Statement by President Joe Biden on Afghanistan: AUGUST 14, 2021 Over the past several days, I have been in close contact with my national security team to give them direction on how...

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

AUGUST 14, 2021

Over the past several days, I have been in close contact with my national security team to give them direction on how to protect our interests and values as we end our military mission in Afghanistan.

First, based on the recommendations of our diplomatic, military, and intelligence teams, I have authorized the deployment of approximately 5,000 U.S. troops to make sure we can have an orderly and safe drawdown of U.S. personnel and other allied personnel, and an orderly and safe evacuation of Afghans who helped our troops during our mission and those at special risk from the Taliban advance.

Second, I have ordered our Armed Forces and our Intelligence Community to ensure that we will maintain the capability and the vigilance to address future terrorist threats from Afghanistan.

Third, I have directed the Secretary of State to support President Ghani and other Afghan leaders as they seek to prevent further bloodshed and pursue a political settlement. Secretary Blinken will also engage with key regional stakeholders.

Fourth, we have conveyed to the Taliban representatives in Doha, via our Combatant Commander, that any action on their part on the ground in Afghanistan, that puts U.S. personnel or our mission at risk there, will be met with a swift and strong U.S. military response.

Fifth, I have placed Ambassador Tracey Jacobson in charge of a whole-of-government effort to process, t***sport, and relocate Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other Afghan allies. Our hearts go out to the brave Afghan men and women who are now at risk. We are working to evacuate thousands of those who helped our cause and their families.

That is what we are going to do. Now let me be clear about how we got here.

America went to Afghanistan 20 years ago to defeat the forces that attacked this country on September 11th. That mission resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden over a decade ago and the degradation of al Qaeda. And yet, 10 years later, when I became President, a small number of U.S. troops still remained on the ground, in harm’s way, with a looming deadline to withdraw them or go back to open combat.

Over our country’s 20 years at war in Afghanistan, America has sent its finest young men and women, invested nearly $1 trillion dollars, trained over 300,000 Afghan soldiers and police, equipped them with state-of-the-art military equipment, and maintained their air force as part of the longest war in U.S. history. One more year, or five more years, of U.S. military presence would not have made a difference if the Afghan military cannot or will not hold its own country. And an endless American presence in the middle of another country’s civil conflict was not acceptable to me.

When I came to office, I inherited a deal cut by my predecessor—which he invited the Taliban to discuss at Camp David on the eve of 9/11 of 2019—that left the Taliban in the strongest position militarily since 2001 and imposed a May 1, 2021 deadline on U.S. Forces. Shortly before he left office, he also drew U.S. Forces down to a bare minimum of 2,500. Therefore, when I became President, I faced a choice—follow through on the deal, with a brief extension to get our Forces and our allies’ Forces out safely, or ramp up our presence and send more American troops to fight once again in another country’s civil conflict. I was the fourth President to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan—two Republicans, two Democrats. I would not, and will not, pass this war onto a fifth.

Liberty Tree

slatten49 wrote:

AUGUST 14, 2021

Over the past several days, I have been in close contact with my national security team to give them direction on how to protect our interests and values as we end our military mission in Afghanistan.

First, based on the recommendations of our diplomatic, military, and intelligence teams, I have authorized the deployment of approximately 5,000 U.S. troops to make sure we can have an orderly and safe drawdown of U.S. personnel and other allied personnel, and an orderly and safe evacuation of Afghans who helped our troops during our mission and those at special risk from the Taliban advance.

Second, I have ordered our Armed Forces and our Intelligence Community to ensure that we will maintain the capability and the vigilance to address future terrorist threats from Afghanistan.

Third, I have directed the Secretary of State to support President Ghani and other Afghan leaders as they seek to prevent further bloodshed and pursue a political settlement. Secretary Blinken will also engage with key regional stakeholders.

Fourth, we have conveyed to the Taliban representatives in Doha, via our Combatant Commander, that any action on their part on the ground in Afghanistan, that puts U.S. personnel or our mission at risk there, will be met with a swift and strong U.S. military response.

Fifth, I have placed Ambassador Tracey Jacobson in charge of a whole-of-government effort to process, t***sport, and relocate Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other Afghan allies. Our hearts go out to the brave Afghan men and women who are now at risk. We are working to evacuate thousands of those who helped our cause and their families.

That is what we are going to do. Now let me be clear about how we got here.

America went to Afghanistan 20 years ago to defeat the forces that attacked this country on September 11th. That mission resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden over a decade ago and the degradation of al Qaeda. And yet, 10 years later, when I became President, a small number of U.S. troops still remained on the ground, in harm’s way, with a looming deadline to withdraw them or go back to open combat.

Over our country’s 20 years at war in Afghanistan, America has sent its finest young men and women, invested nearly $1 trillion dollars, trained over 300,000 Afghan soldiers and police, equipped them with state-of-the-art military equipment, and maintained their air force as part of the longest war in U.S. history. One more year, or five more years, of U.S. military presence would not have made a difference if the Afghan military cannot or will not hold its own country. And an endless American presence in the middle of another country’s civil conflict was not acceptable to me.

When I came to office, I inherited a deal cut by my predecessor—which he invited the Taliban to discuss at Camp David on the eve of 9/11 of 2019—that left the Taliban in the strongest position militarily since 2001 and imposed a May 1, 2021 deadline on U.S. Forces. Shortly before he left office, he also drew U.S. Forces down to a bare minimum of 2,500. Therefore, when I became President, I faced a choice—follow through on the deal, with a brief extension to get our Forces and our allies’ Forces out safely, or ramp up our presence and send more American troops to fight once again in another country’s civil conflict. I was the fourth President to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan—two Republicans, two Democrats. I would not, and will not, pass this war onto a fifth.

AUGUST 14, 2021 br br Over the past several days,... (show quote)

You think Biden actually wrote this?

DaWg44

slatten49 wrote:

AUGUST 14, 2021

Over the past several days, I have been in close contact with my national security team to give them direction on how to protect our interests and values as we end our military mission in Afghanistan.

First, based on the recommendations of our diplomatic, military, and intelligence teams, I have authorized the deployment of approximately 5,000 U.S. troops to make sure we can have an orderly and safe drawdown of U.S. personnel and other allied personnel, and an orderly and safe evacuation of Afghans who helped our troops during our mission and those at special risk from the Taliban advance.

Second, I have ordered our Armed Forces and our Intelligence Community to ensure that we will maintain the capability and the vigilance to address future terrorist threats from Afghanistan.

Third, I have directed the Secretary of State to support President Ghani and other Afghan leaders as they seek to prevent further bloodshed and pursue a political settlement. Secretary Blinken will also engage with key regional stakeholders.

Fourth, we have conveyed to the Taliban representatives in Doha, via our Combatant Commander, that any action on their part on the ground in Afghanistan, that puts U.S. personnel or our mission at risk there, will be met with a swift and strong U.S. military response.

Fifth, I have placed Ambassador Tracey Jacobson in charge of a whole-of-government effort to process, t***sport, and relocate Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other Afghan allies. Our hearts go out to the brave Afghan men and women who are now at risk. We are working to evacuate thousands of those who helped our cause and their families.

That is what we are going to do. Now let me be clear about how we got here.

America went to Afghanistan 20 years ago to defeat the forces that attacked this country on September 11th. That mission resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden over a decade ago and the degradation of al Qaeda. And yet, 10 years later, when I became President, a small number of U.S. troops still remained on the ground, in harm’s way, with a looming deadline to withdraw them or go back to open combat.

Over our country’s 20 years at war in Afghanistan, America has sent its finest young men and women, invested nearly $1 trillion dollars, trained over 300,000 Afghan soldiers and police, equipped them with state-of-the-art military equipment, and maintained their air force as part of the longest war in U.S. history. One more year, or five more years, of U.S. military presence would not have made a difference if the Afghan military cannot or will not hold its own country. And an endless American presence in the middle of another country’s civil conflict was not acceptable to me.

When I came to office, I inherited a deal cut by my predecessor—which he invited the Taliban to discuss at Camp David on the eve of 9/11 of 2019—that left the Taliban in the strongest position militarily since 2001 and imposed a May 1, 2021 deadline on U.S. Forces. Shortly before he left office, he also drew U.S. Forces down to a bare minimum of 2,500. Therefore, when I became President, I faced a choice—follow through on the deal, with a brief extension to get our Forces and our allies’ Forces out safely, or ramp up our presence and send more American troops to fight once again in another country’s civil conflict. I was the fourth President to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan—two Republicans, two Democrats. I would not, and will not, pass this war onto a fifth.

AUGUST 14, 2021 br br Over the past several days,... (show quote)

Slat, I’m waiting for your opinion on what is actually happening over there. I heard on the radio Obama/Biden is sending 5,000 instead of 3,000 troops to fight against all kinds armament we left.

Liberty Tree

DaWg44 wrote:

Slat, I’m waiting for your opinion on what is actually happening over there. I heard on the radio Obama/Biden is sending 5,000 instead of 3,000 troops to fight against all kinds armament we left.

He has no personal thoughts or opinions.He just post the thoughts of other l*****ts.

steve66613

slatten49 wrote:

AUGUST 14, 2021

Over the past several days, I have been in close contact with my national security team to give them direction on how to protect our interests and values as we end our military mission in Afghanistan.

First, based on the recommendations of our diplomatic, military, and intelligence teams, I have authorized the deployment of approximately 5,000 U.S. troops to make sure we can have an orderly and safe drawdown of U.S. personnel and other allied personnel, and an orderly and safe evacuation of Afghans who helped our troops during our mission and those at special risk from the Taliban advance.

Second, I have ordered our Armed Forces and our Intelligence Community to ensure that we will maintain the capability and the vigilance to address future terrorist threats from Afghanistan.

Third, I have directed the Secretary of State to support President Ghani and other Afghan leaders as they seek to prevent further bloodshed and pursue a political settlement. Secretary Blinken will also engage with key regional stakeholders.

Fourth, we have conveyed to the Taliban representatives in Doha, via our Combatant Commander, that any action on their part on the ground in Afghanistan, that puts U.S. personnel or our mission at risk there, will be met with a swift and strong U.S. military response.

Fifth, I have placed Ambassador Tracey Jacobson in charge of a whole-of-government effort to process, t***sport, and relocate Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other Afghan allies. Our hearts go out to the brave Afghan men and women who are now at risk. We are working to evacuate thousands of those who helped our cause and their families.

That is what we are going to do. Now let me be clear about how we got here.

America went to Afghanistan 20 years ago to defeat the forces that attacked this country on September 11th. That mission resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden over a decade ago and the degradation of al Qaeda. And yet, 10 years later, when I became President, a small number of U.S. troops still remained on the ground, in harm’s way, with a looming deadline to withdraw them or go back to open combat.

Over our country’s 20 years at war in Afghanistan, America has sent its finest young men and women, invested nearly $1 trillion dollars, trained over 300,000 Afghan soldiers and police, equipped them with state-of-the-art military equipment, and maintained their air force as part of the longest war in U.S. history. One more year, or five more years, of U.S. military presence would not have made a difference if the Afghan military cannot or will not hold its own country. And an endless American presence in the middle of another country’s civil conflict was not acceptable to me.

When I came to office, I inherited a deal cut by my predecessor—which he invited the Taliban to discuss at Camp David on the eve of 9/11 of 2019—that left the Taliban in the strongest position militarily since 2001 and imposed a May 1, 2021 deadline on U.S. Forces. Shortly before he left office, he also drew U.S. Forces down to a bare minimum of 2,500. Therefore, when I became President, I faced a choice—follow through on the deal, with a brief extension to get our Forces and our allies’ Forces out safely, or ramp up our presence and send more American troops to fight once again in another country’s civil conflict. I was the fourth President to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan—two Republicans, two Democrats. I would not, and will not, pass this war onto a fifth.

AUGUST 14, 2021 br br Over the past several days,... (show quote)

Evidently, Biden had no plan for troupe withdrawal. Now he has to send our military BACK! Real fine leadership.

Most likely, Biden doesn’t have a clue about what’s going on with the military. He can barely find his way from the helicopter back into the WH!

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

DaWg44 wrote:

Slat, I’m waiting for your opinion on what is actually happening over there. I heard on the radio Obama/Biden is sending 5,000 instead of 3,000 troops to fight against all kinds armament we left.

DaWg44: First off, the above article states that President Biden will deploy 5,000 troops to cover/protect our withdrawal. So if you read it, that shouldn't come as a surprise. And, just as we left mountains of military gear & equipment (to include armaments) in Viet Nam, it comes as no surprise we might do it again. Disappointing, of course, but not surprising.

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 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.

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 suggests above, it has been mishandled in varying degrees by the three previous administrations and IMO, it is time to get out. The next to last paragraph of the release states more than enough reason(s) for leaving. 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 is 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 don'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 themselves. Let's work 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"

P.S. Sorry for the late response, DaWg44, but my wife and I watch a movie almost every night together, so I was predisposed since about 7pm or thereabouts. As I obviously have no personal thoughts or opinions but only that of others, I offer my apology for the delay.

nwtk2007 Loc: Texas

slatten49 wrote:

AUGUST 14, 2021

Over the past several days, I have been in close contact with my national security team to give them direction on how to protect our interests and values as we end our military mission in Afghanistan.

First, based on the recommendations of our diplomatic, military, and intelligence teams, I have authorized the deployment of approximately 5,000 U.S. troops to make sure we can have an orderly and safe drawdown of U.S. personnel and other allied personnel, and an orderly and safe evacuation of Afghans who helped our troops during our mission and those at special risk from the Taliban advance.

Second, I have ordered our Armed Forces and our Intelligence Community to ensure that we will maintain the capability and the vigilance to address future terrorist threats from Afghanistan.

Third, I have directed the Secretary of State to support President Ghani and other Afghan leaders as they seek to prevent further bloodshed and pursue a political settlement. Secretary Blinken will also engage with key regional stakeholders.

Fourth, we have conveyed to the Taliban representatives in Doha, via our Combatant Commander, that any action on their part on the ground in Afghanistan, that puts U.S. personnel or our mission at risk there, will be met with a swift and strong U.S. military response.

Fifth, I have placed Ambassador Tracey Jacobson in charge of a whole-of-government effort to process, t***sport, and relocate Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other Afghan allies. Our hearts go out to the brave Afghan men and women who are now at risk. We are working to evacuate thousands of those who helped our cause and their families.

That is what we are going to do. Now let me be clear about how we got here.

America went to Afghanistan 20 years ago to defeat the forces that attacked this country on September 11th. That mission resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden over a decade ago and the degradation of al Qaeda. And yet, 10 years later, when I became President, a small number of U.S. troops still remained on the ground, in harm’s way, with a looming deadline to withdraw them or go back to open combat.

Over our country’s 20 years at war in Afghanistan, America has sent its finest young men and women, invested nearly $1 trillion dollars, trained over 300,000 Afghan soldiers and police, equipped them with state-of-the-art military equipment, and maintained their air force as part of the longest war in U.S. history. One more year, or five more years, of U.S. military presence would not have made a difference if the Afghan military cannot or will not hold its own country. And an endless American presence in the middle of another country’s civil conflict was not acceptable to me.

When I came to office, I inherited a deal cut by my predecessor—which he invited the Taliban to discuss at Camp David on the eve of 9/11 of 2019—that left the Taliban in the strongest position militarily since 2001 and imposed a May 1, 2021 deadline on U.S. Forces. Shortly before he left office, he also drew U.S. Forces down to a bare minimum of 2,500. Therefore, when I became President, I faced a choice—follow through on the deal, with a brief extension to get our Forces and our allies’ Forces out safely, or ramp up our presence and send more American troops to fight once again in another country’s civil conflict. I was the fourth President to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan—two Republicans, two Democrats. I would not, and will not, pass this war onto a fifth.

AUGUST 14, 2021 br br Over the past several days,... (show quote)

Bottom line, they win and we lose. Cabul is theirs in a week. In Biden's last 40 years, what has ever been his posotion on Afghanastan?? He was certainly willing to abandon Iraq and thus was born ISIS.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

nwtk2007 wrote:

Bottom line, they win and we lose. Cabul is theirs in a week. In Biden's last 40 years, what has ever been his posotion on Afghanastan?? He was certainly willing to abandon Iraq and thus was born ISIS.

https://www.mediamatters.org/abc/memo-media-bush-set-timetable-withdrawal-iraq

Kickaha Loc: Nebraska

One problem had been the way we have conducted wars since WWII. Our politicians decide when we are to go to war, which I do agree with. The problem is the politicians insist on micromanaging the war. They should make the decision to go to war, give the military an objective, then get out of the way and let the professionals do their job.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Kickaha wrote:

One problem had been the way we have conducted wars since WWII. Our politicians decide when we are to go to war, which I do agree with. The problem is the politicians insist on micromanaging the war. They should make the decision to go to war, give the military an objective, then get out of the way and let the professionals do their job.

As my old friend Bahmer would'a said/wrote: "Amen & Amen."

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

Liberty Tree wrote:

You think Biden actually wrote this?

Yep.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Liberty Tree wrote:

He has no personal thoughts or opinions.He just post the thoughts of other l*****ts.

This, from someone who consistently posts vacuous snippets of bias, snarkiness and nonsense

MeddlesomeMom

https://www.axios.com/off-the-rails-trump-military-withdraw-afghanistan-5717012a-d55d-4819-a79f-805d5eb3c6e2.html

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

MeddlesomeMom wrote:

https://www.axios.com/off-the-rails-trump-military-withdraw-afghanistan-5717012a-d55d-4819-a79f-805d5eb3c6e2.html

Thanks, MM for that link, as it was very enlightening. I hope that many will take the time to read it.

MeddlesomeMom

I hope so too. It’s very informative and explains our current situation as well as Trumps “thought process” regarding our troops.