As one commentator wrote, Afghanistan was never really a nation. The British drew some arbitrary lines that encompassed some nomadic tribes. Here's one professional warrior's opinion: https://www.stonekettle.com/2021/08/bitter-pill.html
We can't time-machine our way back, but I do want to talk about what we should demand, as voters, citizens, and residents of the United States, if we are to go to war that isn't in response to no-argument-needed-to-explain-why-it's-an attack.
I think that the question points of Just War Theory are a good starting point, though I dislike nesting them into a determination of "when a war is just." They are basic sanity criteria and basic not-for-destruction's-sake criteria. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_war_theory
It’s hard to get my mind around the many tragedies this represents and the ones that will inevitably come. At this point it’s looks like it’s going to be a numbers game for the US and allied countries to measure the degree to which we rescue who we can. According to the Pentagon, there’s about 100,000 people who are at greatest risk, including several thousand Americans (I’m not discounting the rest of the 38 million who have little or no chance of leaving. That will be for the world to bear). As of this morning the Kabul airport is secure but the path to the airport is not, whether your coming from across the city or across the country. I can’t believe I’m writing this but could it be that Trump would publicly address the Taliban and ask that they guarantee safe passage for those wanting to get out? It was his agreement with the Taliban, at the exclusion of the Afghani government, that set the table for this debacle. I know the answer. We all know the answer.
I never thought we should have been in Afghanistan. Bush, Obama and Biden all share responsibility in different ways but it’s only Trump who embraces chaos and death as vindication.
And Sharon, thanks for the link to Jim Wright’s article. He put it better than I ever could.
Not being an expert, myself, it seems we should have evacuated the translators and refugee seekers before removing so many troops. Now we bring back more troops to try to contain the chaos?
It's heartbreaking to watch, especially knowing an Afghani family that escaped less than a year ago. I see their faces among the masses trying to get out.
The reporter’s voice cracking got to me, even more than the people swarming the planes. I know how that sounds, but we each see the world from our own perch. Reporters are trained to stay steady and when one breaks, it gets my attention. We are like the antithesis of the canary in the coal mine. If WE are panicked, run.
I have the utmost respect for the journalists there to share what's going on first hand. Especially women like (our own) Susannah George and Clarissa Ward. Biden's oversimplification and skipping over important aspects, AND not modifying Trump's awful agreement are upsetting. But politics are one thing while full reality is often too complex for public consumption.
I found this helpful in better understanding how things evolved so quickly. We really shouldn't have been surprised by the speed of things.
As one commentator wrote, Afghanistan was never really a nation. The British drew some arbitrary lines that encompassed some nomadic tribes. Here's one professional warrior's opinion: https://www.stonekettle.com/2021/08/bitter-pill.html
Da-yum. That is an incredible piece of writing. I just shared it on social media, instead of my own. Thank you.
We can't time-machine our way back, but I do want to talk about what we should demand, as voters, citizens, and residents of the United States, if we are to go to war that isn't in response to no-argument-needed-to-explain-why-it's-an attack.
I think that the question points of Just War Theory are a good starting point, though I dislike nesting them into a determination of "when a war is just." They are basic sanity criteria and basic not-for-destruction's-sake criteria. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_war_theory
I agree with this, every word of it.
It’s hard to get my mind around the many tragedies this represents and the ones that will inevitably come. At this point it’s looks like it’s going to be a numbers game for the US and allied countries to measure the degree to which we rescue who we can. According to the Pentagon, there’s about 100,000 people who are at greatest risk, including several thousand Americans (I’m not discounting the rest of the 38 million who have little or no chance of leaving. That will be for the world to bear). As of this morning the Kabul airport is secure but the path to the airport is not, whether your coming from across the city or across the country. I can’t believe I’m writing this but could it be that Trump would publicly address the Taliban and ask that they guarantee safe passage for those wanting to get out? It was his agreement with the Taliban, at the exclusion of the Afghani government, that set the table for this debacle. I know the answer. We all know the answer.
I never thought we should have been in Afghanistan. Bush, Obama and Biden all share responsibility in different ways but it’s only Trump who embraces chaos and death as vindication.
And Sharon, thanks for the link to Jim Wright’s article. He put it better than I ever could.
Well said.
Not being an expert, myself, it seems we should have evacuated the translators and refugee seekers before removing so many troops. Now we bring back more troops to try to contain the chaos?
It's heartbreaking to watch, especially knowing an Afghani family that escaped less than a year ago. I see their faces among the masses trying to get out.
The reporter’s voice cracking got to me, even more than the people swarming the planes. I know how that sounds, but we each see the world from our own perch. Reporters are trained to stay steady and when one breaks, it gets my attention. We are like the antithesis of the canary in the coal mine. If WE are panicked, run.
I have the utmost respect for the journalists there to share what's going on first hand. Especially women like (our own) Susannah George and Clarissa Ward. Biden's oversimplification and skipping over important aspects, AND not modifying Trump's awful agreement are upsetting. But politics are one thing while full reality is often too complex for public consumption.
I found this helpful in better understanding how things evolved so quickly. We really shouldn't have been surprised by the speed of things.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/15/afghanistan-military-collapse-taliban/
Money buys war victories. And who again funded the Taliban? They are the real winners.
This is an excellent link, and thank you.
And this podcast is good, too. The first 10+ mins interviews Susannah George in Kabul, speaking of reporter's voices cracking. https://www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/post-reports/a-disastrous-american-exit/
Thank for this.