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© 2021 AFPBlinken tells irate Congress the U.S. was ready on Afghanistan
By Shaun TANDON WASHINGTON©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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80 Comments
bass4funk
Well, a lot more Americans will probably die under this debacle.
No, but keep trying, Lincoln, keep trying
I am not concerned with Trump because he’s not the current President that oversaw this disaster.
lincolnman
Wow, two agreements today - thank you...
But no answer to the question; what did Trump do for 11 months to get Americans and Afghans out, after surrendering in Feb 2020?
bass4funk
Ok, and now the reality of Biden and his party after this his blunder.
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/571868-without-drastic-changes-dems-are-on-track-to-lose-big-in-2022
Even as US intelligence warned of the Taliban’s advance, and even as the estimated timetable for its victory was radically foreshortened, Biden and his administration continued to spin. Another way of putting it: They spurned the experts, choosing instead to live inside a bubble of “alternative facts.”
https://nypost.com/2021/09/11/much-of-what-the-press-said-about-trump-now-applies-to-biden/
lincolnman
Trump and Pompeo surrendered with their Feb 2020 agreement that excluded our Afghan govt partners and gave in to every Taliban demand....they knew in Feb 2020 that Afghan was lost and that Americans should leave.
Yet they did nothing for 11 months! They could have started low key evacuations of Americans and our Afghan supporters then - why didn't they?
They surrendered on 29 Feb 2020 and had until Jan 19th 2021 to do something - and did nothing...
Well, they were busy downplaying COVID and spreading The Big Lie about the election so perhaps they had other things on their mind...
bass4funk
Biden didn’t have to leave the way he did, on that he and his party lost. Just wait until McCarthy is the majority leader. For Biden and Blinken, this is all just the beginning.
bass4funk
I’m assuming you were trying to say, what or it doesn’t have anything to do with the Afghan war, am I correct? Well, it doesn’t and yet, the left constantly tell us we can’t forget that dark day, but when it comes to the disastrous Afghanistan pullout, we should forget it in about a month, just absurd.
We keep getting conflicting numbers from the State Department, but the Taliban know since we gave them the biometrics and the name list.
Based on a lot of videos coming out from people left behind by this administration that bungled this there wasn’t a single one that said they wanted to stay in Afghanistan.
itsonlyrocknroll
Yep that's a schoolgirl spulling mistake, and a failure to read back. zichi, excuse my laziness.
itsonlyrocknroll
Excavations in war are always going to present challenges. Errors were made that indeed have cost lives, innocent lives, families men women children.
To learn from the horrors of this withdrawal from Kabul the relevant parties must acknowledge responsibility.
When al qaeda slaughtered, an atrocity, the atrocious act of terrorist Islamic extremism on September 11, 2001, a tragic/disastrous chain of events were set in motion that has brought, 2 wars, 20 years of Afghan occupation.
Historians/Politian's will continually, with the benefit of hindsight portion blame.
However after those aircraft hit those towers, no US President would affectively turn the other cheek.
bass4funk
Democrats are primarily focused on one day in January, why? Leaving Americans behind is no big deal for you? Well, not for most Americans.
No one did and this is why people are beside themselves that this President did what he did.
True, very true.
lincolnman
Hmmm.... I guess "OK" means the complete opposite of "yes" or "I agree" in MAGA-world....
OK...
bass4funk
Ok, so blaming Bush is helping Biden with this growing scandal in what way?
What?
Oh, that old myth again…..
PTownsend
Recall that Bush 43, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and their fellow neo-conservatives, the pols in both parties who got the US into both Iraq and Afghanistan had no post war plan for either war.
For them it was primarily about testing weaponry and developing even more weapons to be made by their campaign backers in big defense corporations,
and paying back Iraq's leader for being disrespectful to Bush 41, 43's daddy, a former CIA leader. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/saddam-sent-hit-team-kill-bush-kuwait-2321888.html
bass4funk
I didn’t I never said I did, I’m asking you based on that rant How does that relate or how does it help save Biden from his disastrous pull out, how is that going to help his plummeting poll numbers?
Hiro S Nobumasa
Today 11:54 am JST
Unconditional surrender to the Taliban?
No way!
It’s da-kine more of a friendly and peaceful turnover of power!
Hiro S Nobumasa
No way!
It’s da-kine more of a friendly and peaceful turnover of power!
lincolnman
Well, thanks for agreeing with me...
bass4funk
Ok, and this will save Biden, how?
lincolnman
He is certainly a diplomat....he should have just said what everyone knows...
Trump surrendered in Feb 20 - he and Pompeo's agreement gave the Taliban everything they wanted, and then excluded the Afghan government. What clearer signal could you give to the Taliban that they won - we've just thrown our 20 year Afghan partners under the bus. And to make it worse, Trump gave in to the Taliban demand to release 5K Taliban, ISIS, and Al Qaeda prisoners for nothing but empty promises....
Trump gave the Taliban a year to plan their takeover and 5K extra fighters to help with the effort...
bass4funk
Now, looking back, definitely questionable for sure…
Yes, how we left abysmally
Blacklabel
Yeah Blinken basically admitted these are the expected results of the Biden plan.
Wolfpack
Amazing - Blinken flat out admitted the biden administration was planning for failure. Unreal.
jeancolmar
In 2001 -- not 2021.
Kaerimashita
This was a pretty pathetic display. He seems to know little about what is actually going on.
bass4funk
You can blame GWB for going in, but you can equally and millions do blame Biden for the way he exited. Both men have their lasting legacies on entering and leaving Afghanistan.
Helix
"We inherited a deadline; we did not inherit a plan," Blinken said.
What a cop out. No one is fooled by this utter nonsense.
jeancolmar
Remember in was George W. Bush, backed the American Military-Industrial Complex, aka Pentagon Capitalism, that got the U.S. into an impossible war with Afghanistan in 2021. He and he alone bears the shame of that war.
u_s__reamer
The twenty years of violence under the American military occupation of Afghanistan was another, tired textbook case of "sowing dragon's teeth" (the more Afghans Americans killed, the greater grew the power and influence of the Taliban, recruited by the dead bodies of family and friends) and inevitably culminated in a predictable humiliating defeat and departure for US forces. While regretting the waste of blood and treasure in an unwinnable war we need to step back and reflect on the "international community's" responsibility for the terrible price of death suffering paid by ALL Afghanis for Western hubris. Now as the neo-Taliban regime is starting to resort to violence in order to assert its authority and control we can expect that the all-too-human Pashtun "students" will also be incapable of learning lessons from history and will repeat the same errors by sowing a fresh crop of "dragon's teeth". May Allah have mercy on them all, for they know not what they do!
bass4funk
In the manner in which it was executed, everyone thinks so, except the people in the WH that are desperately trying to spin a positive narrative on this, which is failing abysmally.
Yes
Joe Duncan
As a veteran who was stationed in Yokosuka Japan in early 90's and a gulf war vet. This administration which is just a continuation of the Obama administration. Knows very well about the Taliban threat and also knows the Trump administration had conditions that had to be met before US left. Biden administration knows this too but lied to make political points. Everyone I know wanted the US out of Afghanistan years ago. In fact should have left when Osama bin laden was removed. But Biden ignored how to exit. He knew full well that Bagram airbase should have been the last placed closed before US left. In fact he should have waited until October during winter months when it is known for not being the fighting season. This would have given the Afghan government time to prepare for war with Taliban during spring and summer months when the US was gone. Just continuation of a failed Biden administration like the Obama administration was. USN
Wakarimasen
And if you want brain rot on this take a look at Hannity. He is amusing at his repeating of "behind enemy lines" and more and more lapel pins. Although the footage of Blinken is stunning. Poor guy is so out of his depth.
plasticmonkey
But now you think complete withdrawal was a mistake. Because Biden and Blinken botched and bungled badly.
Danielsan
Like Vietnam, a war fought with one hand tied behind the back.
Given enough tanks, bombs, napalm, gas, and nukes, we could have left Afghanistan and its bordering fanatical neighbors nothing but scorched, smoking earth and rubble.
But the gutless namby pamby pukes in charge lack the guts to go all out and do what it takes to win!
FizzBit
Some folks here seem to have forgotten one basic simple fact. It was a “war on terrorism” not a war against the country of Afghanistan, or the Taliban. Once Al-qaeda was diminished and bin-laden was gone, we should have left. Another basic fact that is commonly forgotten is the Taliban would have handed up OBL if Bush had shown them proof. There was no solid proof yet. So there should have been no mission in Afghanistan. But who needs proof when the corporate MSM can whip up the population for a war with no enemy. 20 special-ops teams in Afghanistan could have probably got the job done in less than a year. But then they would have had no justification for going into Iraq, which was the primary goal. Afghanistan was just a staging operation for Iraq.
nishikat
Hey Trump people! Trump get out of Afghanistan would have succeeded as well as the Trump wall or Trump care. Biden did the best he could and with all the wrinkles he didn't blame Hillary like Trump would have.
ulysses
I too wonder about that, but then you realize the GOP has had a lifetime of practice!!!
plasticmonkey
More hyperbole.
This will blow over just like Benghaaaaaaaaazi (!!!) eventually did.
Wakarimasen
But i guess once the Afghan government is inclusive and open to the rest of the world things will all be alright.
Wakarimasen
What a farce. How these people can lie with straight faces is awful.
bass4funk
Before that as well.
Still not a fan, but what he said was true, can’t deny the facts, regardless of how you personally feel about a person. McCain was right.
bass4funk
That’s not what a lot of vets are saying. The WH spin is just not working on the public.
https://insidesources.com/veterans-angry-as-biden-abandons-afghan-allies/
https://m.republicworld.com/world-news/us-news/you-leave-americans-behind-biden-heckled-by-angry-public-over-afghanistan-pullout-in-nj.html
plasticmonkey
You were calling for a complete withdrawal of troops after you joined Team Trump. Until now.
You weren't a big fan of John McCain either. Until now.
1glenn
Thousands of lives, and trillions of dollars later, the war is finally over. Where is the outrage over how we got into the idiotic war?
The war was not ended gracefully, but at least an attempt was made to evacuate allies, unlike the way the Kurds were abandoned by the last president. Where is the outrage over how the last president abandoned our allies?
No one wants a war in Asia, but now the US and the countries of Asia can focus on trying to preserve their independence from China. Xi is probably not happy that the US finally ended its unwinnable war in Afghanistan.
Peter Neil
Nonsense. He extended the timeline and everyone on the ground knew in April that August 31st was the absolute concrete deadline and they better get their butts out before then.
Trump was giddy at the Taliban taking over Afghanistan.
And the Taliban had nothing to do with 9/11, So let's stop that nonsense right now.
It's amazing that there are now about 850 million Americans who say they were in NY when the WTC + 1 went down... (it's irony, down't take it literally).
bass4funk
John McCain on Blinken confirmation hearings 2014:
“Madam President, I rise to discuss my opposition to the pending vote concerning Mr. Anthony ‘Tony’ Blinken, who is not only unqualified, but, in fact, in my view, one of the worst selections of a very bad lot that this president has chosen,” McCain began.
“I hope that many of my colleagues will understand that not often do I come to the floor to oppose a nomination of the president of the United States because I believe that elections have consequences,” he continued.
“In this case, this individual has actually been dangerous to America and to the young men and women who are fighting and serving it,” he said.
McCain also noted Blinken’s role in “conceptualizing and furthering” a failed foreign policy.
“U.S. foreign policy is in shambles,” he said. “It’s at best a strategic, and at worst, anti-strategic.”
Quoting Blinken himself, McCain then described his concerns that the then-Obama official would push for a complete withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, leading to a “replay” of war-scarred Iraq:
He was absolutely right now looking back.
mmwkdw
Trump was right.. he saw that it was pointless remaining in the Country.. Naturally a very business minded approach.
Biden was totally wrong - he simply just exited immediately, without thinking about the consequences.
I care not, for neither side... since I am not am American and, just as I have here in Japan, have no Democratic rights to vote.
That said, in my Apolitical stance, I do not believe that the Biden Administration has any foresight to be worthy of being in Power. Apart from the Afghanistan situation, the enforced inoculations upon the populace raises questions... questions upon responsibility, accountability. and governance. All of which ... well.... I see no leadership there.
Blacklabel
a Democratic congressman actually said that considering they didnt inherit a plan, things went pretty well.
So two questions: Why does Biden expect to inherit everything, even after 9 months after being on the job, and, if he had inherited a plan, would he have used it?
nope. so the whole thing is "moot". you are the president, you need to make a plan. your own plan, not someone else's. Blinken confirmed this disaster was the Team Biden plan.
FizzBit
There was nothing knee-jerk about it. The US could not just attack a Iraq first, which was the primary goal. It had to start somewhere else first giving them time to fabricate the evidence then let their corporate MSM sell the fabrication.
Clayton K. Char
Liar liar pants on fire! Blinken graduated from the school of repeat a lie often enough and people will start to believe that it’s true, even the person telling the lie.
bass4funk
As I said, it’s getting harder and harder for this people to shelter this President.
FizzBit
So 20 years ago it was G. Bush and his war on Terror and the corporate MSM sold it with glee. So, “what is J. Biden and the corporate MSM selling(and censoring) today?” should be the topic today. And NOT the “war on terror” which so many posters don’t seem to understand very well anyway.
theFu
I understand a little what Blinken is doing. Sometimes you just have to take it. Don't take any of it personally. That's the role of the top guy. I've had to sit in client meetings and be yelled at. Japanese understand this. Bow a little farther.
Sometimes, there's nothing to be done except to let others say what they are going to say, since Congress isn't actually interested in doing it better. Congress isn't interested in understanding anything. They want to give a 10 minute question, leaving 5 seconds for an answer.
They just want to appear frustrated and blame the other party.
It is all about creating a sound-bite for their re-election campaign advertising. Nothing more.
Blacklabel
well, Blinken ruined the whole liberal story.
liberals- It was Trumps plan, thats why the withdrawal failed!
Blinken testimony today- oops! so it was the Biden plan all along.
Strangerland
The US made a knee-jerk reaction after 9-11, that led to a 20 year boondoggle. Now when they're having to face the repercussions of that knee-jerk reaction, they try to blame it all one one person, dust their hands, and walk away as if all his fault and only his fault. As if their whole nation hadn't done the most American thing ever, and went to war when someone dared do to them what they had been doing to the rest of the world for decades.
Americans - fight or blame, but never accept responsibility.
bass4funk
That is correct. Look, literally every Special Ops and people that are now as we speak that are on the ground independently trying to get people out as well as the people left behind that are speaking are beside themselves at how Bad Biden, Blinken executed and bundled this mission. The late John McCain never liked or trusted Blinken, thought the man was a disaster to confirm to any position. The Dems can’t change what people saw. And no matter how the WH tries to twist the narrative, they can’t change what we and the world watch unfold and looking although the Republicans really can’t do anything now, when they retake the House, they can do anything and the Dems this, this is another reason why they’re trying pass as many bills through the Senate at blinding speed because they know they’re on the clock.
englisc aspyrgend
While the mission was compromised from the beginning and was never achievable and withdrawal was probably inevitable, the timing and the botched and hurried nature was entirely avoidable and consequent on an insufficiently thought through, hurried political decision. For that Biden will bear the historic blame and the psychological impact both on the US public confidence and the impression of weakness that will be exploited by all the enemies of liberal democracy.
If the USA’s allies covertly if not overtly begin in their heart of heats to harbour doubts as to the USA’s commitments and reliability as a result of this then we will all live in a much less safe world.
GdTokyo
True, that.
Peter Neil
$2.2 trillion spent and about 2,700 US troops killed over 20 years. Defense contractors, as usual, were the biggest winners. Congress loves doling out money to defense contractors in their states.
Now, they'll say that they have to re-arm. Mo money.
Almost 6,000 total Americans killed in 9/11 and Afghanistan over 20 years.
660,000 Americans killed by a virus this year, but let's talk about Afghanistan?
ulysses
I guess he forgot he had a voice and a spine in 2020
Well, 2020 does seem a lifetime away, but that’s exactly what the former president did, surrender to the taliban.
quercetum
It’s one thing to just drop bombs but another to commit boots on the ground.
PTownsend
And Trump once again appealed to his neo-Confederate white nationalist base claiming Robert E. Lee would have won in Afghanistan
Mike Dashler
You all make excuses for Biden as if he had no idea we were at war in Afghanistan before he became President; as if he had never received an intelligence brief, or had no pre-existing knowledge of the situation. I get it that he had only been President for eight months before this happened, but if memory serves me correctly, he was a sitting U.S. Senator when the war began and was the VPOTUS for eight years of wartime. He had plenty of time to back out of the timeline he inherited from Trump. Blaming everything on Trump isn't going to solve Biden's problems, isn't going to get America behind him, and definitely isn't going to help any of the Americans we left behind.
Laguna
Oh, please. If, after 20 years, the Kabul regime could crumble so quickly, that was no fault of Biden - that was the fault of the mission to begin with.
Skeptical
“It was the pace of it that surprised us and I don’t think we realised quite what the Taliban were up to,” he admitted. “They weren’t really fighting for the cities they eventually captured, they were negotiating for them, and I think you’ll find a lot of money changed hands as they managed to buy off those who might have fought them.”
UK's Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter to the BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/taliban-afghanistan-nick-carter-army-b1914545.html