Point of order: We do have leverage over the Taliban.

[Baitball Blogger]

I keep hearing experts claim that we have no leverage over the Taliban. Yes, they have the advantage right now, but we have one thing in our favor: money.

I realize they can rely on Pakistan and now China for financial assistance, but I think that is going to make things interesting. The one thing Russia does not want, is a Chinese presence on their doorstep. So, it's going to be popcorn eating time to see what happens with that. Might be a bigger disaster for the Afghan people to invite a war between two foreign countries on their soil.

[marble falls]

1. During the negotiations the US military told the Afghan leaders if the withdrawal went south ...

... the US would erase their home villages from the earth. And that drone season would be opened.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. And there's that.

They did that to Noriega, and the real truth of civilian casualties hasn't yet been reported by the MSM. Since the attack took place in the poor section of Panama, it went largely ignored.

I'm only now hearing about it.

I do have a friend that was a soldier in that war. Friends that tried to reach out to him said that he tuned out. Never returned anyone's call. He did finally make it to the last reunion, so I'm anxious to talk to friends who got to see him to find out what it was that he saw. Because, whatever it was, it was largely underreported in our glorious, objective MSM.

[Lovie777]

3. Which administration? . .....

[marble falls]

4. The way they put it is "the Pentagon".

[littlemissmartypants]

5. When the pictures of the Taliban leaders at the table in the Afghanistan capital

Were posted. My first thought was that it was a bombing opportunity since all of them were in the same room at the same time. I am 100% against conflict but that thought did cross my mind.

[marble falls]

6. It was probably a first thought. At least a second one.