permafrost Loc: Minnesota

https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/568154-trumps-deal-with-the-taliban-set-the-stage-for-the-afghan-collapse?fbclid=IwAR1z0YCny_HlGievTG9v5Q8H7W6O9s8JyhY0jjA8sdP1gL1SP9yj0Uojh9E

Trump's deal with the Taliban set the stage for the Afghan collapse
BY DAVID SCHANZER, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR — 08/17/21 11:30 AM EDT


History will mark Aug. 15, 2021, as the date that the Afghan government collapsed and the Taliban retook control over this troubled and war-torn country. But the real date that the Taliban’s victory was assured is Feb. 29, 2020, the day the Trump administration signed what it characterized as a “peace” deal with the Taliban. Once this agreement was signed — the tragic collapse we witnessed this weekend was inevitable.

Of course, the agreement was not, and could not possibly have been, a “peace” deal since one of the parties currently at war — the Afghan government — was not a signatory. Rather, this was a “withdrawal” agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban that set the terms for the complete departure of American troops from Afghanistan by May 2021.

What did the United States gain in exchange for this withdrawal, for which the Taliban had been fighting for 20 years? Nothing but vague, unenforceable promises that the Taliban would not engage in hostilities against the departing U.S. troops and would “send a clear message” to al Qaeda that it “had no place” in Afghanistan. So eager Trump was to withdraw, we did not even hold out for a clear, firm commitment that the Taliban would not provide aid, safe harbor or weaponry to al Qaeda and like-minded groups. The agreement contained no enforcement mechanisms and included no penalties on the Taliban for failing to comply with its terms.


Once the agreement was signed, the fate of the Afghan government was signed, sealed and delivered — the Taliban had practically won the war. There was no way that the government could possibly survive.

Rose42

The fact remains - whatever screwup by trump, biden has been aware of it for months and if he were a leader, could have executed this differently instead of bungling it so badly.

People need to stop making excuses for this guy.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

Perms a partisan joke. The Hill? Give me a break. Trump made a deal with the Taliban based on facts on the ground. That was seven months ago. The Houseplant Biden owns this.

Liberty Tree

Trump signed a deal to end our involvement, but Biden turned it into total chaos putting American and innocent Afganistanians at risk. What is happening now is all on Biden.

RandyBrian Loc: Texas

Yep. And Pem knows it, too.

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

This was going to be messy no matter who signed what. Islamic nutjobs do not recognize infidels as human beings and, therefor, do not consider any agreements with them as binding. Likewise, those who work for, or with, infidels are tainted and must be "purified" in the most gruesome manner.

Thinking that we could do a better job than the USSR, was the ultimate act of hubris. We have become victims of our own myth.

nwtk2007 Loc: Texas

And if still the president, the Taliban would not be taking the country back.

nwtk2007 Loc: Texas

They do recognize military might in the hands of one willing to use it.

nwtk2007 Loc: Texas

Retreat must also, at least, have a plan.

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

No they don't and that's the problem. No one is as awestruck over our military might............................as we are.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

Don’t listen to the troll. I have relation and friends that have multiple tours of duty in Afghanistan. They all agree; the only thing the Taliban respects is something that can kill them.

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

So that's why the Taliban waited until now to attack dipstick...because they didn't fear us.

SGM B Loc: TEXAS but live in Alabama now

You mean like President Trump promised them if they screwed up? Yeah, thought so. 😂😂🤩🤩

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

The following is basically my response regarding the events in Afghanistan from another thread.

In 1975, as fellow Vets and I sat and watched on TV the debacle of our unceremonious and shameful departure from Viet Nam, we shed a few quiet tears for ourselves and especially the ones we lost during that long, frustrating war. I most remember the dumping overboard and ditching of helicopters from US Navy ships. The Vietnamese didn't hold together their own, either, when we left there. This conflict in Afghanistan has been just as frustrating and painful to watch unfold, especially as of late. Yet, we should'a left there years ago. Sadly, just as we left plenty of military gear & equipment behind in Viet Nam, it comes as no surprise we are doing the same in Afghanistan. It is disappointing, of course, but not surprising.

Although our entry into Afghanistan was justified by the 9/11 attacks, it should never have been carried on for 20 years. As President Biden suggested, it has been mishandled in varying degrees by three previous administrations and IMO, it is time to get out. The Afghan government and military have not shown the will to sustain what we had provided for them: an opportunity to stand on their own. I, for one, am tired of America's young men/women dying in a futile attempt to help Afghanis establish & form their own nation, independent from the Taliban. I don't believe they possess the desire or willpower to do so. If that's true, as the Taliban have shown a greater sense of nationality, let them have what they have fought so hard to have: control over their own country & people.

We cannot continue to be the world's policemen. I saw enough deaths of buddies during my tour in 'Nam. I do not care to envision my grandchildren being deployed to any part of the world for anymore never-ending conflicts. So, all things considered, I pretty much agree with what was stated overall in President Biden's press release.

Years ago, my granddaughters watched 'We Were Soldiers', the great Viet Nam war drama starring Mel Gibson. As the credits were rolling, my son's four daughters came up to me and took me completely by surprise when, with tears in their eyes, told me they were glad I made it home from "that war"..." 'cause", they said..."we wouldn't be here if you had died." I hid my own tears, realizing that around 60,000 mostly young men died in that war, many if not most never having had children, much less grandchildren/great-grandchildren. The number from Afghanistan is close to 2400, I believe. Far too many Americans have died needlessly fighting for countries that won't fight for themselves.

Having been blessed by surviving Viet Nam, I want other young men and women to be blessed with as much of life as I have had. They may not reach that goal if they have to fight for others who haven't the desire to fight for their own country or people. Let's work harder to limit fighting wars to those of preserving our own nation...without being isolationists. There have too many lives lost and blood shed needlessly. Enough is enough .

I close with a quote attributed to Will Rogers...

"Now, if there is one thing we are worse at than any other nation, it is to try and manage somebody else's affairs"

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

well a bunch of comments most expressions that I expected..

so what do I think?

while the stupid trump deal was among the most stupid in the world , it is what we learned to expect from the never do weller..

But I also can and will bitch at Bush, Obama even Joe.. Joe for his pitiful operation after all these years.. everyone knew what the situation was. they waited 20 years. Knowing full well the USA would get bored and leave, once the money people milked the cash cows for what they were worth..

Timing.. when Ben Louden was killed. that is when the withdrawal should have been done.. from that time on, I never herd of a plan of goal to keep our forces sitting in a sand pile.. it was only for the money to the war industry..

Each president, from Bush to Trump planned and claimed of a pullout.. but never got the job done.. why???

Now while Biden got it done, the price seems far more then it was worth.. the US looks like a pack of school kids expecting a result only because it is what they want.. dumb...

I could go on.. nothing about Afghanistan was to my liking.. should have done the darn job back in the day... many lies from the military saying things were going just fine.. but hell, not ever were things just fine..

rose had a good comment... but I forget what the heck it was.. Good one Rose.. I hope..

Biden will have to live with this SOB of an operation, but it must be shared with all the planners and promoters who never did the job they should have and heaped misinformation on the people of these United States..