Taliban Taking Over Afghanistan - Does anyone care?

[Weezer]

I don't think that accurately describes those we left behind.

I'll also add that we left a ton of Afghans we were committed to get out as well. Because we had the mad rush a good number of the people we got out were 3rd priority at best.

It would be messy anyway you do it but if you publicly commit to get everyone out and promise to use all resources available to make that happen then you in effect are defining the mission as getting everyone out. Going back on that word is abandoning the mission.

As tactically unsound as this withdrawal was, it really makes you question the military minds we have in charge. Nothing about how this was handled makes sense to me. And I'm not claiming to be some kind of military genius, but I don't think it takes a genius to see how truly and epically this was screwed up.

 

[Orangeburst]

Joey with the heat

 

[FLVOL_79]

Hey, at least we don't have mean tweets. We're the laughing stock of the entire globe but it's completely worth it.

And that is really the core issue here. Mean tweets hurt peoples feelings. Feelings > Everything.

 

[rjd970]

I don't think that accurately describes those we left behind.

I'll also add that we left a ton of Afghans we were committed to get out as well. Because we had the mad rush a good number of the people we got out were 3rd priority at best.

It would be messy anyway you do it but if you publicly commit to get everyone out and promise to use all resources available to make that happen then you in effect are defining the mission as getting everyone out. Going back on that word is abandoning the mission.

But how long do you stay to get it done? Indefinitely?

 

[volinbham]

But how long do you stay to get it done? Indefinitely?

if someone won't leave because they have a job they won't leave then they are making a choice to stay - my point was that people are being characterized as not wanting to leave when the reality was they were trying figure out the safest way to leave (eg. risk going to airport; or significant distances from Kabul).

 

[hog88]

As tactically unsound as this withdrawal was, it really makes you question the military minds we have in charge. Nothing about how this was handled makes sense to me. And I'm not claiming to be some kind of military genius, but I don't think it takes a genius to see how truly and epically this was screwed up.

The truly pathetic part of this is that none of the Joint Chiefs had the balls to stand up to Biden and threaten to resign.

 

[hog88]

But how long do you stay to get it done? Indefinitely?

Is this after the Biden clusterflop or if the withdrawal had been handled properly?

 

[JOEY'S ALL VOL !!!]

So devils advocate - do we stay however long it takes to get every American out, no matter how long it takes? Even if they can’t/won’t leave? And by “can’t” I mean can’t as in they are doctors with patients or whatever work they are doing won’t allow them too.

I don't think that accurately describes those we left behind.

I'll also add that we left a ton of Afghans we were committed to get out as well. Because we had the mad rush a good number of the people we got out were 3rd priority at best.

It would be messy anyway you do it but if you publicly commit to get everyone out and promise to use all resources available to make that happen then you in effect are defining the mission as getting everyone out. Going back on that word is abandoning the mission.

At some point a deadline has to be a deadline and you can’t wait forever on those that may have more interests in personal or financial gain than self preservation, that being said ... this was way hasty and unbelievably poorly executed and the feelers that should have been sent out weren’t according to so many. The warnings and feelers that should have been apparent to those still in country may not be known to us for a very long time (if ever), but you gotta go sometime if you say you’re going. The execution is a sh!tshow of epic proportions though, no doubt about that. Who in their right mind gives up the stronghold of Bagram air base and its multiple runways which we held without much of a whisper of resistance for 20 years and the Soviets held for 17 years before that for the unsecured one runway at Kabul ? What a military dumpster fire of a decision ! It’s an unbelievably stupid mistake that no one can seem to answer for.

 

[Volaholic320]

This administration has taken the lack of communication and transparency to a whole new level. It started with the mandate given by the media and the voters during the Joe Biden basement campaign. The guy was barely visible. They knew then they could start running roughshod. The blatant disrespect they now show cannot be put back in the box. They have this smug attitude that the middlings should be happy they are dropping kibbles and bits.

The lack of communication is purposeful. This is all designed. Biden doesnt run anything.

 

[Volaholic320]

Impeachment has become the tool of the disgruntled instead of what I believe it was meant for. Democrats are guilty, as well as Republicans.

I wouldnt impeach, wouldn't try to get rid of him, we'll have an even worse president. Of course kamala is basically president at this point.

 

[tnmarktx]

I wouldnt impeach, wouldn't try to get rid of him, we'll have an even worse president. Of course kamala is basically president at this point.

He's doing plenty of damage to the uniparty. He's right where he needs to be at the moment.

 

[Matt2496]

Unreal…

 

[Hunerwadel]

Nobody wants the democrats investigating this unfortunately. It would be a total waste of time. I think they should wait until the House is taken by Republicans but someone, or two, or three or four has to be held accountable and relieved of their duties.

Your last sentence is interesting.

I posted that knowing that most likely both houses will shift in '22. An investigation of that magnitude will likely still be going on. Yeah, we've seen how much better the Republicans investigate ****. I remember the Nunes midnight rides to the WH to keep trump informed of the intelligence committee's findings.

 

[LouderVol]

At some point a deadline has to be a deadline and you can’t wait forever on those that may have more interests in personal or financial gain than self preservation, that being said ... this was way hasty and unbelievably poorly executed and the feelers that should have been sent out weren’t according to so many. The warnings and feelers that should have been apparent to those still in country may not be known to us for a very long time (if ever), but you gotta go sometime if you say you’re going. The execution is a sh!tshow of epic proportions though, no doubt about that. Who in their right mind gives up the stronghold of Bagram air base and its multiple runways which we held without much of a whisper of resistance for 20 years and the Soviets held for 17 years before that for the unsecured one runway at Kabul ? What a military dumpster fire of a decision ! It’s an unbelievably stupid mistake that no one can seem to answer for.

The deadline was 9/11. It got moved up by team Biden. That is after they pushed back from the May date.

If you move UP a deadline you darn well be ready to meet it.

There was nothing set it stone, so they should have had a schedule. And if people miss it, it's on them. That's not what we are seeing here. The government messed this up, not the people.

 

[BreatheUT]

I posted that knowing that most likely both houses will shift in '22. An investigation of that magnitude will likely still be going on. Yeah, we've seen how much better the Republicans investigate ****. I remember the Nunez midnight rides to the WH to keep trump informed of the intelligence committee's findings.

You raise a good point.

 

[rjd970]

Is this after the Biden clusterflop or if the withdrawal had been handled properly?

Let’s say after. How long do you stay to get every last American out regardless of circumstance?

 

[rjd970]

if someone won't leave because they have a job they won't leave then they are making a choice to stay - my point was that people are being characterized as not wanting to leave when the reality was they were trying figure out the safest way to leave (eg. risk going to airport; or significant distances from Kabul).

So how long do you stay to make sure those people can get out? The way I see it there are two options - indefinitely until the last American is verified as out…whenever that may be, or you out a mark on the calendar and work out the remaining souls later.

I think the date should have been gated based on the conditions on the ground, but you still put a mark on the calendar.

It would not surprise me if the remaining Americans and afghan helpers are still being evacuated under the radar by an American security force in the ground. We make a big deal about the date to diffuse the situation in Kabul while continuing the evacuation. The administration isn’t lying when they say there are still Americans there and we are working to bring them home.

Maybe that isn’t happening, maybe it is. But at some point you can’t leave this open ended - you have to work towards a target date.

And let me be clear before I get flamed. This thing was bungled. This is on the administration. What I’m saying doesn’t change that.

 

[NEVolFan]

If you say it with conviction... it must be true. Biden is full of sheit.

 

[tnmarktx]

 

[KB5252]

Evidently they expect Austin and Milley to to be. I realize when military commanders fail they get canned or replaced. This was a huge undertaking and it involved more than just the military. This was bye and large an intelligence failure. I don't excuse Biden. It happened on his watch and he has to take the heat. I think this rises to the level of a congressional inquiry or investigation of the military, the IC and the President. People get tired of congressional investigations but it is their job.

It was a complete failure. When intelligence isn't panning out competent leaders, military and otherwise, pivot and evaluate their next moves. That didn't happen here, it was a stubborn stick to the plan stupid.... When the plan wasn't working.

 

[BreatheUT]

As tactically unsound as this withdrawal was, it really makes you question the military minds we have in charge. Nothing about how this was handled makes sense to me. And I'm not claiming to be some kind of military genius, but I don't think it takes a genius to see how truly and epically this was screwed up.

Some speculate that is was so spectacularly messed up that there has to be more to it or something we're missing.

 

[KB5252]

Some speculate that is was so spectacularly messed up that there has to be more to it or something we're missing.

The more I think about this the more I believe it could be true. Could this be some clever way of carrying out a large arms transfer that would be wildly unpopular? There have to be other angles in missing too.

 

[Electric Orange]

 

[NorthDallas40]

So devils advocate - do we stay however long it takes to get every American out, no matter how long it takes? Even if they can’t/won’t leave? And by “can’t” I mean can’t as in they are doctors with patients or whatever work they are doing won’t allow them too.

Honestly I think the opportunity to consider that dialog option has flown the coop. No we won’t ever get “everyone” but the dipshit in chief stupidly set that expectation with his own mouth.

Also if the idiot did such a great job three weeks ago why in the hell did we have to go back and get 5 or 6,000 Americans and 100K+ people?

 

[hog88]

Let’s say after. How long do you stay to get every last American out regardless of circumstance?

You can’t after you screw up that bad unless you commit thousands of troops to street fighting.