Taliban Taking Over Afghanistan - Does anyone care?

[AM64]

He wanted to play nation builder. He had to go in no doubt.

Nobody had to go into Afghanistan. That was chest thumping by Bush to save his presidency - finally had an enemy to go after - really just a thug with an organization hiding out in the badlands. Common sense (which I'll never credit to Bush or most presidents for that matter) would have said stay far away from the place.

 

[AM64]

Lara Logan also reported the US funding Pakistan. The question is why?

It's the road to Afghanistan ... for all practical purposes the only road.

 

[AM64]

"This is the most disastrous foreign policy event for the US since at least the Second World War."

- Colonel Richard Kemp, former Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan

This is the most disastrous administration at least since WW2 also, so it makes sense.

 

[tntar heel]

Don't cut and run, Joe: Boris Johnson will plead with Biden not to leave UK troops at mercy of ISIS suicide bombers in Kabul - after President said he 'hopes not to' extend US mission beyond August 31

• Boris Johnson will hold virtual meeting of G7 leaders on Tuesday after UK, which holds leadership, called for it

Boris Johnson and G7 leaders will plead with Joe Biden to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, amid fears mercy flights will be halted within 48 hours.

The Prime Minister will use a virtual meeting of world leaders on Tuesday to push for more time so thousands are not left behind in the clutches of the Taliban.

Nearly 6,000 UK citizens and Afghan staff had been airlifted out by the RAF by last night, and, according to reports last night, a further 6,000 people will be flown out this week.

But the rescue mission is reliant on the American military retaining control of Kabul airport. Along with losing key air support, British military officials fear Islamic State (IS) may also target UK soldiers at Kabul airport in suicide bomb attacks.

Boris Johnson will use G7 to persuade Joe Biden to keep US troops in Afghanistan for rescue mission | Daily Mail Online

Wonder What flavor is on the agenda for Tuesday. I'm gonna guess Ole Boris sends Joe some Rockey Road to change Joe's mind.

 

[kiddiedoc]

This is the most disastrous administration at least since WW2 also, so it makes sense.

I got flamed last week for suggesting the same, but maybe I wasn't so far off in my assessment.

Our strongest European allies have voiced deep criticism. It has been suggested that known terrorist organizations, China, and Russia have all been emboldened. NATO is a disaster. People are being trampled, falling from planes, and stranded behind enemy lines.

Yeah, it's really bad.

 

[VolnJC]

Chinese suck at trolling..should have went with the Xi Tik Tok

 

[Weezer]

I’m not defending the Biden administration, but Macron’s comments need to be put in context. I bet we have more troops in Afghanistan today than France ever supplied. I don’t give two craps what Macron thinks should be done in Afghanistan.

Exactly. If other nations wanted to keep troops there and keep fighting, they could have gone on without us. But they don't want to risk lives like we risk lives. The overall attitude of our "allies" seems to be American lives are more expendable.

 

[BreatheUT]

I got flamed last week for suggesting the same, but maybe I wasn't so far off in my assessment.

Our strongest European allies have voiced deep criticism. It has been suggested that known terrorist organizations, China, and Russia have all been emboldened. NATO is a disaster. People are being trampled, falling from planes, and stranded behind enemy lines.

Yeah, it's really bad.

All created and could've been avoided. Can you imagine how our military feels at the airport knowing our citizens are stuck in this zoo?

 

[Weezer]

Nobody had to go into Afghanistan. That was chest thumping by Bush to save his presidency - finally had an enemy to go after - really just a thug with an organization hiding out in the badlands. Common sense (which I'll never credit to Bush or most presidents for that matter) would have said stay far away from the place.

I think we had to chase bin Laden. Whether or not it meant a full scale invasion of Afghanistan is debatable, but the mission should never have switched from hunting bin Laden and al Qaeda to building a nation.

 

[Lerxtwood]

No, just stranded and in serious danger. While I agree some of the rhetoric is over the top the fact remains this is a humiliating and dangerous example of failed leadership at multiple levels.

Surely you don't believe this is an example of solid leadership.

It’s a mid-level f**kup, but in 2024 it won’t be what turns an election.

 

[Weezer]

It’s a mid-level f**kup, but in 2024 it won’t be what turns an election.

Disagree. Unless this administration does something to get a big bounce back, it will hurt the Dems in 2024. Unless the GOP stupidly runs Trump again. Biden won't go for a second term, but Harris will want to run. The Dems can't afford to give her the nomination. They'll have to find someone else to step up if they want to have any chance, and part of their struggle will be overcoming how this administration handled this. And let an American life be lost (God willing that does not happen), and they'll not be able to overcome it IMO. This isn't Benghazi where they were able to successfully dodge the unnecessary loss of life by blaming low to mid-level state department officials. Biden's incompetence on this withdraw has been all over the media, even the media that generally supports him. To call this a "mid-level **** up" is a huge understatement. It's wishful thinking.

Honestly, I thought the GOP made a huge blunder by becoming "the party of Trump". I thought it would ultimately cripple them and leave the Dems sitting pretty. But no, just when things looked really bad for the right, Biden says "hold my beer".

Lord, I would love if this somehow killed both parties. It won't. Wishful thinking on my part. But it would be great for our country if it did.

 

[Weezer]

Seeing how they're seeing some service here, it was on this date in 1954 that the Lockheed C-130 had its first flight.

 

[OL SMOKEY]

It’s a mid-level f**kup, but in 2024 it won’t be what turns an election.

Mid level???

 

[Lerxtwood]

View attachment 388692

Mid level???

Yes mid-level. Nobody on here can explain why this is a disaster. A disaster is when American lives are lost, has that happened during the withdrawal? “ it’s a sh$t show”, “it’s disorganized.” Boo-frickity-hoo. Or maybe you like this one, “Biden’s putting civilians in danger.” Hello people! The very fact these people set foot in Afghanistan has caused them to be in danger.
You all know as well as I do the Taliban we’re gonna take over and a humanitarian crises was coming. That’s the fault of 20 years of sh$t policy.

 

[hog88]

CIC is a civilian?

Yes

 

[rjd970]

I got flamed last week for suggesting the same, but maybe I wasn't so far off in my assessment.

Our strongest European allies have voiced deep criticism. It has been suggested that known terrorist organizations, China, and Russia have all been emboldened. NATO is a disaster. People are being trampled, falling from planes, and stranded behind enemy lines.

Yeah, it's really bad.

How many Americans have died during the evacuation so far? And since when do we care about NATO or what a British commander thinks?

 

[rjd970]

Yes mid-level. Nobody on here can explain why this is a disaster. A disaster is when American lives are lost, has that happened during the withdrawal? “ it’s a sh$t show”, “it’s disorganized.” Boo-frickity-hoo. Or maybe you like this one, “Biden’s putting civilians in danger.” Hello people! The very fact these people set foot in Afghanistan has caused them to be in danger.
You all know as well as I do the Taliban we’re gonna take over and a humanitarian crises was coming. That’s the fault of 20 years of sh$t policy.

The howling about what other countries and NATO think is also a little ridiculous given the rhetoric from the right on that over the last 4 years.

 

[ClearwaterVol]

You’ve lost your damn mind.

So, you think it was a good deal?

 

[ClearwaterVol]

Well the world will never know now will it? Leaving that place isn’t s$&@img the bed. Leaving overnight in an overloaded clown car is.

Sure it will. Trump didn't include the afghans on the deal. The Taliban was always going to takeover. This withdrawal was a craptastic failure, but for 20 years we have been giving the Afghan army weapon which were always going to be turned right over to the taliban. There is lots of blame on this one. Everybody focusing solely on Biden is just playing the tribal allegiance game.

 

[utvolpj]

"This is the most disastrous foreign policy event for the US since at least the Second World War."

- Colonel Richard Kemp, former Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan

Imo the actual original invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan are bigger muckups. How about creating the Afg forces we have been fighting for 20yrs? Western foreign policy is extremely short-sighted because of our govts

 

[C-south]

Sure it will. Trump didn't include the afghans on the deal. The Taliban was always going to takeover. This withdrawal was a craptastic failure, but for 20 years we have been giving the Afghan army weapon which were always going to be turned right over to the taliban. There is lots of blame on this one. Everybody focusing solely on Biden is just playing the tribal allegiance game.

Maybe you should’ve said something.

 

[ClearwaterVol]

Maybe you should’ve said something.

I never expected we'd have anyone saying they expected any differently.

 

[ClearwaterVol]

I got flamed last week for suggesting the same, but maybe I wasn't so far off in my assessment.

Our strongest European allies have voiced deep criticism. It has been suggested that known terrorist organizations, China, and Russia have all been emboldened. NATO is a disaster. People are being trampled, falling from planes, and stranded behind enemy lines.

Yeah, it's really bad.

Our strongest allies who have all withdrawn with our protection years ago. They can take their criticisms and stuff 'em

 

[hog88]

The howling about what other countries and NATO think is also a little ridiculous given the rhetoric from the right on that over the last 4 years.

That is a simplistic and disingenuous portrayal of the rhetoric and you know it.

 

[hog88]

So, you think it was a good deal?

What was the deal? Plus we didn’t live up to the deal.