitment to supporting women and girls in conflict zones.
But to those who served, I wish I had better words for you. You were then - and remain now - the very best of all of us