Posted on 08/14/2021 8:34:29 AM PDT by DoodleBob
The situation in Afghanistan is dire. But it is not too late to deploy forces to stabilize it, and ultimately turn it around. We can at least avoid the worst outcome, a collapse and slaughter that would be a catastrophe for the people of Afghanistan and a strategic and moral disaster for the United States.
We know this is doable: General John Allen, who served as commander of the International Security Assistance Force from 2011 to 2013, laid out a realistic plan for salvaging the situation and avoiding the complete collapse of Kabul. Would a bold intervention now commit us to sustain a military presence in Afghanistan indefinitely? Not necessarily, but there is a strong case for an enduring military presence there, in order to combat terrorists and help defend our nation, as well as to honor our alliance with the people of Afghanistan.
It may be tempting to believe that jihadist terrorism is no longer a serious threat because there have been no successful, large-scale terrorist attacks inside the United States originating from Afghanistan since 2001.
But that success must be credited, in part, to our ongoing military operations in Afghanistan and the region, which kept Al Qaeda and its allies on the run, in hiding, and focused on their own survival rather than on planning operations against us. Al Qaeda, the Islamic State, the Taliban—and other groups—are active and even thriving as we withdraw, and they have not fulfilled their obligations under the 2020 peace agreement. Without our help, our enemies are almost certain to regain a safe haven from which to organize and plot.
We also have a duty to stand by our Afghan allies who continue to fight our common enemies. We promised as much when we signed strategic partnership agreements with them in 2005 and 2012 and a bilateral security agreement in 2013, and when we designated them a major non-NATO ally. Withdrawal from Afghanistan is abandoning our allies in the middle of the fight. What would such abandonment tell the world about American character and reliability in future moments when we look to make alliances in our strategic interests?
The United States has made mistakes in Afghanistan during the past 20 years. But we should not let errors from the past lead to even worse mistakes today. If we lose Afghanistan, we will lose our ability to combat terrorists in the region. Our nation will be less safe. And we will have failed our allies who need our support.
It is not too late for the Biden administration to reconsider—and to act.
I stopped at “William Kristol”.
Kristol Meth voted for Biden. I hope he is happy.
The zombie traitor is back....
Why did this jackass believe Biden would do anything but screw up a US withdrawal and let the Tablian waltz right and takeover?
Echo chambers are dangerous.
And exercise is good.
Many people have well-developed thoughts on Afghanistan. Some people don't.
By exposing the bad ideas to the antiseptic of FR, people who are fence-sitting and may think "re-send in the troops" may avail themselves to the antidote.
I also enjoy the comedic value of FReepers when it comes to Billy K.
“ But Trump mean-tweeted !”
Furthermore, he is orange. Which is bad.
I always did think you were a brilliant guy. This proves it once more.
I went to school with Bill Kristol—he was a big fan of the “Noble Lie”—wanted a world of elites ruling the masses like sub-humans.
He was always your enemy—he just kept it more hidden before the Trump era.
Of course Kristol never spent a day in uniform, just another neo con.
I would love to see the a-hole strapped to the front of a Taliban Toyota Technical Mad Max style and take a tour of all of his great ideas.
“We know this is doable..”
You do it Kristol.
Dear Bill
Thank you for your letter. Please use a softer and more flushable paper on your next correspondence. Write it on a Charmn roll. Its sqeezably soft.
Thank
S
Your pal
Joe Bidens wife
Acting President.
Who benefits from “showing U.S. strength”?
Our tools of war should exist, and be deployed, for one and only one reason, and that reason is VICTORY.
It seemed bizarre to me at age 18 that U.S. policy in Vietnam was premised on the idea that if we showed how determined we were by taking casualties, that Ho Chi Minh would wake up one morning and say, “Holy crap, these guys are really serious! And you know what they COULD do to us! We’d better give up!”
Unfortunately, this fantasy of winning without victory through “showing US strength” has persisted, and resulted not only in catastrophic costs and losses, but also in a precipitous decline in prestige as it reveals not strength but WEAKNESS.
We lost in Vietnam because we are WEAK. We lost in Iraq because we are WEAK. We lost in Afghanistan because we are WEAK. We lost the streets in Portland, in Minneapolis, and elsewhere because we are WEAK.
And now, everybody knows it.
Hard times ahead.
Be VERY suspicious of cheerleaders for “demonstrating U.S. power” (And yes, I’m looking right at you, Kristol).
If we were powerful after 9/11, the American flag would be flying right now over the Supreme Commander’s HQ in Riyadh, and Pakistan would be a province of Greater India.
But we have no more fake power to show. And the people who want to take advantage of the now obsolete shows of force will have to find another solution to their problems.
No, I won't agree.
I won't agree because there are still people here who are fooled by neocon lies, and who will back catastrophic mistakes if you push their "show America is strong" or "defend the homeland" buttons.
No more. Never again.
The time to make the decisions being advocated is past. I’d speculate that the marine hostages are there to force the Taliban to concentrate forces so our air power can blast them, except US commanders are now tranny-coddlers, not tacticians. Joe Biden is the perfect metaphor for a once great nation that has lost its way.
Did he write this article a month ago?
Exactly...anything posted by Kristal is simply for entertainment....if that.
Besides, Bullwork is such a great name for a site run by BS artists
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