All was well until the time of the withdrawn of the gallant American troops.
My friend's paradise plunged downward in this new era.
We met occasionally. When l mentioned the changing on his look was serious. But there was a trace of a smaile on his face as he stated in tones designed to persuade me (and himself) that the situation was not yet critical.
Much of the military crowed had already left but plenty of replacements had also arrived.