The security of the troops is paramount to the evacuation or withdrawal.

If the new Taliban government cannot secure the area, then the US troops will have to secure it themselves. They cannot be sitting ducks for these suicide bombers.

They may have to postpone the evacuation until order is restored?

This is a serious development.

Thick As A Brick (Classic)

"There is no good way to lose a war."

I have heard several people say that, the latest being Sir James Carville, on the 11th Hour with Brian Williams.

Perhaps someday we will learn that we cannot force our ideas of democracy and federalized government on other people around the world? Let us hope that Afghanistan was the last.

We lost the Vietnam War, also. Today, Vietnam is a staunch ally. Hopefully, somewhere, someone can plant a seed that America does have some good people in it. And after we are gone, they will remember us.

But the imperial age is over. The world is much smaller. There are no vast empires to exploit.

More than anything else, Afghanistan was a cash cow for the Defense industry. Many of them are associated with the media networks in this country. They have maintained a rather symbiotic relationship.

But now, we are leaving. In perhaps the only bright spot of this 20-year war, America is evacuating tens of thousands of Afghans who fought by our side in this lost war. Many will become American citizens. They will be as American as you and I.

Who is your favorite talking head on MSNBC ?

Tastes will vary.

America should be united at this time, but we are not.

Just as when our country was attacked on 9/11, the people put their political differences aside and united as one nation. And George W Bush was not the most-loved politician in the world at that time.

Our troops and our allies are in severe danger in Afghanistan and as Americans, we should all be pulling for them to succeed. We should not be playing petty politics at this time. As Lindsey Graham and others are doing.

There is a time to put politics aside and work together. This is one of those times. No one should be pulling for the Taliban over America at this time. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case.

It doesn't matter if they evacuate a million Afghans...

The media would still be saying that "someone was left behind".

When the operation began, the number of evacuations that was mentioned as needed was 70-80,000. They have reached that number.

But, someone will be left behind. That will be the story.

No matter how many people are evacuated.

Up to this point, it has been a success.

Some might even call it an American "victory"?

Two words that will drive Trumpsters totally slobberingly mad ?

Put it on bumper stickers.

Say it with a smile.

"TRUMP LOST"

At some time in their lives, they have to accept reality.

TRUMP LOST

TRUMP LOST

It seems so simple but if enough people tell them, they will either accept it or go mad.

There is no need to argue with them. TRUMP LOST is all they need to know.

They have carried their delusions long enough.

It is time to come back to reality.

How many Afghans did Trump plan on evacuating?

On January 15th, 2021, it was reported that he had cut the troop strength down to 2500 troops. It had been 11 months since he made his Doha Agreement with the Taliban. He did not want to make any commitment until the election was over. He would have had 3 1/2 months to complete his mission by May 1st.

There is no doubt but that Joe Biden will receive tons of criticism for not getting out more Afghanis but it appears now that Trump had no plan to evacuate any Afghanis? He had armed the "mighty" Afghani Army to the teeth with the most modern infantry weaponry. Now we see all those weapons in the hands of the Taliban. (He might have evacuated a few hundred Afghanis and he would have bragged about how he got out "almost a thousand" of the brave warriors who helped us in our war effort) The media would have accepted that as some great accomplishment.

The deadline of May 1st came and went. America was not focused on Afghanistan. They were focused on the pandemic and getting the economy back on track. Biden wanted to get the troops out by September 11th, the iconic date that led to the ill-fated adventure in Afghanistan.

But the Taliban did not wait for that date. They advised the Afghan President, Ghani, to leave the country. The Afghan army disintegrated and many joined the Taliban, with their new weapons. The Taliban took over the city of Kabul.

Biden had to send in more troops to help with the evacuation. The US took over the flight operations at the airport and set up their diplomatic HQ's in the airport, after they had to flee the US Embassy.

So far, the latest report is that 82,000 people have been evacuated thru the airport, despite being surrounded by Taliban soldiers and reported ISIS-K terrorists. It is one of the largest airlift evacuations in history. It is quite an accomplishment up to this moment.

However, there are still US helicopters and equipment that must be taken out or destroyed before the last remaining troops depart. The most dangerous part of the operation still remains. It is a volatile and dangerous situation.

The entire game changed when the Afghan Army disappeared and the government fell apart.

By then, it was too late to change the plans. The Taliban was marching into Kabul and declaring victory. There were only 2500 American troops left in the country.

The only option left was to play the cards you were dealt. It wouldn't matter who the President was at that time, that was their only option. Personally speaking, I am glad that Joe Biden is the President, and not Donald Trump. We need a leader with a level head on their shoulders at this time. We do not need an irrational blowhard who can never make a decision.

If there was anything that caused the government to dissolve and the Afghan military to disappear, it was the demoralizing meeting in February of last year, led by Mike Pompeo and Donald Trump. It is delusional to think the military and the government would have remained intact if Donald Trump had won the election in 2020.

As it is, Joe Biden is playing the hand that was dealt to him. He probably thought the government in Kabul would remain in power, as did most politicians in Washington, when he announced the final drawdown to complete evacuation. No doubt, this is a test for his leadership.

But it could have been worse. Donald Trump could have won the election in 2020. Speaking only for myself, I am extremely pleased that he did not win that election.

The 21 Dirtiest Republicans in the House of Representatives.

They love power and Party more than they love their country:

Kevin McCarthy
Steve Scalise
Elise Stefanik
Jim Jordan
Devin Nunes
Jim Banks
Andy Biggs
Lauren Boebert
Mo Brooks
Matt Gaetz
Louie Gohmert
Paul Gosar
Marjorie Taylor Green
Ronny Jackson
Debbie Lesko
Thomas Massie
Scott Perry
Greg Pence
Chip Roy
Pete Sessions
Lee Zeldin