General Discussion

Martin68

(26,933 posts)

72. The media report what they see and what the military and officials tell them.

Reply to ShazamIam (Reply #1)

Fri Aug 13, 2021, 09:54 PM

Aug 2021

Easy target, but not responsible for the blunders and policies that got us here.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

88 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I was deployed in Afghanistan in 2013 [View all] USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 OP

Thanks for providing insight from your personal experience, I don't think we have had much truth in ShazamIam Aug 2021 #1

The media report what they see and what the military and officials tell them. Martin68 Aug 2021 #72

In the end, Afghanis need to run their own country... Wounded Bear Aug 2021 #2

Bingo. Couldn't agree more. paleotn Aug 2021 #31

Yep-- my feeling. If we couldn't get them ready in 20 years, they were never gonna be ready LymphocyteLover Aug 2021 #38

3 administrations... joshcryer Aug 2021 #64

very true LymphocyteLover Aug 2021 #65

Sad, but true, I think. calimary Aug 2021 #78

Thanks for posting Duncanpup Aug 2021 #3

Worth fighting for and worth dying for are two different things Johnny2X2X Aug 2021 #4

We have to learn that invading and occupying almost any country is just not good for anyone. Hoyt Aug 2021 #5

Looks like the American People are Getting Tired of these Adventure Wars! McKim Aug 2021 #75

Thank you for this perspective. hamsterjill Aug 2021 #6

While waiting for their response... krkaufman Aug 2021 #10

I think they are more concerned USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #11

Appreciate it. hamsterjill Aug 2021 #17

were the translators the same way? the ones we've heard so much about bringing to the US? LymphocyteLover Aug 2021 #39

in what respect? stopdiggin Aug 2021 #80

I mean yes, but I guess I was just wondering if the translators were better than the average Afghan LymphocyteLover Aug 2021 #83

It sounds reasonable to me that their family's survival is important lunatica Aug 2021 #57

Thanks for posting this n/t hibbing Aug 2021 #7

Yep. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Aug 2021 #8

They used to have a King, Historic NY Aug 2021 #9

Afghan jumping jacks. Go! Aviation Pro Aug 2021 #12

Thanks for posting. JoanofArgh Aug 2021 #13

thanks for that perspective. I needed to hear that. samsingh Aug 2021 #14

I was afraid to open this post, assuming you'd be in the throes of "why did we make these sacrifices lindysalsagal Aug 2021 #15

As weird as it sounds USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #18

I'm not surprised... Postal Grunt Aug 2021 #16

exactly-- it's the same awful lesson we didn't learn in Vietnam LymphocyteLover Aug 2021 #40

Speaking of Vietnam, Mr.Bill Aug 2021 #53

Years ago, I was startled the first time I picked up a product with 'Made in Vietnam' label. 70sEraVet Aug 2021 #56

definitely! LymphocyteLover Aug 2021 #66

:) Someone finally mentioned the words "religion" and "culture." Hortensis Aug 2021 #44

That is so sad PatSeg Aug 2021 #19

Are the Taliban any tougher as individuals than the Afghan military personnel? Shermann Aug 2021 #20

Because they have their 12th century Gawd behind them? A HERETIC I AM Aug 2021 #25

Being "tough" and actually believing in what they're doing paleotn Aug 2021 #35

They're religious fanatics. Pretty hard to destroy in the best of times Arazi Aug 2021 #36

conviction qazplm135 Aug 2021 #63

Thank you for your service AZProgressive Aug 2021 #21

Thanks...I was in Iraq, too in 2007 USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #22

thank you for the sacrifices you made, both tangible and intangible, in choosing the martial life Celerity Aug 2021 #47

Thanks for the insight. Fla Dem Aug 2021 #23

Because its an ideology, impossible to contain. Jon King Aug 2021 #37

Where's the profit in winning? The profit is in continuing to feed the war hogs BComplex Aug 2021 #52

I agree with you on the military/industrial complex. Fla Dem Aug 2021 #59

What bothers me about it is that there are so many people in the world with so much hate and BComplex Aug 2021 #70

Where empires go to die keithbvadu2 Aug 2021 #24

It has always been thus with Afghanistan NQAS Aug 2021 #26

Coming here to say just that. AngryOldDem Aug 2021 #32

Same with the Saudis; an AWOL rate above 60%!!!! Grins Aug 2021 #27

Excellent thread, Politico had a great story a month ago saying same thing. Jon King Aug 2021 #28

Was deposing the Taliban even part of the mission? Politicub Aug 2021 #29

I guess originally USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #30

I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like there. Were you frustrated? Politicub Aug 2021 #41

I was frustrated at first USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #45

Randi Rhodes said almost 20 years ago the Taliban would wait it out. Jon King Aug 2021 #33

Now that the Taliban takeover is obviously inevitable Martin Eden Aug 2021 #34

And in 20 years there will be a Broadway musical about it. Politicub Aug 2021 #42

As long as it adds to our popular culture Martin Eden Aug 2021 #51

If Afghanistan won't stand up to the Taliban now, they were never going to djacq Aug 2021 #43

Thanks and same! USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #46

I would like to think that the women there had a better life for a couple of decades madville Aug 2021 #48

Yes you are correct USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #50

Thank you for confirmng waht I've been saying from an historical viewpoint Warpy Aug 2021 #49

I heard this many times from soldiers I corresponded with Skittles Aug 2021 #54

I think Rebl2 Aug 2021 #55

I arrived in Kandahar in Sep2002, CRK7376 Aug 2021 #58

Yes there were a lot of hard workers, but USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #62

Not an expert on the topic, Mr.Bill Aug 2021 #60

For sure: EX500rider Aug 2021 #61

99% of their GNP comes from heroin and grift FakeNoose Aug 2021 #67

Thank you for this perspective. llmart Aug 2021 #68

Tribal it was and tribal it will be. Brits, Russians and USA all failed to affect change. nt Evolve Dammit Aug 2021 #69

Like the Vietnamese, the Afghani people appear feckless and weak because the occupying forces, Martin68 Aug 2021 #71

The more I think about it you assessment is better than mine USAFRetired_Liberal Aug 2021 #77

Never should have went there. The Jungle 1 Aug 2021 #85

I wouldn't accuse any entire "culture" of rampant sexual abuse - unless you include the US. How many Martin68 Aug 2021 #87

Im very curious what % of the country wanted this result quakerboy Aug 2021 #73

How much American blood was shed while we were in Afghanistan. Biden want out in 2009 as VP. usaf-vet Aug 2021 #74

Don't forget, the withdrawal from Afghamistan was planned under Trump, not Biden Shoonra Aug 2021 #76

The only question is why not evacuate the helpers before setting the withdrawal date? Jon King Aug 2021 #79

agreed. but a), look at how crippled stopdiggin Aug 2021 #81

I was 18 when 9/11 happened and even at Jspur Aug 2021 #82

We learned nothing from Vietnam!!!!!!!!!!! The Jungle 1 Aug 2021 #84

Substitute "ARVN" for "Afghan military" thucythucy Aug 2021 #86

Who wants to give their life for a kleptocracy (Afghan Government)...? the installed government JCMach1 Aug 2021 #88