Been thinking about Afghanistan all day, optics count.

[Texaswitchy]

We needed to get out but in more orderly manner.

Why withdraw so many troops until we got the civilians out.

We knew who needed to get out and we had time to do it.

Move people out every day and night.

This is looking messy.

The midterms are coming up and am worried about the them.

We need to keep the house and Senate or we will have our own Afghanistan here.

Our military should have left after the civilians.

Joe will get the blame no matter who made the decision.

The Taliban are attacking because nobody is there to stop them.

They are bullies.

It looks like Vietnam in 1975.

The Republicans are going to run with this.

Fuck Bush and Cheny for starting this mess.

[Walleye]

3. Gonna save that statement for you. I think you're wrong

[Dopers_Greed]

5. I hope so

[Walleye]

8. I am inclined a little toward wishful thinking so...

But I think a majority of the people in the US are behind Biden’s action, like they are behind almost everything he’s doing. We shouldn’t listen to the talking heads

[rpannier]

10. I think the problem is going to come in the next few weeks

If the Taliban start "executing" large numbers of people and stories come out about public floggings and the like I think that support will dwindle
Especially if those that are killed are people who supported U.S. troops as interpreters and the like and their families
That's where I think this could really go south

[vercetti2021]

6. You're right

What you said is the silliest thing I've read all day. It didn't end today. Jesus christ

[Hoyt]

9. "Ended" may be a bit much since he can still take action. But,

this ain’t good from a political standpoint, although it’s early, and watching video on CNN of people urgently boarding planes to escape — and knowing innocent people are in fear — is quite disturbing.

Support leaving, but conditions have changed from an orderly drawdown to something ugly.

At a minimum, we need to save as many people as possible.

In any event, there is no right answer.

[Shellback Squid]

2. I believe the administration thought the Afghan army would hold out longer

[Texaswitchy]

20. Didn't work out.

Could not fight back.

Just threw the weapons down.

At some point they need stand up for themselves.

[roamer65]

4. Meanwhile, 600 people can't get hospital beds in Houston.

Another 100 can’t get ICU beds.

From another thread, the ER’s are telling them to go to EL Paso.

The pandemic in the South story will soon swallow this Afghan one whole just for lunch.

[Texaswitchy]

12. The stuff is hitting the right now.

Joe inherited a mess thanks to Trump.

On both issues.

He has done a great job but the Republicans are out to get him.

We know they want back the power they lost.

I have two Granddaughters and I want them to have a future.

They will not under the American Taliban.

This mess with the virus is to make Joe look bad.

Screw the economy, and have piles of dead Americans.

The Republicans are like the Taliban.

[Rhiannon12866]

17. +1000

Well said.

[Texaswitchy]

18. Houston is in bad shape.

We have a lot of hospitals.

[greenjar_01]

7. The finger pointing from State and Defense is increasing

The view at State is that if they started pulling people out or emptying the Embassy in earnest weeks ago, that would have intensified the collapse, and that they would have been blamed for causing the collapse of the Afghan forces rather than what they're being blamed for now, not being prepared for it.

It's a thin, whispy little pube of an argument, but it's all they have.

[MerryHolidays]

11. No Americans died. The Embassy is empty, and a 20 year "war" is over

I have no doubt that the Republicans will try to blame President Biden, but this ain't Viet Nam. How many protests were there about Afghanistan versus Viet Nam (basically none vs. a lot).

It's not ideal, but I trust Joe.

[Hoyt]

13. Trust decision will be viewed positively in future. Short-term, not so sure.

[Texaswitchy]

14. I protested the Iraq war .

We had no business in Afghanistan but to make a lot of money for rich people.

Our military were killed for what...

[walkingman]

16. For what??? Because the US is a war monger nation. We worship the military

in America. It is dumb and stupid and mark my words it will happen again and probably soon. Who will be the next victim of our self-righteousness??

[Texaswitchy]

21. Both my brothers were in Vietnam.

One came back screwed up.

PTSD

One my brother's best friend died over there, lasted one day.

His helicopter was blown up.

Same thing.

Money for the rich.

[Texaswitchy]

15. I trust Joe to.

I do not always trust people under him making decisions.

Who could not see the Afgan Army folding.
.
Twenty years and what...

[ansible]

19. This looks even worse than Vietnam, thousands are desperately trying to flee in Kabul airport

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Texaswitchy]

23. I do not blame them.

Looks like 1975

I feel for the women.

[Raine]

29. Totally agree. nt

[LetMyPeopleVote]

22. Taliban co-founder and leader and 5000 Taliban fighters were released at TFG/US' request

TFG ordered released the head of the Taliban. This man will be the new leader of Afghanistan

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

TFG also ordered the release of 5000 prisoners many of whom are not fighting against the former government

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Texaswitchy]

24. Yep.

He had his evil reasons...

Everything Trump touches goes to hell.

I miss President Hillary Clinton right now.

[alittlelark]

25. I Hate bullies

Seriously. I was bullied and forgave them, but this is a whole different situation. ‘Men’ pretending to have a clue as to how the world works - given a golden shield that allows them any women they desire and kills any man that challenges them..............".


Is this not a video game your nephew plays?
Perhaps you as well?

It dis TIME to THINK.

[Doodley]

27. Complete and utter disaster all around for everyone apart from Republicans who are jumping with joy.

[mike_c]

28. it was always a stupid, wasteful conflict...

Last edited Mon Aug 16, 2021, 05:02 AM - Edit history (5)

...and nobody ever really described what "victory" would look like. It was a vanity war for Dubya and Dick, neither of whom ever articulated any real, obtainable objectives beyond hoorah sound bites and slogans that the media ate up and amplified. There was never a rational end point that could be objectively achieved. Even the killing of Osama bin Laden-- in Pakistan-- wasn't enough to disentangle us from "the graveyard of empires."