Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues Iraq & Afghanistan Reconciliation Agreement with the Taliban

Looks like everybody called it. Seems like something so obvious should be avoidable…

We humans don’t seem to be wired thataway, though.

Biden was hoping it would be popular.

Conservatives are trying to convince the rest of us it was foolish.

How many American casualties have there been since the withdrawal began?

I may have spoken too soon, we seem to have casualties now.

From your numbers guy, Do you approve or disapprove of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. 45/37 approve/disapprove as of 24 Aug 2021. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling the war in Afghanistan, 33/50 approve/disapprove.

Seems Americans want us out of Afghanistan, but think Biden botched the evacuation, withdrawal. FYI, the percentage of those who approve of the withdrawal from Afghanistan is down 8 point from 1 Aug 2021.

I think once completely out of Afghanistan, if no terrorist attacks occurs from the Taliban giving safe Haven and a training ground to groups like ISIS and AQ, Afghanistan will quickly fade from memory. From independents memory anyway.

I think the biggest worry for Biden and the Democrats is a terrorist attack on us or someplace in Europe that originated from Afghanistan between the completion of the withdrawal at the end of the month and the midterms next year. That could definitely lead to a red wave midterm.

Republicans complaining about Biden carrying out a Trump initiative. Ironic, isn't it. It's this kind of thing that makes people realize the Republicans have no policies other than: "If Democrats do it, it must be wrong."

I looked up "normal" in the Big Book of Human Psychology and it said, "Astounding numbers of people acting like total dicks and doing irrational things."

So, nothing to be concerned about, I suppose...

I’m still trying to get over my gag reflex when I see “Reconciliation” and “Taliban” in the same sentence.

I’ve been rereading this thread and saw a comment from jgw with which I whole heartedly agree. I blame the military for the current mess. How can you run a dysfunctional war for 20 years and not have a plan for getting the hell out? And how can you blame ta particular Commander in Chief when there have been four of them?

(And being in this part of the country I need to clarify I am not blaming the rank-and-file; it’s the ones running the show that I have a beef with.)

To answer that question, I would say that we have but one CINC at a time.Bush got the credit and blame for his tenure in office. Obama the same, Trump the same, now it's Biden who is CINC.

That's just the way these things work, right. wrong or indifferent. The president get the credit and or the blame for things that happen during his watch. Polls show Biden is getting credit for ending the war and getting us out. Biden is also getting the blame for the botched withdrawal, evacuation. I think in the long term, getting us out will overwhelm the botch evacuation. Short term news vs. long term results.

Now I'm positive the military had several plans for evacuation. If there's one thing the military loves to do, it's drawing up contingency plans. It is up to the CINC to choose which one or none at all which is to be followed or put into use.

I'll add this, I think the rapid Taliban advance caught us with our pants down. That no one ever saw it coming and perhaps no plans were on the drafting board for that scenario. I don't know.