Thread: Biden Made the Right Call

Originally Posted by havnfun

answer some fucking questions

You'll only know they are lying if you see their lips move.

Some people that know are telling the msn to stop the spin. they are angry.

He's hit the nail on the head.

This is bad "optics". Whatever Biden did was going to be bad "optics". He's a hero for not backing down.

And the Afghan government is to blame.

They had money, weapons, forces and training and they took the money and ran.

You, Harry are are better spin doctor, than I am a magical mathematician. Kudos mate, you pulled a rabbit out of the hat with that one.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

And the Afghan government is to blame.

They had money, weapons, forces and training

No motivation like the Taliban

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

they took the money and ran.

Oh

Sorry

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

He's hit the nail on the head.

This is bad "optics". Whatever Biden did was going to be bad "optics". He's a hero for not backing down.

And the Afghan government is to blame.

They had money, weapons, forces and training and they took the money and ran.

20 years, $2 trillion and 2,500 American lives and after all that the AFG army and police fold like a paper doll. They deserve their fate.

Originally Posted by Klondyke

What's your idea? When GWB started the war, was the UN involved? Was not, obviously since no Afgh. membership in UN that time?

And what the UN Charter says about invading countries? (something about what the good colonel Ghadaffi was explaining once in UNGA, next year he peacefully died...)

Paradox when this Monday a special urgent meeting in UN SC...
And the Afghan delegate of the non-existing Afgh. govt with fleeing president speaking there. Speaking about what?
And the other delegates, speaking about what?

Are you drunk?

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Even if it ends up costing him re-election … it was worth it.

It wont. I doubt he will stand again. He has achieved his ambition and age will catch up with him.

Originally Posted by tomcat

...definitely: this was a time to rise above self-interested political gain and act to close an open wound. Biden acted and congressional midgets/seditionists/QAnonites/anti-vaxxers/self-dealers and devout evangelicals loudly whined...boohoo...

Stick to your "what goes with Pate de fois thread". At least there you only look like a pretentious DH rather than a complete idiot with no idea.

Originally Posted by russellsimpson

In my opinion the biggest question now is whether our American brothers we continue to enjoy the trust that has been accorded them even after the Trump debacle. This whole state of affairs in Afghanistan represents a colossal failure in terms of intelligence. What the hell did happen! Somebody at some point has to step forward and own this. Trump almost grievously injured American leadership of the NATO Alliance. I was hoping to see the president work hard to build trust and leadership on the world stage.

Right or wrong it will be a blow to American leadership in the world especially with a rising beligerant China. The Afghans in charge, from the President down should hang their heads in shame. Corruption and incompetence was their real downfall although many will blame the USA.

Originally Posted by Hugh Cow

Corruption and incompetence was their real downfall although many will blame the USA.

...a bulletin from Captain Obvious...we need your sanctimonious comments on the Grindr Priests thread, your worship...

Originally Posted by Hugh Cow

especially with a rising beligerant China.

I would hazard a guess that they are next - the massive infrastructure spend to get mines operational will demand protection when the disaffected and their rpgs arrive

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

20 years, $2 trillion and 2,500 American lives and after all that the AFG army and police fold like a paper doll. They deserve their fate.

I'm pretty sure Biden knew it was going to happen, but it had to be done.

I would be going after Ghani for the $169 million though.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

after Ghani for the $169 million though.

Wondering why 'arry fell on lies and conspiracy theories. Usually, he gets the clue, like with the notebook of...(please no names here)

What on earth are you wittering on about now, you silly old duffer.

Originally Posted by tomcat

...a bulletin from Captain Obvious...we need your sanctimonious comments on the Grindr Priests thread, your worship...

We certainly dont need your interminable remarks driven by your petty prejuduce with no basis in fact you boring twat. That's real irony coming from the most pretentious sanctimonious twat on TD. Go back to sipping your chardonnay.

In his defence, it's always seemed to me that tc is more likely a 'gulper'.

Originally Posted by Hugh Cow

your petty prejuduce with no basis in fact

...you mean like evangelical "facts"...or Catholic "facts"......or "alternative facts"...

US decision to leave Afganishtan is the right one, US is not responsible for protecting the entire world forever.

But how all this happened is very nasty.

Escaping in the darkness.

Total loss of confidence in the US power and military across the world.

Even whiny poor resourceless Europeans are having their own soldiers and helicopters there now to evacuate their people.

Biden, Trump, don't care. But as Biden is the president now, I'd say he is a limp pr*ick

Originally Posted by DC101

Even whiny poor resourceless Europeans are having their own soldiers and helicopters there now to evacuate their people.

US has until now evacuated 37000 people.

Originally Posted by lom

US has until now evacuated 37000 people.

Maybe 140k people who worked for US are in danger now. Taliban has list a of people someone in US admin leaked and they go door to door and just shoot.

Wasn't supposed to go this way.

This is about betraying your allies. Shame on Biden. This will be remembered as a moment US lost control. China will take over.

Originally Posted by DC101

Wasn't supposed to go this way.

...when in the course of human affairs does anything go the way it's supposed to?...except, of course, tRump's reinstatement on 23 August...

Remarks by President Biden on Evacuations in Afghanistan
AUGUST 20, 2021

---

And now I’ll take questions. AP, Zeke Miller.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. You vowed that your election would usher in an era where the world could count on America to live up to its promises. You promised to leave Afghanistan, but you also promised not to — to help — to bring out those who helped America in its war effort. We’ve seen these heart-wrenching images at the Kabul airport of people trying to get there, to say nothing of the people who can’t get to that airport.

You made the commitment to get American troops out, to get the American citizens out. Will you make the same commitment to those who assisted in the American war effort over the last 20 years? Number one.
And then, number two: What’s your message to America’s partners around the world who have criticized not the withdrawal, but the conduct of that withdrawal, and made — made them question America’s credibility on the world stage?

THE PRESIDENT: I have seen no question of our credibility from our allies around the world. I have spoken with our NATO Allies. We’ve spoken with NATO Allies — the Secretary of State. Our National Security Advisor has been in contact with his counterparts throughout the world with our Allies, as has the General — or, excuse me, I keep calling him a General, but my Secretary of Defense.

The fact of the matter is I have not seen that. Matter of fact, the exact opposite I’ve got — the exact opposite thing is we’re acting with dispatch, we’re acting — committing to what we said we would do.

Look, let’s put this thing in perspective here. What interest do we have in Afghanistan at this point with al Qaeda gone? We went to Afghanistan for the express purpose of getting rid of al Qaeda in Afghanistan, as well as — as well as getting Osama bin Laden. And we did.

Imagine — just imagine if that attack — if bin Laden had decided, with al Qaeda, to launch an attack from Yemen. Would we ever have gone to Afghanistan? Would there ever be any reason we’d be in Afghanistan — controlled by the Taliban? What is the national interest of United States in that circumstance? We went and did the mission. You’ve known my position for a long, long time. It’s time to end this war.

The estimates of the cost of this war over the last 20 years ranged from a minimum of $1 trillion to a think tank at one of the universities saying $2 trillion. That’s somewhere between $150 million a day and $300 million a day.

The threat from terrorism has metastasized. There’s a greater danger from ISIS and — and al Qaeda and all these affiliates in other countries, by far, than there is from Afghanistan.

And we’re going to retain an over-the-horizon capability that if they were to come back — to be able to take them out, surgically move.

So, this is — this is where we should be. This is about America leading the world, and all our allies have agreed with that.

And, by the way, before I made this decision, I was at the G7, as well as — met with our NATO partners, and I told them all. Every one of them knew and agreed with the decision I made to an end — end — jointly end our involvement in Afghanistan.

The first part of your question was — I can’t remember now.

Q It is: Are — would you commit to the same commitment — would you make the same commitment to bring out Afghans who assisted in the war effort?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Yes. We’re making the same commitment. There’s no one more important than bringing American citizens out. I acknowledge that. But they’re equally important, almost — is all those who — those “SIVs,” we call them, who, in fact, helped us. They were translators. They went into battle with us. They were part of the operation. As well as — we’re also trying to get out as many NGOs — non-governmental organizations — women’s organizations, et cetera. We’re doing all we can.

In the meantime, Secretary Blinken and I am going to be working with our Allies to see to it that we can bring international pressure on the Taliban to be — they’re looking to gain some legitimacy. They’re going to have to figure out how they’re going to maintain that country.


---

Q And, sir, just on that initial assessment: We’ve learned, over the last 24 hours, that there was a dissent cable from the State Department —

THE PRESIDENT: Sure.
Q — saying that the Taliban would come faster through Afghanistan. Can you say why, after that cable was issued, the U.S. didn’t do more to get Americans out?

THE PRESIDENT: We’ve got all kind of cables, all kinds of advice. If you notice, it ranged from this group saying that — they didn’t say it’d fall when it would fall — when it did fall — but saying that it would fall; to others saying it wouldn’t happen for a long time and they’d be able to sustain themselves through the end of the year.

I made the decision. The buck stops with me. I took the consensus opinion. The consensus opinion was that, in fact, it would not occur, if it occurred, until later in the year. So, it was my decision.

Access Denied

^

And, by the way, before I made this decision, I was at the G7, as well as — met with our NATO partners, and I told them all. Every one of them knew and agreed with the decision I made to an end — end — jointly end our involvement in Afghanistan.

Wondering why almost all the allies - e.g. UK, Germany, France, Italy - are now very angry what has happened, do not spare some harsh comments.

Why are they lying?

Originally Posted by DC101

Taliban has list a of people someone in US admin leaked and they go door to door and just shoot.

After looking high and low for anything to back up this statement, I can find none. Give us a link or you’ve made it up.

Yeah, he's a full on trolling twat for sure.