State department was in charge of Afghanistan, not dod. Dod got some free reign early on. Dod primacy in the decision making space stopped around the surge time under Bush. Then state department started to take first chair on decision making and policy during the Obama administration, as that is how that administration wanted to administer it and start democratic nation building.

quote:

Originally posted by gpbst3:
If this was Trump, CNN would have already had human interest pieces on the people who fell off the plane. They would interviewed them and be showing sob stories about their families and how they have been abandoned and left to die by the President.

You speak the truth.

quote:

Originally posted by Broadside:

quote:

Originally posted by mbinky:
The military wasn't in charge in AFG.

The politicians were.

No, mbinky, it was the military that was in charge in Afghanistan.

Incorrect, State Dept was in-charge. The highest ranking person representing the United States is the US Ambassador to Afghanistan. They are the senior-most 4-star in the gov-grade system.

Circa 2002-03, when the embassy was re-opened and Afghanistan re-established some level of govt, the US Ambassador became the top dog, yes, even over the military. That doesn't mean this person gets into the weeds about planning an offensive however, they are in overall charge and the military is but one tool in their diplomatic toolbox. While the regional Combatant Commanders (who report directly to the SECDEF and Nat'l Command Authority) have an insane amount of resources they can draw upon, they just don't up and invade a country without our ambassador being briefed and signed-off on.

There's plenty of issues, from SENIOR MILITARY leaders constantly upending and contradicting missions, intelligence community giving rosey briefs, outside influences pulling away at the core diplomatic mission, Congress not holding anybody accountable, to the Executive Branch not listening to their advisors. There's going to be plenty written about how the Oval Office over the last 20-years and its advisors ignored both intelligence and military feedback because they viewed their world through their own prism rather than the reality on the ground.

The administration has a totaly flawed perception on this.
To them it's binary, either in Afghanistan or out.
We should have reduced presence, but not totally, that's the cluster fuck here.
Too many have sacrificed.

You have to think right, to live right.

quote:

The administration has a totaly flawed perception on this.
To them it's binary, either in Afghanistan or out.

Respectfully, they are just playing it that way to deflect. It's not ever, or ever will be, a binary decision when politics is involved. It's about appearances...

Reporter - Could this have been handled better?
State Dept Douche - Oh? So we should have just stayed there indefinitely?

our first gay spokesman for the State Dept lectures the Taliban

video at link

https://twitter.com/i/status/1427389269170180109

Taliban Collect Weapons From Civilians In Kabul As They "No Longer Need Personal Protection"

https://www.zerohedge.com/poli...nger-need-protection

The Taliban were quick to humiliate the Biden administration, taking over the country just days after US forces departed, but now that they are fully in control, they appear set on pursuing one of progressive America's core tenets: confiscating weapons.

Taliban fighters in the Afghan capital, Kabul, started collecting weapons from civilians on Monday because "people no longer need them for personal protection", a Taliban official told Reuters.

"We understand people kept weapons for personal safety. They can now feel safe. We are not here to harm innocent civilians," the official told Reuters.

Or, as Spike Cohen summarized: "Give us your guns. We will protect you." - Every government that is about to commit mass murder ever.

We still operate bases in Germany and Japan and it keeps them extremely polite.

What a disgrace of a human being Joe Biden is.

Did I read that correctly, this Friday is Bring Your Child Bride to Work Day in Kabul?

Thankfully, Joe and Blinky have a plan to get tough with anyone that interferes with our evacuation,,

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news...president/ar-AANnXB7

Vice President Harris heads to Singapore and Vietnam this week on her second foreign trip since taking office, looking to strengthen relations with partners in China’s darkening shadow and help prepare the region to fight future pandemics.

But while Harris brings a message that the United States is committed to the Indo-Pacific, the humiliating debacle in Afghanistan has America’s friends and foes alike questioning Washington’s ability and will to sustain those kinds of engagements.

“Given our global leadership role, we can and we must manage developments in one region while simultaneously advancing our strategic interests in other regions on other issues,” the official said. “The United States has many interests around the world, and we are well-equipped to pursue them all at the same time.”

The vice president leaves Washington on Friday and arrives Sunday in Singapore, where she will deliver what aides are calling a major speech laying out the future of the U.S. relationship with a region increasingly under pressure from Beijing.

quote:

Originally posted by 2PAK:
Did I read that correctly, this Friday is Bring Your Child Bride to Work Day in Kabul?

Thankfully, Joe and Blinky have a plan to get tough with anyone that interferes with our evacuation,,

Bacha Bazi party to be held next Thursday, bring a friend and get half-off.

... sardines.



Reach 871, C-17 Globemaster III RCH871
Image source: news.com.au / Defense One

And reports of people desperate enough to attempt to hold onto the C-17 on take off, falling from the ramp ...

Jeesh.

</chris>


But, they made it out, safety in Qatar.

Im sure the Taliban would love him to come to Afghanistan and give that lecture in person. They would listen patiently, and afterwards, throw him off a 10 story building.

quote:

Originally posted by sdy:
our first gay spokesman for the State Dept lectures the Taliban

video at link

https://twitter.com/i/status/1427389269170180109

You should send this to Every Town For Gun Safety and all the other gun control groups.

quote:

Originally posted by wcb6092:
Taliban Collect Weapons From Civilians In Kabul As They "No Longer Need Personal Protection"

https://www.zerohedge.com/poli...nger-need-protection

The Taliban were quick to humiliate the Biden administration, taking over the country just days after US forces departed, but now that they are fully in control, they appear set on pursuing one of progressive America's core tenets: confiscating weapons.

Taliban fighters in the Afghan capital, Kabul, started collecting weapons from civilians on Monday because "people no longer need them for personal protection", a Taliban official told Reuters.

"We understand people kept weapons for personal safety. They can now feel safe. We are not here to harm innocent civilians," the official told Reuters.

Or, as Spike Cohen summarized: "Give us your guns. We will protect you." - Every government that is about to commit mass murder ever.

Biden Administration has a totally flawed perception.



“They just asked me to stand to the side, because I am a woman.” - CNN Reporter Clarissa Ward made comment while being forced to wear her hijab.

quote:

Originally posted by Broadside:

quote:

Originally posted by mbinky:
The military wasn't in charge in AFG.

The politicians were.

No, mbinky, it was the military that was in charge in Afghanistan.

That's not how this works.
POTUS, SecDef and Congress don't just go "Here's the keys to the car, kids."

The blame for the disaster lies at the feet of those at the top.
Not Private Schmuckatelli, not some fresh out of OCS Butter-Bar, not some Msgt / Senior Chief on one of "The Teams", not some GS-10 who's a "boots on the ground" advisor with an "OGA".

Learn how it works before you start pointing the finger of culpability.

quote:

Originally posted by sdy:
our first gay spokesman for the State Dept lectures the Taliban

video at link

https://twitter.com/i/status/1427389269170180109

That right there is the most definitive representation of mental retardation one could ever witness. Like standing in front of a fighting dog about to bite you and telling him he must abide by a set of rules other people put together that prohibits him from doing what comes naturally...biting. Some might refer to this as just politics and spin, but its not. This is mental retardation on steroids, and its going to get a whole lotta people killed.

And all those folks are Americans, hmmmm.