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.
Sounds like the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to me. We are determined to learn nothing from history. From socialism to military adventurism, we are clueless. Every time we try to tiptoe our military in someplace, we step in it.
You are correct that there are still those who believe the Kristol-Cheney-Republican BS. It’s usually those that have no skin in the game, ie their son or daughter isn’t wearing a uniform.
Amazing that there are some in here, still.
I’ll give you that.
“stabilize” ... right ... kristol is the ultimate moron: kabul is surrounded right now and the only way out is the airport ... a couple more days and it’ll be exactly like the fall of Saigon ...
So RINOs like Kristol want to double and triple down on a failure. That makes a lot of sense. These damn arrogant assholes so afraid to be proven wrong that they are willing to put the lives and limbs of our troops in harms way. Talk about being selfish and stuck on stupid. These morons, who are supposed so intelligent, can't see the obvious staring them in the face.
F Off Kristol. My grandson deserves to have a live and intact father. (His father was deployed to Afghanistan on Thursday night). That is much more important that Kristol being proven right. This is much more important than any pedophile prophet worshiping son-of-bitch Afghani life.
Fixed it for him.
Get that kevlar on, Kristol, and do it. One of many elites who see thousands of young Americans not yet maimed or slaughtered who need to be sent into the grinder so he can feel good. But God forbid he should take any personal role in it, or his family.
Apparently, both “Billy Kristols” are comedians.
The guy from City Slickers was funnier.....
RLTW
Dear Billy Boy, you smug, smirking, fat prick. Put the pen down, pick up your boyfriend’s penis and get busy with that instead of pumping out your worthless drivel. Die.
Our mistake was going in there in the first place.
Yeah, I had to read the date as well.
Too late, Bill!
The slaughter is here, and it's going to get worse!
I swear, half the crap posted on FR is nothing more than stupid Clickbait, giving FReepers an opportunity to hurl insults at the subject of the thread.
What the hell does that accomplish?
2. As I posted above, by exposing the bad ideas to the antiseptic of FR, people who are fence-sitting/ thinking "re-send in the troops" may avail themselves to the antidote.
3. Some of the replies are mega-funny. Ridicule is the best way to address a self-important blowhard like Billy.
4. As others noted, knowing what the oppsositIon thinks is a good thing.
Why post garbage from Billy Boy’s rag? Every click earns this smirking bitch money which he spends on silk bathrobes, Pernod and salaries for the pedophiles and traitors he does his anti-Trump Lincoln Project with.
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