An Unceremonious Afghanistan Pullout

IBD ^ | Oct. 28,2)014 | IBD EDITORIAL

[Hojczyk]

Afghanistan: President Obama's abrupt order to withdraw U.S. Marines from Helmand province with zero fanfare was an ill-fitting exit for U.S. forces after 13 years of sacrifice in the war's bloodiest theater. Is this the thanks they get?

No public acknowledgment from the White House. No official statements. No praise for extraordinary dedication or heroism. No proclamations of valor. And certainly nothing about victory.

Just a surprise order to abandon the two largest and most dangerous outposts of America's longest war, Camp Leatherneck and British-led Camp Bastion, side-by-side bases that at one time housed 40,000. The order came so fast that the Marines who had been there 13 years, and who put so much into it, didn't have "time to digest it," as one told the Wall Street Journal.

Because over the years, as the rest of us went about our daily lives, these courageous men and women were out on patrols in the baking sun over desolate badlands, suffering long separations from loved ones and enduring the alternating boredom and terror of combat with a depraved, Dark Age enemy and its drug lord allies.

Some of the bloodiest battles were waged in Helmand. The U.S. lost more than 350 in combat there and the British about 450, nearly a fifth of the war's total losses. Meanwhile, the injured returned home to bureaucratic insult, as they sought help from a behemoth Veterans Administration that Obama vowed to reform but didn't.

[BenLurkin]

There was a change of command ceremony — can’t really call it unceremonious.

[boycott]

We need to plan huge celebrations when this POS is moved out of the White House.

Yeah, I know we may be putting in another POS but we will be able to celebrate at least one POS has moved out.

The message for generations should be that there were huge celebrations when this dirtbag is moved out — fireworks, etc.

[doc1019]

Obama is a military hating ass. Was going to say more, but my fingers are shaking to much (with anger).

[LeoWindhorse]

may God damn this man , that’s all I can say …

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Barak Hussein Obama, Jr. pull out as Barak Hussein Obama, Sr. should have.

[caww]

..."Some of the bloodiest battles were waged in Helmand. The U.S. lost more than 350 in combat there and the British about 450, nearly a fifth of the war's total losses. Meanwhile, the injured returned home to bureaucratic insult, as they sought help from a behemoth Veterans Administration that Obama vowed to reform but didn't.".....

To Honor these great and wonderful troops, both here and from Britain who stood together there.....WE can honor them though Obama doesn't...

Here they are!!!!..

Wing Commander Matt Radnall, Officer Commanding 7 Force Protection Wing, carries a carefully folded Union Flag under his arm as he prepares to board the last Chinook helicopter to leave

[Jet Jaguar]

Active Duty ping.

[caww]

Some of the last British fighters leaving for their flight

[caww]

Troops from 7 Force Protection Wing, Royal Air Force Regiment 15 and 34 Squadron, stand in their 'stick' waiting for the very final flight out of Camp Bastion

[caww]

CH-53E and Chinook helicopters with U.S. Marines take off from Camp Bastion in Helmand province on Monday

Four-hundred and fifty-three men and women lost their lives in the ferocious battle to liberate the Afghan province of Helmand.

[caww]

On the eve of the end of UK operations in Helmand Province, the Royal Artillery 105mm light gun crew fire out and over the perimeter of Camp Bastion, on their last fire mission to deter Taliban around the base in Helmand

[morphing libertarian]

Salaam al akim. Kabul in 6 months

[caww]

Honouring the fallen: One of the memorial walls in Camp Bastion where the Union flag was lowered for the final time yesterday

[Rome2000]

This whole "Civilian Control" over the military is highly overrated.

They have the means, method, and motive to restore our Republic.

Time to step up.

[caww]

[Jet Jaguar]

Thanks CAWW.

[caww]

British (left) and Afghan soldiers during the handover ceremony which marked the end of British combat operations

[caww]

Much of the once-sprawling base at Camp Bastion has now returned to lengthy strips of desert. Marking the end of combat operations in Afghanistan after 13 years, billions of dollars and many deaths - tens of thousands of them of Afghan troops...

[caww]

Abandoned: Brigadier Rob Thomson said at the empty base: 'I am kind of optimistic I think what we have achieved is something we can be proud of.