Go Teflon Joe!

[BlueGreenLady]

I am so grateful for Biden's steady hand at the wheel, boldly steering us out of this 20 year long quagmire. The path forward is bound to be rough but we are paving a new path forward toward peace and prosperity. Onward.

[jimfields33]

1. For us yes. For Afghanistan? I'm not so sure.

Yes the country seems to be at a turning point. I do hope the women do not have to go back to pre U.S. involvement. It was pretty bad for them.

[babylonsister]

2. Teflon Joe? Where did that moniker

come from? I don't like it myself; I remember mf45 with that adjective.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Term originated with Reagan, who would brush off negatives with a charming folksy manner

All Presidents are charming, except the orange one was not. Professional politicians have to be charming. tRump is/was smarmy, not charming, and gets away with it because he is rich or behaves rich and was not a pro, though that is all he has left now after he has damaged his brand.

Shit didn't stick to the former guy because he created a shitstorm wherever he went and people were so distracted by all the shit and corruption flying around.

[babylonsister]

4. Thanks. I guess because

to me it did really apply to mf45, I don't agree with associating it with President Biden. My hackles got involved too early in the morning!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Agree. Should be dropped for Joe; does not need it because he's not surrounding himself w crap. . nt

[Changeiscoming_00]

6. Not so sure we should have pulled out of Afghanistan

The reason being we only had 2,500 troops there, so it wasn't as big a financial drain as before annually. But having us there allowed the US to have an intelligence-gathering base for the region as well as a comforting presence for the women and others who helped us. It only showed the world we would not abandon our friends.

Now, we have no way of gathering intelligence on terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda. That means our homeland would be that much more insecure. People say the last 20 years was for nothing, but I believe our presence there prevented another 9/11 from happening on US soil in the last 20 years. Now, who knows what will happen?

It hurts bad enough that the poor women and girls of Afghanistan will be raped and killed, some as young as 12. But also billions of your tax money that paid for state-of-the-art military equipment went to benefit the Taliban. I bet you didn't realize the money you gave Uncle Sam instead of buying food and clothes for your family would be funding the Taliban and making them even more powerful to commit atrocities against women and all who stand in their way.

It's just so sad.

I'm not for the vile Repubs, but I am for the Truth. This is why I like this forum, because I think you all are committed to the truth and not some political manipulation in the form of misinformation.

Ref article: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/08/16/billions-spent-afghan-army-ultimately-benefited-taliban.html

[Phoenix61]

7. The intelligence seems to have missed

that they would retake the country in a couple of weeks with hardly a shot fired. The leader promised he would stay then ran away. It’s beyond sad but until they, as a people, decide they want something else there really isn’t any more we can do. I do think the women, and the men who truly love them, will be the key. Once people get a taste of freedom they will often fight to keep it.

[Changeiscoming_00]

8. Intelligence

I don't think there's any way an American or Westerner could have guessed that would happen. It could be deep-seated cultural differences.

I wasn't advocating turning Afghanistan into a western-style Democracy. Screw that.

But we needed access and facilities at our disposal in the area. Kind of like an outpost in a hostile land.

[canetoad]

10. I'll bite

"I don't think there's any way an American or Westerner could have guessed that would happen."

This is Afghanistan we're talking about.

[GP6971]

9. Your link to Military.com

Are you retired or former military?