Afghanistan: Former advisor to Mike Pence warned in 2020 that Trump was setting up another 'Benghazi

[shotten99]

[link:https://us.yahoo.com/news/afghanistan-former-adviser-mike-pence-014552156.html|


"Perhaps by design, perhaps by incompetence, perhaps out of sheer spite or arrogance, Trump has created the circumstances for another Bay of Pigs, Black Hawk Down, or Benghazi," James Golby, who served as a special advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, wrote in a November article for The Atlantic. Those were all situations, he wrote, "where the United States inserted itself into overseas conflicts enough to draw lethal opposition but without sufficient strength to protect its people."

[patphil]

1. We never seem to learn.

We should have left Afghanistan during W's presidency, especially after he said he was no longer interested in finding Osama Bin Laden.
But, he was too busy pursuing a phony war in Iraq to get us out. Besides, it provided cover for his continued intrusion into the region.
Everything we've done there has been for naught.
We've destabilized Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and nearly dragged Iran into our mess, while strengthening the Fundamentalists across the region.
We also burned up our good will with the Kurds.
So much of the death and destruction that happened in the region is because we believe we have the right to force nations to submit to our will.
The rise of Isis is a direct result of our meddling in the region.

Biden's decision to adhere to the agreement TFG made with the Taliban is the correct one. The fact that we are taking casualties as we leave is saddening, but not surprising.

Best to get out now, and let the Taliban duke it out with Isis-K.
Staying is a no win situation.

[zuul]

2. Great post. I agree 100% with every statement you made.

[NH Ethylene]

3. +1

[Pinback]

4. Yes. Rip off the Band-Aid.

Although Afghanistan isn't literally the Graveyard of Empires (Wikipedia link) on its own, it sure has proven to be a costly mess to invade for many an empire -- most recently, Great Britain, the U.S.S.R., and the U.S.A.

Not to mention the indefensible morality, as you point out, of trying to mold nations and regions into our image (or, more accurately, trying to make them our client states).

[Stardust]

7. 💯‼️ Nt

[onetexan]

8. Yep, theres no nonviolent end so casualties are the collateral we pay

[Grins]

5. By "by design, incompetence, spite, sheer arrogance"

Why not all four?

Incompetence? Check.
Sheer spite? The definition of his entire life.
Sheer arrogance? Bwahahahaha!
Design? Planting people and policy in place to affect the incoming administration has been public information for months.

[Escurumbele]

6. All four, no doubt.