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Post by Sasquatch on Aug 16, 2021 7:29:21 GMT -5
What a mess.
Biden sure messed this up, but to be fair any total U.S. pullout would have eventually resulted in the defeat of the Afghan government.
SO what now? Do we just let the Taliban carry on? Do we go back in? Does China seize a tempting chance at Afghanistan's minerals? Does Russia give it another shot?
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Post by Mack Apiary Bees on Aug 16, 2021 8:35:58 GMT -5
It's not good for the World. I hope a team of countries clean up the mess without going into WWIII.
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Post by sculver7 on Aug 16, 2021 8:38:45 GMT -5
I do not know the answer. On one hand, I see the POV that we were literally just burning money and losing lives while our troops were over there, but on the other hand, I know a lot of vets who served in Afghanistan stating that they want to be there right now to help. I think that this situation was unavoidable. And to be completely honest (and this is coming from someone who liked most of Trump's policies), I think the same thing would have happened when he wanted to pull out of the country. It is a sad, sad situation and my heart goes out to those that are being forced to live in the chaos over there.
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Post by Woody Williams on Aug 16, 2021 9:48:09 GMT -5
Nation building never works, especially in these Stone Age countries.
We should have went in, kicked Alquedas butts, killed Osama and left with a note saying - “Support terrorists again and we will be back only it will be worse for you next time.”
Terrorists are extremely good at one thing - smelling weakness. Trump had pulled down our forces to 2,500 men and zero Americans were killed in the last twelve months. Why? Because Pompeo told the chief Taliban negotiator that if that happened we would bring all the force of the USA to his village and house. I think that warning would still be in effect if Trump was still in office and doing the pull out.
Our “intelligence” screwed up royally and/or Biden lied. The 300,000 Afghan troops was not true. Most of that count was on paper. IOW - ghost troops drawing a salary.
I believe Biden’s handlers saw polls that said we should get out and took the troops out at all costs.
*IF* the administration had an exit plan it was poorly executed. To me, the fact that they had to send in 5,000 troops to get people out says they reall didn’t have a very good plan.
Sad day for the Afghan people and the USA standing in the world. We broke our promise to the Afghans that helped us.
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Post by Woody Williams on Aug 16, 2021 9:51:29 GMT -5
The fact that the USA has not suffered any September 11type attacks in the last 20 years is about the only good that has come from this fiasco.
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Post by esshup on Aug 16, 2021 9:52:15 GMT -5
I didn't vote on the poll because my answer isn't there.
We are not the world's police force. I say destroy any of our military hardware that is left there, and leave them alone.
If I was in charge here, this is what I'd do. Tell them that we will leave them alone IF they leave us alone AND any of our citizens outside this border alone. If they don't, then have a contingency plan to send aircraft there and any place that they are and carpet bomb the place flat. Screw the diplomats, they have proven that they cannot get the job done. It's in the Koran to kill anyone that doesn't follow Allah.
Tell the citizens of the area that if they don't turn any of the Taliban over that they will be considered part of them and to kiss their azz goodbye. Do that a few days AFTER we have dropped bombs on all the important targets. Think of a colony of ants. Wipe out the anthill, kill any stragglers coming back, then wipe out any ants that come up to forage away from the anthill.
Yes, I know that there is a huge network of underground tunnels. So what. If the land above ground is completely rototilled, don't you think they will show up like an ant on a pool table once they come up for air?
The heck with the Geneva Convention, do you think they are following it?
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Post by Sasquatch on Aug 16, 2021 10:44:47 GMT -5
I feel for those left behind, especially and Christians, who will get special treatment.
I feel for those that fought and died over there and their families.
We should have set a departure date the minute Osama bit the dust, at the latest. No long term peace can be won there under Western notions of warfare.
As a Taliban leader told a Canadian Official: "You have the watches, we have the time."
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Post by stevein on Aug 16, 2021 10:54:48 GMT -5
I have wanted us out of Afghanistan for years but I could not think of a way that would not have the recent results. I think that they feel if we negotiate we are weak and will tell us what we want to hear. They will crawl into a cave and wait us out. They are tough people and have been fighting in one or another for centuries. The next time we get involved in a mess leave the reporters back in the states and let the miltary have a free hand running the war.
Those that helped us and did not get out may God help them.
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Post by medic22 on Aug 16, 2021 11:25:02 GMT -5
Should've turned that place into a glass factory a decade ago.
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Post by bill9068 on Aug 16, 2021 13:05:11 GMT -5
The fact that the USA has not suffered any September 11type attacks in the last 20 years is about the only good that has come from this fiasco. With this clown show in charge now, don’t be surprised if that happen soon.
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Post by Woody Williams on Aug 16, 2021 14:02:31 GMT -5
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Post by welder on Aug 16, 2021 14:27:05 GMT -5
That's absolutely horrible! Imagine that ending being a better option than staying where you are. Prayers for everyone involved.
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Post by jjas on Aug 16, 2021 14:30:25 GMT -5
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Post by greyhair on Aug 16, 2021 14:48:22 GMT -5
I never saw a good ending for this. Easy to blame one President or another, or both, or the last four, but I think this mess would have happened with any of them. The Taliban knew since last year what our timetable was, and so had plenty of time to get ready and plan. The overall mistake was thinking that we could turn them into a democracy. Didn't happen, never will.
I read an opinion piece that suggested that Afghanistan will become a real problem for China now. Think about it - the Chinese government hates religion. Now they have a huge heavily armed country run by religious fanatics in their backyard. One that has been a graveyard for both the Russians and the Americans. and may have valuable natural resources.
Maybe we should gone in heavier at first and then been out in 2 years, I dont know...
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Post by sculver7 on Aug 16, 2021 15:37:13 GMT -5
I never saw a good ending for this. Easy to blame one President or another, or both, or the last four, but I think this mess would have happened with any of them. The Taliban knew since last year what our timetable was, and so had plenty of time to get ready and plan. The overall mistake was thinking that we could turn them into a democracy. Didn't happen, never will. I read an opinion piece that suggested that Afghanistan will become a real problem for China now. Think about it - the Chinese government hates religion. Now they have a huge heavily armed country run by religious fanatics in their backyard. One that has been a graveyard for both the Russians and the Americans. and may have valuable natural resources. Maybe we should gone in heavier at first and then been out in 2 years, I dont know... I think the opposite of this: I think that China is somehow involved in this. China hates religion, yes, but I think that China will use any opportuinty possible to take over the world. If they can use the taliban for their plans, they will use them. Just my thoughts. Wouldn't be surprised if China has been behind this all along. Just a thought.
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Post by esshup on Aug 16, 2021 18:41:21 GMT -5
Looks like some pretty hasty photoshop work to me.
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Post by Woody Williams on Aug 16, 2021 18:51:16 GMT -5
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Post by welder on Aug 16, 2021 19:30:13 GMT -5
My opinion: Is it possible to "win" a war in a place like Afghanistan or several other countries? NO. That being said, freedom ain't free! It's highly likely in order to keep the Taliban at bay that we could EVER completely leave. I do realize it is extremely expensive to keep troops overseas. However,we have not experienced another 9-11 in 20 years. I 100% expect that to change. There is, unfortunately ALWAYS going to be war and hostility going on in the world. We should do our best to keep it on the other side of the world. Prayers for the soldiers and the families that have sacrificed so much.
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Post by esshup on Aug 16, 2021 21:54:21 GMT -5
Wow, just wow. I can't imagine thinking that I can hold onto an air plane as it flies away. Thanks Woody!!
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Post by freedomhunter on Aug 17, 2021 9:51:57 GMT -5
Tali is excuting the Afghan pilots in their homes and raping their families. Blow them all to hell where they belong before the cowards sucker punch us again
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