As the U.S.’s two decade war in Afghanistan draws to a close, very few former officials involved in prosecuting it have publicly struggled with the consequences.
It’s not you, Afghanistan, it’s me.
Fondly, the Pentagon.
Just as with Trump, most of the media is abdicating any responsibility for their role in this. But we shouldn’t forget the role we play as engaged (or not) citizens. What does it say about the voting public that three administrations were OK with kicking the can down the road rather than risking political fallout?
This was an interesting article that brings out many issues that need to be addressed - many of which (only my guess) will unfortunately be done out of public view and direct knowledge. It’s relatively easy to say we have a military service and so we should use it, as there will be situations where it is absolutely necessary as well as those cases where it is not clear what the mission is and how we will get the outcome this country morally feels is correct. Then there are those cases where we should not be involved. That’s why we need experience and intelligence in the White House, NOT someone that people can relate to and would like to have a beer with sometime. The Trump (and I would include Regan) administrations were a disaster, as was the Bush owing more to the Dr. Strangelove characters that he let loose.
Difficult decisions need to be made by responsible individuals. Mistakes will be made, but in these situations, real people die. The reasons better be damn good. I’m reminded of John Kerry’s testimony regarding the Vietnam war:
Same reason we now need the House Jan 6th Insurrection Committee to fully and openly do its job.
“He was focused singly on counterterrorism. His advice was along those lines. And he certainly said that. And I give him credit for that.”
What about giving him a hell of a lot of credit for that.
Because it was easier pissing away trillions of dollars and tens of thousands of lives rather than getting a nasty NYT or WaPo op ed. So the last 3 Presidents just let it continue onwards.
Getting out was always going to be a cluster, at least it isn’t a bloody cluster as the Taliban want the Americans gone as much as we want out.
I don’t think anyone outside the press really cares about Afghanistan. I do feel sorry for the female population, but you’re not going to impose human rights at the end of a gun barrel.
18 years too late out of the country.
Excellent article by JK.
As to Armitage’s quip that the Biden Administration can’t “run a two-car funeral”, um, insofar as that is true, since Aug 14 they seem to have gotten ~90k evacuees into one car. Not bad. So Armitage is being a bit of a dick.
bingo
It will soon become a fashionable counter-position to support the successful withdrawal.
It’s the only niche left.
I would like to see more analyses on the lives of urban dwellers and those in the outer areas.
his (Armitage’s) words — and the Biden administration’s inability to “run a two-car funeral” in the withdrawal
How many Americans have died during this withdrawal? How many taken hostage?
One of the biggest hawks, and total asshole, is Lindsey Graham. Did Graham ever promote anything that could change the outcome or did he just want to stay there and fight for no particular reason.
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Clancy would call Graham a REMF…
People who upgrade to ad free get better looking, increased salaries and more dates. That’s what I heard.
It’s second nature to him.
so hoW do you improve perFECtion?
I’m just a gift to the women of this world
Responsibility sits so hard on my shoulder
Like a good wine, I’m better as I grow older
Second? Front and center seems more appropriate.
There was no money to be made by pulling out of Afghanistan. That place was a dream for the Military-Industrial Complex, very few casualties, heavy use of contractors, tons of money, no accountability, why in hell would they want to ever pull out?
You are a ghost. You bonk Gene Tierney.
