I served in Afghanistan as a US Marine, twice. Here’s the truth in two sentences https://news.yahoo.com/served-afghanistan-us-marine-twice-100000389.html What we are seeing in Afghanistan right now shouldn’t shock you. It only seems that way because our institutions are steeped in systematic dishonesty. It doesn’t require a dissertation to explain what you’re seeing. Just two sentences. One: For 20 years, politicians, elites and D.C. military leaders lied to us about Afghanistan. Two: What happened last week was inevitable, and anyone saying differently is still lying to you. I know because I was there. Twice. On special operations task forces. I learned Pashto as a U.S. Marine captain and spoke to everyone I could there: everyday people, elites, allies and yes, even the Taliban. The truth is that the Afghan National Security Forces was a jobs program for Afghans, propped up by U.S. taxpayer dollars — a military jobs program populated by nonmilitary people or “paper” forces (that didn’t really exist) and a bevy of elites grabbing what they could when they could. You probably didn’t know that. That’s the point. And it wasn’t just in Afghanistan. They also lied about Iraq. I led a team of Marines training Iraqi security forces to defend their country. When I arrived I received a “stoplight” chart on their supposed capabilities in dozens of missions and responsibilities. Green meant they were good. Yellow was needed improvement; red said they couldn’t do it at all. I was delighted to see how far along they were on paper — until I actually began working with them. I attempted to adjust the charts to reflect reality and was quickly shut down. The ratings could not go down. That was the deal. It was the kind of lie that kept the war going. So when people ask me if we made the right call getting out of Afghanistan in 2021, I answer truthfully: Absolutely not. The right call was getting out in 2002. 2003. Every year we didn’t get out was another year the Taliban used to refine their skills and tactics against us — the best fighting force in the world. After two decades, $2 trillion and nearly 2,500 American lives lost, 2021 was way too late to make the right call. You’d think when it all came crumbling down around them, they’d accept the truth. Think again. War-hungry hawks are suggesting our soldiers weren’t in harm’s way. Well, when I was there, two incredible Marines in my unit were killed. Elitist hacks are even blaming the American people for what happened last week. The same American people that they spent years lying to about Afghanistan. Are you kidding me? We deserve better. Instead of politicians spending $6.4 trillion to “nation build” in the Middle East, we should start nation building right here at home. I can’t believe that would be a controversial proposal, but already in Washington, we see some of the same architects of these Middle Eastern disasters balking at the idea of investing a fraction of that amount to build up our own country. The lies about Afghanistan matter not just because of the money spent or the lives lost, but because they are representative of a systematic dishonesty that is destroying our country from the inside out. Remember when they told us the economy was back? Another lie. Our state of Missouri was home to the worst economic recovery from the Great Recession in this part of the country. I see the boarded-up stores and the vacant lots — one of which used to be my family’s home. When our country’s elites were preaching about how they had solved the financial crisis and the housing market was booming, I watched the house I joined the Marine Corps out of sit on the market for two years. My dad finally got $43,000 for it. He owed $78,000. The only way out is to level with the American people. I’ll start. With the two-sentence truth about what we are seeing in Afghanistan right now: For 20 years, politicians, elites and D.C. military leaders lied to us about Afghanistan. What happened last week was inevitable, and anyone saying differently is still lying to you.
It’s amazing how clear eyed people are about guns outside of the US but get all fuzzy about guns inside the US.
A couple of points: 1. some Americans will choose to stay in AFG. The best metric is if all Americans requesting to leave via the various channels are cleared. 2. we are now doing outside of the airport extractions. Very dangerous stuff. 3. it seems the biggest threat to US forces and citizens in AFG is ISIS-k, the Taliban is still not interfering, by and large. 4. we are now moving tens of thousands of people a day. This operation may become the biggest US military evacuation operation in history.
I see Schumer and Colbert dancing and living the good life - apparently they are celebrating Osama Bin Laden Victory day a little early. As we fully discussed during the campaign "if biden is elected, the America haters will be dancing in the streets." Fortunately, I heard the lead spokesperson for the White House say- yesterday- that no Americans were stranded in AFG so that gives me hope. OR NOT. The President and fifty or so people around him need to apologize to Americans, our troops, our allies, and the world and then commit hari-kari on the National Mall if they want to have any chance of restoring their honor.
Kirby the Klown has the audacity to brag about how the size of the crowds at the airport is/are beginning to lessen. Get a clue clown. The crowds will definitely lessen as we begin to move into the phase where people understand that the Taliban have designated the airport as a kill zone with a grand finale that people may not be interested in. Although if there is any glimmer of hope at the airport there could be panic surges too. Such is life on the Titanic. There will be phases where they will avoid the lifeboats and phases where they may suddenly change their mind and then back again. Your government in charge. The Americans need to think long and hard about trying to go to the airport and long and hard about not going. What a mess. I hope some people in DC hang for this after receiving due process. Read this Mr. Kirby and ask yourself if it might be related to crowd size letting up a bit: A Taliban spokesman has said Afghans should not go to the airport or try to leave the country At a press briefing, Zabihullah Mujahid also said that women should stay at home for now, for their safety https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-58279900
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...pproval-41-usa-today-suffolk-poll/8244854002/ Exclusive: Americans' harsh judgment on Afghanistan costs Biden's approval, down to 41%
Biden's fumbling of the Afghanistan withdrawal was bound to cause his approval to decline. It is probably down 10 points or so. However this being America -- it will all be forgotten in a month or so as the media moves on to the next thing.