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Go back and save all those Afghanistan women and girls who would be forced be returned to live in the 18th. century should you continue with your total pull out plan

I am sure my heart is going to bleed to see Afghanistan women, not just being forced to dress in head to toe burqas, but forced to forego all the advancements they have made these past 20 years.

America has a moral commitment to ensure this does not happen. If not America, who?

Don’t be a Trump, President Biden, show some heart.

America stirred up the ant nests in the Middle East and the burden is on it to ensure the ants settle back down.

In that way, America has a moral commitment not just to one kind of people but to others in the Middle East, because of the many ways it has often interjected itself into the region. It just can’t only be about oil; security yes, but also morality., which is the basis of order in any society.

In reply to Casper

Much as i sympathise with your motivations Biden was right to withdraw.All wars come to an end...in this case America's involvement in Afghanistan.But look.U.S was in there for 20 years.There is an old saying.You can take the donkey to the waterhole.But you cant force it to drink.The government troops cannot fight.And even had U S air support.They got into a state of complacency and laziness knowing the Yanks had their backs.U.S original purpose was to find Bin Laden.Not get involve in a civil war.When Bin Laden was killed they should have gotten out then.Ten years ago.

In reply to Casper
Even apart from the military argument we live in a world where human compassion and human rights issues take a backseat behind political concerns.Politicians do what is in their best interests.Biden is beholden to the U.S electorate and the relatives of the troops over there.This move will win him more votes than lose them.To do a u turn now would be a mistake.But there are even worse considerations than your baby womens rights.This mess will make the world refugee crisis even worse.And Afghanistan will revert to type.A terror state.

I agree with most of your points, but must address the issue of humanitarianism. If we no longer have any humanity, if we no longer believe in the humanity of equal rights, collectively we are regressing and with that there will be more violence, as the powerful seek to maintain their advantage. Such violence can and will lead to war, both externally and internally.

As an aside to make my point, it’s exactly the same as what Republicans are pursuing in regards to blacks and minority voters, as they use the Big Lie to pursue their power grab to maintain White Supremacy. To think that in this age such increasingly disadvantaged voters will limit their demands for parity simply to peaceful demonstrations, as they witness a regression in their political power through the basic right to vote in a democracy, is the ultimate in folly. That’s why I fear for America should Republicans continue on their current course.

But, back to Afghanistan, I recognize the cost of maintaining troops there, especially as Biden would like to spend money on lingering and outstanding domestic issues, while as the same time shifting focus to its world power rival China. But if America leaves a void in Afghanistan, others are going to fill it and encourage other bad actors - a revitalized al Queda and a still active Isis to incubate and thrive. America will still be spending enormous sums of money bombing perceived enemies of the state.

So ask yourself which is better, the above option or a lower grade maintenance of Afghanistan, just as America has done in Europe since WWII.

In reply to Casper

The world of serious politics has nothing to do with moral principles.I only wish it was .

In reply to Casper

Why do you think the Taliban has been able to capture so much territory that quickly?

The US would have had to invest substantial amounts over an extended period to keep the Taliban out. They have been steadily gaining ground over the past decade. Taliban made a calculated decision not to push as hard as they could over the past five years because they chose to wait out the Americans. They were aware that both Obama and Trump wanted to withdraw troops.

We always claim that we want countries and people to decide their own fate. Afghanistan got this opportunity and they decided to stand by their tribal brothers.

In reply to JOJO

Sometimes you have to say enough is enough. The Talibans are Afghans .They have Afghan sisters ,brothers ,fathers ,mothers ,aunts ,and uncles . Let them have a go at self help .

In reply to cricketmad

That’s the thing. The Taliban is not a foreign power trying to take over Afghanistan. It’s not even foreign fighters like ISIS. Afghanistan has a fully equipped standing army and it chooses not to defend the country. Sorry but it is not the role of a foreign power to defend your country for you in this situation.

In reply to Casper

I'm sure the thinking now is make containment the new foreign policy.

--Æ.

In reply to cricketmad
You should educate yourself about this horrendous organization of freaks that would blow up a school full of girl children just to prevent them getting an education.That is in cohoots with international terror groups that endanger us all.Stop fool.Having the Taliban back in power is like another version of Hitler in power in Germany.Sure you would want that? The Taliban is NOT A LIBERATION MOVEMENT.Quite the contrary.So this is where your argument falls down exposing your naevity and ignorance.

In reply to Rascalp

Look fool I have no desire to debate with you,so please go seek attention from someone else. You are the type that wouldn't be out of place amongst the Talibans. If your post was coming from someone worthy then I would attempt to clarify my views , but you are not worth it.

In reply to cricketmad
NO FOOL...You are the one wouldnt" be our of place with the Talibans"...if fact yuh probanbly even more dotish than them...just an uneducated guess you understand.

In reply to JayMor

JayMor, my friend, I am a supporter of Biden, but I think the Old Man slipped up badly this time. He should have known not to carry out any policy initiated by Donald Trump.

Who the hell could have advised Biden to do it this way without brainstorming all the potential bad outcomes.

I always knew it was one thing to go in but a helluva problem to just walk out. That is complicated by too many bad actors in the region, chief among them the deceitful Pakistani military, which is the real ruling entity in Pakistan, not former cricketer cum Prime Minister Imran Khan.

All that “blood and treasure” has gone to nought, women will be put back into their Sharia places.

All over the West where soldiers have given of their best in Afghanistan, they are asking what was it for and did it have to happen this way. Somebody miscalculated this exit. Just another stain on the American military. From Vietnam to Afghanistan the lessons and results are the same.

In reply to Casper

You are dead wrong.

It is not America or any other country role to "Fix" Afghanistan.

Apparently you are unaware of their history and the causes of their problems.

And what utter crap to make this statement:

What is a terror state: Whose definition is that?

Only Afghanistan can fix Afghanistan and no matter how bloody, no other foreign super-power should get involve again, they have destroyed that country.

What is going on in Afghanistan is a perfect example of the powerful use of religion, if could give people a cause to fight for, that is why the American trained Army there dropped their weapons and run, they had no ideology to fight for.

In reply to dayne

It has never been about religion- its why I keep saying people need to learn Afghanistan's history with particular emphasis on how that country was created by artificial borders by the Western Powers.

There was never a place call Afghanistan prior to foreign powers creating it which pitted ancient warring tribes in the same room.

In reply to Emir

So don't you think that religion has been the unifying force that the Taliban is using? I agree the Country is a loose collection of different people, but Islam is providing the fuel for the Taliban influence.

The weakest American Government in history. Biden has blood on his hands.And lest we forget they are blaming,you know who?

In reply to Emir

My dear friend you are are way off the mark with attributing the following to me:

Now, if you want to debate anything I have actually posted, I am willing to entertain you.

In reply to Ridge

It was bad planing and poor negotiating by both Trump and Biden, they trusted the Taliban to be honorable.

In reply to dayne

It never has and perhaps it never will be.

First and foremost, the Taliban is an organization that was formed to preserve tribal bond- the Taliban is exclusively Pashtuns or Pathans. This is the majority ethnic group that was forced into a state called Afghanistan.

Prior to them becoming Muslim, they were once animists, idol worshippers etc- their blood bond was unshaken and they defeated many foreign armies who dared them.

The fight in Afghanistan since the Russian invasion has been ethnic fight. The Russians tried to get communism/socialism to build a national identity-we know it didn't work as the majority Pashtuns became the mujahdeens who teamed up with the USA and the West to beat back the Russians

The 4 other main ethnic group was also forced in a state called Afghanistan. But they grew into accepting that to SURVIVE IN THE NEW STAE, the Pashtuns needed to be neutralized,

None of which has happen.

Do you for one minute believe that all of the might of the Afghanistan people, the Govt. Army backed by US weapons, simply stood by helplessly and allowed the Taliban to come in.

No my friend, the majority of the Afghanistan people wanted the Taliban to return as the Taliban ethnic group as I earlier mentioned are Pashtuns and they see the Talibans as their own.

As for religion and Islam, whatever good has happened and whatever little unity has been achieved in Afghanistan has been because of Islam.

The problem with the Taliban is they have used tribal culture instead of ISLAMIC VALUE SYSTEM TO GOVERN.

Social justice, democracy, racial equality, fair trade, law and order are all hallmark of Islamic governance structure and if the Taliban can only become 10% Islamic for a start, the country will move forward.

In reply to Casper

There are in Afghanistan People who
for various reason do not want to fight to save their Country .

That being the case, why should the
United States , spend its citizens Lives , and Money to save a Country that has seemingly surrendered .

This war has been going on for 20 years ,not 20 days , 20 weeks or 20 months.

Why therefore should the American
Government spend Blood , and Money to
prop up a Government, and People who demonstrates that they are not willing to fight for their own Country .

Leave it to the Press, Fox and the Republicans to run their mouths.
Fact is the U.S has been in Afghanistan for 20 years and after trillions of Tax payers dollars to upkeep a country that is not willing to take a step forward to help themselves, it is time to leave.

Meanwhile Puerto Rico - a US dependency is languishing after a Hurricane that decimated them some three years ago.
These are the same Republicans that did not vote for the Covid relief package to the very Americans paying the tax dollars.

At what point does one say enough is enough?

Is like going to the market to get the right foods, standing in the kitchen to make sure that food is cooked, put it on a plate in front of you with fork and knife and you still want someone to put the food in your mouth?
Afghan soldiers actually gave up before putting up a fight. God only helps those who help themselves.

To those who do not agree, I say Get the fuck out of here.

Let us not forget the main objective for going into Afghanistan was as a result of 9/11 to get Osama, who by the way was found in Pakistan.

We went into Iraq for all the wrong reasons while ignoring the Country that the 9/11 terrorists actually came from.

Casper I am sorry but I am with Biden in this one. Heck if Trump had made the decision I would have agreed with him

In reply to embsallie

Let’s keep our fingers cross and hope and pray we do not have to go back in.

Biden’s Betrayal of Afghans Will Live in Infamy

If was Trump, all now the misfits woulda been bawling about Impeachment!!

same crap, different day, different pruhzedent

#murca

In reply to Emir

What is the cause of the Afghans' problems?

In reply to VIX

What nonsense. Utter rubbish.
Trump actually started the domino effect when he decided that it would be okay to talk to terrorists and appease them with promises that they the Taliban failed to keep.
As a matter of fact the dolt wanted to invite the Taliban in the US for peace talks until his sycophantic friends convinced him that was a bad idea.
But then again Trump has been cozying to bad people and dictators from time eternal.

There was no good way out of this mess.
Biden did the right thing for the good of the military and the burden on taxpayers.

By now the US should have learned a very important lesson:
That nation building crap does not work and costs more lives and money in the long run.
First Vietnam, now Afghanistan and we were lucky Iraq did not fall in the same mould.

Lawmakers and the military brass need to rethink military strategies moving forward to avoid these senseless exercises in futility.
America can keep Americans safe without showing the size of its cohones.

In reply to Casper

I apologize for that.

However My argument argument stands.

The Taliban represents the majority of the people there. No foreign power has done well and foreigners meddling in the internal affairs of another people who do not want them is plain wrong.

Only Afghanistanis can fix Afghanistan.