The Morning Rant

NO WAY OUT
Back in the 90s, I thought our going into the Middle East was a good thing. I thought we could set up a functional democracy and use it as a countervailing force against the regional radical Islamic jihadism. I was firm on this point. I defended it bigly.

Long about 2007 or 2008, I started having doubts. The Afghan war was starting to resemble the quagmire of Vietnam. I knew soldiers who served, and they returned, broken men. One young man, during his tour, was invited to a dinner at the home of a local village chief, and was ambushed (the chief was in on it). He somehow got out alive, but his men did not. I'm not sure how he managed his escape, and I didn't want to ask.

That's when I first start to ask, why are we still there? And what's the endgame?

My misgivings grew during the Obama years, and in the Age of Trump, I had flipped completely and decided the best thing to do was to bring everyone home as soon as possible with minimal losses.

I thought the best way to describe Afghanistan is that it's just a bum.

Through my church, I've done a little work trying to reclaim homeless bums and help them make better choices, but it never works. At least, *I* was never successful. The bums were always helpful and friendly while you were giving them stuff, but as soon as you required them to step it up, look for work, stop smoking weed, etc., bang, you never saw them again.

The bums wanted to be bums because they liked being bums. It's a low responsibility lifestyle and you can survive well enough on the charity of strangers.

And you can't fight that. Which is why I refuse to call them 'the homeless', as if they were the victims of some natural catastrophe that destroyed their homes. No, the bums aren't homeless because they have no homes. They're homeless because they're bums. End of story.

In order for a bum not to be a bum, to raise himself out of bummitude, he's going to have to make heroic efforts. Life is going to be very difficult before it gets better, and the long-term payoff is something few bums aew willing to sacrifice any short-term gratification to work for. Bum thinking and bum habits ingrain themselves deep into the soul and it's almost impossible to uproot them.

So, for the Afghan people who do not want to be ruled by the Taliban, life is going to be very tough. They're not going to be able to simply go about their daily business. They're going to have to learn how to fight, and, sadly, how to take losses. The question they need to answer for themselves is , are they willing to die fighting in order to secure their villages and way of life against a determined horde of psychotic jihadis?

And I think it likely that most of the Afghanis have decided that no, it's not worth it. They would rather live under the Taliban as best as they can and not fight them. It may not be what they prefer, but it's better than having to train and fight and maybe take a bullet. Oh, and add the corrupt, kleptocratic Afghan national government and that's enough to take the wind out of anybody's sails. No one wants to die defending that.

So, we're in a lose-lose situation and the bungling Biden administration has managed to select the worst out of a selection of bad options.

Can't Say That I'm Liking This Reboot Very Much:

The After-Action Debrief For The Afghanistan Pull-Out Is Going To Be Lit:

This One Is Not Going To Age Well:

I'll Drink To That!

Compare & Contrast:

Stupid Tweet Of The Week Winner:

This one is truly remarkable. *Every* single thing he says in this one tweet about guns is wrong. Dumbness Level = 980 millikohns.

Why We Lost:

Who Dis:

Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7

For the 'Ettes:

Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5

Friday Who Dis: German-born actress Elga Andersen starred with Steve McQueen in the 1971 documentary-style action movie Le Mans (1971). McQueen seemingly has been in more classic and/or iconic films than you can shake a stick at.

Today's Edition Of The Morning Rant Is Brought To You By Chips & Salsa:

(Click for bigger salsa)

Salsa recipe available here.

Posted by: OregonMuse at 11:17 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Foist?

Posted by: Tami at August 16, 2021 10:16 AM (cF8AT)

2 Not sure about either of the mystery guests. I suspect she is an English actress if she was stand-in for Glynis Johns.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at August 16, 2021 10:17 AM (/XOcP)

3 Her eyes are amazing!!!

Posted by: Diogenes at August 16, 2021 10:18 AM (axyOa)

4 Top ten!

Posted by: Engineer at August 16, 2021 10:18 AM (ExIA1)

5 let's do the time warp.

and party like it's 1975 again...

and who dis is lovely

Posted by: SturmToddler (8D42x) at August 16, 2021 10:18 AM (8D42x)

6 Quicker than the Taliban took over Kabul!

Posted by: Hiden Biden at August 16, 2021 10:19 AM (ExIA1)

7 A movie about the fall of Afghanistan was considered but they couldn't to figure out how to stretch it to 80 minutes run time.

Posted by: Dirks Strewn DA 1977 at August 16, 2021 10:19 AM (LBiyC)

8 "Clock question" means more people calling Biden photo a fake.

https://tinyurl.com/5cmyujmp

Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 16, 2021 10:19 AM (mZzAJ)

9 Where is joe biden? He must be in really bad shape because they are releasing photo shopped pictures of him in the situation room.

He "might" address the situaiton in Afghanistan in the next few days according to one aide.

Posted by: Mister Scott (formerly GWS) at August 16, 2021 10:19 AM (JUOKG)

10 I don't know Who Dis? but the woman looks Euro

Posted by: kallisto at August 16, 2021 10:19 AM (DJFLF)

11 Who Dis: The woman of a thousand different looks (well, at least six) and who knows.

Posted by: Curly Shuffle at August 16, 2021 10:20 AM (TNyrE)

12 One young man, during his tour, was invited to a dinner at the home of a local village chief, and was ambushed (the chief was in on it).

When that started our policy should have changed to killing everyone. That it did not is why today is happening.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 16, 2021 10:20 AM (T7iTv)

13 What color ribbon will Gen. Milley give himself for this strategic triumph?

Do you think he will reward himself now, or wait until our military hardware is used against civilians in the US?

Posted by: Tom Tuttle from Tacoma at August 16, 2021 10:21 AM (L9P9s)

14 Any chance we can get the Taliban to come to washington dc?

I hear they are polite, have ice cream and can entertain us with a few beheadings and plane jumping displays.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at August 16, 2021 10:21 AM (R/m4+)

15 Ah. I read the content.

Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at August 16, 2021 10:21 AM (xopIz)

16 The Bulwark, a First Class Ship of the Whine.

Posted by: Curly Shuffle at August 16, 2021 10:21 AM (TNyrE)

17 Now Japan, Germany and Italy? A lot of them were homeless after the war. But they didn't want to be bums.

Posted by: NR Pax at August 16, 2021 10:21 AM (yoZoB)

18 I really do wonder if anyone at all takes The Bulwark seriously.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:21 AM (LvTSG)

19 My biggest surprise right now is how much I agree with Glenn Greenwald.

If you told me 15 years ago that would be the case, I would have called you insane.

And I know he hasn't changed his positions.

Posted by: Dave in Fla (5p7BC) at August 16, 2021 10:22 AM (5p7BC)

20 People in the Bible didn't have cell phones either, and yet that jackass is posting on twitter.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe at August 16, 2021 10:22 AM (UuD2k)

21 Who knew that "Weekend at Bernie's" was a documentary?

Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at August 16, 2021 10:22 AM (xopIz)

22 Where is joe biden? He must be in really bad shape because they are releasing photo shopped pictures of him in the situation room.

He "might" address the situaiton in Afghanistan in the next few days according to one aide.
Posted by: Mister Scott (formerly GWS) at August 16, 2021 10:19 AM (JUOKG)

3:45 today according to reports. If the drugs kick in in time

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 16, 2021 10:22 AM (GPwVZ)

23 >18 I really do wonder if anyone at all takes The Bulwark seriously.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:21 AM (LvTSG)

George Soros seriously writes them checks.

Posted by: Muad'dib - Shhhhh Baby, We're in New South Wales at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (sjdRT)

24 The Miklosian Survival Strategy-

Books, beans, the Bible and booze

Posted by: Miklos, a ben Franklin Pessimist at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (QzkSJ)

25 You know what else has a burst mode?

Posted by: f'd at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (Tnijr)

26 You can file everything the Cuckwark has ever done under "won't age well." They're batting 1.000 on it.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (3p5uk)

27 First one can pass for Michael Jackson.

Second one?

No idea

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice. Asymptomatic raycist at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (3D/fK)

28 "He "might" address the situaiton in Afghanistan in the next few days according to one aide."

He'll just blame Trump.

Posted by: Cosda at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (RDxa6)

29 Never fear, citizens, Joe Xi-den is going to emerge from his basement at 3:45pm Eastern to tell us how he had no idea the Afghanistan fiasco was going to happen and it's all Drumpf's fault anyway.

https://tinyurl.com/xyndk7ah

Posted by: Thrawn at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (wQb4c)

30 Who Dis? man is Dash Riprock.

And the guy in Pic 3 is not the same as the feature pic. Pic 3 comes from another era in time

Posted by: kallisto at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (DJFLF)

31 Pic #3 of the male Who Dis is Chris Pratt. What do I win?

Posted by: Jordan61, I am the 10% at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (Ez6QX)

32 23 >18 I really do wonder if anyone at all takes The Bulwark seriously.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:21 AM (LvTSG)

George Soros seriously writes them checks.
Posted by: Muad'dib - Shhhhh Baby, We're in New South Wales at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (sjdRT)

==========

I'll write nonsense on repeat for weeks and months on end if I get paid for it. Hell, I do that for free here.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:24 AM (LvTSG)

33 >Books, beans, the Bible and booze

Posted by: Miklos, a ben Franklin Pessimist at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (QzkSJ)

So, just the basics then......

Posted by: Muad'dib - Shhhhh Baby, We're in New South Wales at August 16, 2021 10:24 AM (sjdRT)

34 That's a different woman in each picture.

Also, for the "male" I don't think he likes the females for the sex.

Posted by: Archer at August 16, 2021 10:24 AM (gmo/4)

35 Gotta repost this little gem from Twatter this morning:

"Afghanistan finally liberated from a regime that imposes mandatory face coverings, destroys statues, and promotes the genital mutilation of children."

Posted by: Sharkman at August 16, 2021 10:24 AM (QkHuA)

36 Set Glocks to "STUN"

Posted by: Capt. Kirk at August 16, 2021 10:24 AM (63Dwl)

37 19 My biggest surprise right now is how much I agree with Glenn Greenwald.

If you told me 15 years ago that would be the case, I would have called you insane.

And I know he hasn't changed his positions.
Posted by: Dave in Fla (5p7BC) at August 16, 2021 10:22 AM (5p7BC)

I'm old enough to remember when we used to make fun of Glenn Greenwald on this blog.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at August 16, 2021 10:24 AM (YXnKW)

38 29 Never fear, citizens, Joe Xi-den is going to emerge from his basement at 3:45pm Eastern to tell us how he had no idea the Afghanistan fiasco was going to happen and it's all Drumpf's fault anyway.

https://tinyurl.com/xyndk7ah
Posted by: Thrawn at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (wQb4c)

============

"We were just following Trump's orders!"

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:24 AM (LvTSG)

39 OM, bum is a great word for fAfghanistan My adult daughter asked me how they could collapse so easily. Bums, all of them.

Posted by: clutch at August 16, 2021 10:25 AM (9UmRs)

40 Afghanistan is a failure of leadership. Period, full stop. This went on across administrations but there are a lot of consistencies in places like DoS, CIA and yes, top levels of DoD. Congress who has the role of oversight, but never exercises it, also owns a big chunk of this. Anyone remember a hearing where people in Congress actually showed they gave a shit? Me either.

By the way, where were all these people now covering their asses and saying this war was "winnable"? The people who wrote our ROE's? How about those who told us for YEARS we could train these people to fight themselves? Oh wait, here my favorite. DoS telling us they were a sustainable democracy. It would be funny of it wasn't so sad.

Posted by: Marcus T at August 16, 2021 10:25 AM (sOXXq)

41 >I'll write nonsense on repeat for weeks and months on end if I get paid for it. Hell, I do that for free here.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:24 AM (LvTSG)

Naw. Most of what you write isn't nonsense.

Posted by: Muad'dib - Shhhhh Baby, We're in New South Wales at August 16, 2021 10:25 AM (sjdRT)

42 Marcia Gaye Harden?

Posted by: BignJames at August 16, 2021 10:25 AM (AwYPR)

43 Today's Edition Of The Morning Rant Is Brought To You By Chips & Salsa:

You know you live in Texas when your choice of Mexican restaurants is heavily influenced by their chips and salsa.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (OCTRt)

44 23 Muad'dib,
Pierre Omidyar (one of Ebay founders) picks up the check. Omidyar is one of the big money movers for Obama's capitulation to Iran and the revival of the JCPOA agreement under the Biden junta.

He is the one paying for Bulwark bullshit among other 'rightie' media properties.

Posted by: whig at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (pO7gM)

45 David used 5 smooth stones to fell Goliath. Imagine what he could have done with a Smith and Wesson.

Posted by: grammie winger at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (45fpk)

46 41 Naw. Most of what you write isn't nonsense.
Posted by: Muad'dib - Shhhhh Baby, We're in New South Wales at August 16, 2021 10:25 AM (sjdRT)

===========

*considers mentioning Prometheus*

*thinks better of mentioning Prometheus and does not mention Prometheus*

*does own part to keep this thread Prometheus free*

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (LvTSG)

47 "Gotta repost this little gem from Twatter this morning:

"Afghanistan finally liberated from a regime that imposes mandatory face coverings, destroys statues, and promotes the genital mutilation of children.""

That's good....

That's REAL good!!!!

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice. Asymptomatic raycist at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (3D/fK)

48 People in Biblical times were regularly stabbed to death, burned, stoned, beheaded, hacked, flayed, trampled, roasted, and one or two I've heard, even were crucified. What's that idiot's point?

Posted by: LASue at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (Ed8Zd)

49 Afghanistan is a failure of leadership. Period, full stop....

Posted by: Marcus T at August 16, 2021 10:25 AM (sOXXq)

I don't think you know what "full stop" means.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (UuD2k)

50 Yep, you can't cure a bum unless the bum wants to be cured.

Posted by: Archer at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (gmo/4)

51 We could have wiped out the Taliban in 6 months if we wanted to. But when you tie one hand of every soldier on the ground in order to appease leftist TV networks, it's impossible to do that.

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (GQ5VU)

52 My biggest surprise right now is how much I agree with Glenn Greenwald.

If you told me 15 years ago that would be the case, I would have called you insane.

And I know he hasn't changed his positions.
Posted by: Dave in Fla (5p7BC) at August 16, 2021 10:22 AM (5p7BC)

In your defense he seems to be less of a snarky prick to "our side".

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (y7DUB)

53 George Soros seriously writes them checks.
Posted by: Muad'dib

Oddly enough, now that I understand more, I was a a table with G. Soros one evening in Budapest.

Blackjack.

That was before I knew how truly evil he is and was, he was setting up Central European University. We thought he was good, we were wrong.

Posted by: Miklos at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (QzkSJ)

54 SuperBrain Kinzinger Neocons:

You guys should have listened to us. You can't have a disastrous ending to a war if you just never end the war!

Posted by: Match Checksout at August 16, 2021 10:27 AM (dYe5S)

55 And I know he hasn't changed his positions.

Posted by: Dave in Fla (5p7BC) at August 16, 2021 10:22 AM (5p7BC)

Same. He and Taibibi (? The guy from Rolling Stone magazine) are true moderates who have stuck by their principles, and that makes them essentially on our side at this point.

Have I mentioned how much this timeline annoys me?

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at August 16, 2021 10:27 AM (1lKRm)

56 btw, China's responding to this exactly how you'd expect.

https://tinyurl.com/tpt2hpn7

I'm not going to bet on when the Chi-Coms cross the Strait b/c my last estimation of when Kabul will fall (4 weeks) was way fuckin' off. Mostly because I assumed the Afghan military would actually *fight* and not just give those nice shiny US arms to the Taliban once they showed up.

Posted by: Thrawn at August 16, 2021 10:27 AM (wQb4c)

57 Is that Michael Jackson? Hi everyone.

Posted by: IC at August 16, 2021 10:27 AM (hV9ir)

58 People in the Bible didn't have cell phones either, and yet that jackass is posting on twitter.
Posted by: sniffybigtoe

If Christ had a CHL, he'd have carried the 1873 SAA Colt.

"Blessed are the Peacemakers"

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2021 10:28 AM (OCTRt)

59 Today's Edition Of The Morning Rant Is Brought To You By Chips & Salsa:

-
Chips & Salsa? I was thinking our dish today is Our Goose Is Cooked.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at August 16, 2021 10:28 AM (d9FiS)

60 So far Biden has achieved '75 Saigon with an option on '79 Tehran

Posted by: SMOD at August 16, 2021 10:28 AM (RHGPo)

61 It would be funny of it wasn't so sad.
Posted by: Marcus T at August 16, 2021 10:25 AM (sOXXq)
***

Indeed.
The Brit Defense Secretary has admitted that they will likely have to leave people behind.

Makes ya wonder what long term affects this will have on international relations and military operations?

Posted by: Diogenes at August 16, 2021 10:28 AM (axyOa)

62 Jordan61 is correct.

That third picture is not the same who dis as the others but Chris Pratt.

Posted by: Nicholas Kronos at August 16, 2021 10:28 AM (J8mMZ)

63 I can't tell you how many stories I've heard where meetings with tribal chiefs and elders were a setup. In some cases it got to the point they were telling PAO's we didn't want to risk it.

Posted by: Marcus T at August 16, 2021 10:28 AM (sOXXq)

64 You know what else has a burst mode?

Joe Biden's eyeball?

Posted by: t-bird at August 16, 2021 10:28 AM (/2aWP)

65 >*considers mentioning Prometheus*

*thinks better of mentioning Prometheus and does not mention Prometheus*

*does own part to keep this thread Prometheus free*

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (LvTSG)

I can't help you if'n you are gonna take a gift of partial truth and emphasize the wrong things.

Posted by: Muad'dib - Shhhhh Baby, We're in New South Wales at August 16, 2021 10:28 AM (sjdRT)

66 I'd like to give that guy a fully loaded Glock...in a bullet proof room...by himself.

Posted by: BignJames at August 16, 2021 10:29 AM (AwYPR)

67 Gianna Canale and some blondie guy

Posted by: CN at August 16, 2021 10:29 AM (ONvIw)

68 Comeback California with Special Guest Larry Elder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hT7EsU0e68

Posted by: SMH - Dissidentin' in the USSA at August 16, 2021 10:29 AM (uH/JQ)

69 Prediction: DASA(DE&C), DDTC, and DSCA are going to get a flood of requests for approval of REL AFG on US technical manuals and field maintenance contract support. The requests will be written in very, very, VERY poor English. In blood.

Posted by: ZOD at August 16, 2021 10:29 AM (xK9An)

70 >44 23 Muad'dib,
Pierre Omidyar (one of Ebay founders) picks up the check. Omidyar is one of the big money movers for Obama's capitulation to Iran and the revival of the JCPOA agreement under the Biden junta.

He is the one paying for Bulwark bullshit among other 'rightie' media properties.

Posted by: whig at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (pO7gM)

Thanks for the correction. Really. Pierre has a much funnier and blog-contributing name than George.

Posted by: Muad'dib - Shhhhh Baby, We're in New South Wales at August 16, 2021 10:30 AM (sjdRT)

71 "Indeed.
The Brit Defense Secretary has admitted that they will likely have to leave people behind.

Makes ya wonder what long term affects this will have on international relations and military operations?
Posted by: Diogenes at August 16, 2021 10:28 AM (axyOa)"

No offense to my UK brothers who served, but fuck their government too. They gave up on AFG a long time ago and exited in 2014. They really haven't given a shit since then.

Posted by: Marcus T at August 16, 2021 10:30 AM (sOXXq)

72 Joan Collins and Steve McQueen?

Posted by: Scott_T at August 16, 2021 10:30 AM (2waQ7)

73 The who dis guy looks familiar, then I realized he just looks like a mash up of James Van Der Beek and Mark-Paul Gosselaar.

Posted by: lowandslow at August 16, 2021 10:30 AM (qH6FZ)

74 You can't give people democracy, or a freer government or whatever... they gotta bleed for it. They gotta die for it... Most of the rest of the world won't do it... which is why most of the rest of the world ain't free.

Posted by: Inventive at August 16, 2021 10:30 AM (AV9yQ)

75 What's a Saigon and why do you olds keep talking about 1975? I wasn't born in 1975 so it like totally doesn't matter what happened then.

- Millenial voters

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 10:30 AM (GQ5VU)

76 The pastor needs an attachment for his AR that holds the deadly Jaw Bone of an Ass.

Posted by: Rex B at August 16, 2021 10:30 AM (Od24J)

77 Australia has gone completely batshit crazy....

@stillgray

Australia says that you will have to drink with your mask on.

https://tinyurl.com/ygzaqa3f

Posted by: Tami at August 16, 2021 10:30 AM (cF8AT)

78
Looks like the adult version of a chick I dated in junior high. Or what I assume her to look like 47 years later.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at August 16, 2021 10:30 AM (s2VJv)

79 Same. He and Taibibi (? The guy from Rolling Stone magazine) are true moderates who have stuck by their principles, and that makes them essentially on our side at this point.

Have I mentioned how much this timeline annoys me?
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at August 16, 2021 10:27 AM (1lKRm)

That Taibibi guy is a good writer. He has an interestnig blog ($ required tho)

Posted by: LASue at August 16, 2021 10:30 AM (Ed8Zd)

80 "Does anyone know a man in the Bible who had a gun?"

No. They didn't have microwave popcorn either. What's your point?

Posted by: grammie winger at August 16, 2021 10:30 AM (45fpk)

81 If the sock puppet tries any of the "We are all Americans and should come together and not point fingers...." he can go screw himself. His regime has spent the past 7 months demonizing half the country, including the military rank and file. The only honorable thing to do is to resign along with Kamala and call for new elections.

Posted by: Ripley at August 16, 2021 10:30 AM (MxEKc)

82 This am, a question was raised on one of the news channels. Why did the Afghan government stop funding and supporting the Northern Alliance this past spring? The Northern Alliance was the one reliable fighting force in Afghanistan, and the corrupt government stopped support funds and materials.

Posted by: Jen the original at August 16, 2021 10:31 AM (5HZN2)

83 Remember, if you're overseas and need the US military, they're only fifteen minutes away... And counting, so you better run!

Posted by: The White House at August 16, 2021 10:31 AM (lIIT7)

84 70 Marcus T,
Basically our foreign and military policy in Afghanistan for the last twenty years was to a) get Bin Ladin and Al Queda, and b) make Afghanistan a country again.

a) is a relatively straightforward military objective--b) recreating a country by creating a liberal democracy surrounded by Pakistan, Iran, China, etc. was a pointless exercise in hubris paid for by the treasure of the US and the blood of our service people.

In a way, it is similar to the fall of China after WWII. When the general mass of supposed troops of a regime refuse to fight and die for it, then the ideologically committed will win regardless of the superiority of arms.

Posted by: whig at August 16, 2021 10:31 AM (pO7gM)

85 The Miklosian Survival Strategy-

Books, beans, the Bible and booze
Posted by: Miklos, a ben Franklin Pessimist at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (QzkSJ)

you forgot boobs...

Posted by: SturmToddler (8D42x) at August 16, 2021 10:31 AM (8D42x)

86 David used 5 smooth stones to fell Goliath. Imagine what he could have done with a Smith and Wesson.
Posted by: grammie winger

Rock, Glock, what's the difference?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at August 16, 2021 10:31 AM (d9FiS)

87 I see the White House twitter page outed the CIA's Doha station and two (I'm guessing) HQ people. Way to go, guys. Top. Men.

Posted by: Mainah at August 16, 2021 10:31 AM (Boy/L)

88 If Christ had a CHL, he'd have carried the 1873 SAA Colt.

"Blessed are the Peacemakers"
Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2021 10:28 AM (OCTRt)

And it would of been sufficient. After all, his 'ol man could open up whole seas, or kill y ou with frogs and locusts.

Posted by: Diogenes at August 16, 2021 10:31 AM (axyOa)

89 Does anyone know a man in the Bible who had a gun?

No. But a bunch had swords.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2021 10:31 AM (OCTRt)

90 They didn't surrender. They sold out for a few bucks. Even their best trained SF command.

Posted by: Marcus T at August 16, 2021 10:32 AM (sOXXq)

91 Why does Drooling Turnip Joe keep pronouncing it as "Tolly-Bonn"? is he still stuck on Jugears pronouncing the name of the other pesthole over there as "Pocky-stonn"?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at August 16, 2021 10:32 AM (/XOcP)

92 How many men had their first experience of buggering while drunk or stoned? Honest question.

Posted by: Northernlurkerish at August 16, 2021 10:32 AM (cSyAR)

93 Here's some sorbet to get that bitter taste out:

Miracle on Ice

https://tinyurl.com/32cpv754

Posted by: Hoyt's Paid Turkish Provocateur at August 16, 2021 10:33 AM (49Exr)

94 >you forgot boobs...

Posted by: SturmToddler (8D42x) at August 16, 2021 10:31 AM (8D42x)

I'm frankly embarrassed that I missed a mission-critical one of the basics.

Posted by: Muad'dib - Shhhhh Baby, We're in New South Wales at August 16, 2021 10:33 AM (sjdRT)

95 89 Does anyone know a man in the Bible who had a gun?

No. But a bunch had swords.
Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2021 10:31 AM (OCTRt)

They couldn't afford guns.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy (z5Vrg) - The Republic is Already Dead at August 16, 2021 10:33 AM (z5Vrg)

96 I'm not going to bet on when the Chi-Coms cross the Strait b/c my last estimation of when Kabul will fall (4 weeks) was way fuckin' off. Mostly because I assumed the Afghan military would actually *fight* and not just give those nice shiny US arms to the Taliban once they showed up.

Posted by: Thrawn at August 16, 2021 10:27 AM

I am shocked that they haven't invaded Taiwan already. biden certainly isn't going to order the military to intervene. Plus we no longer have enough assets in the area to even slow them down. In the not too distant past we had a dozen submarines patrolling that are of the World, now we are lucky if we can keep two boats out there keeping an eye on things.

Posted by: Mister Scott (formerly GWS) at August 16, 2021 10:33 AM (JUOKG)

97 You know you live in Texas when your choice of Mexican restaurants is heavily influenced by their chips and salsa.
Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (OCTRt)

And you have to get your dinner to go because you're full by the time it arrives.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 16, 2021 10:33 AM (T7iTv)

98 So, I recently binge-watched "Jack Ryan."

How can we lose Afghanistan when we have all that technology?

LOL.

Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at August 16, 2021 10:33 AM (xopIz)

99 @seanmdav

Biden doesn't need to give a canned speech he didn't write and can barely read.

He needs to answer actual questions from real reporters, not the DNC propagandists with bylines that masquerade as White House journos, about why his admin has been AWOL for the last week.

====

Wanna bet the former is exactly what he does? And takes no questions.

Posted by: Tami at August 16, 2021 10:33 AM (cF8AT)

100 you forgot boobs...
Posted by: SturmToddler

It's BYOB

I'll teach the girls to cook just fine.

Posted by: Miklos awaits his bogracs at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (QzkSJ)

101 81 The only honorable thing to do is to resign along with Kamala and call for new elections.
Posted by: Ripley at August 16, 2021 10:30 AM (MxEKc)

Unless you're being /s, that's....not how it works here.

Posted by: Dark Helmet at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (Oka5v)

102 A common phrase I had heard in business was 'give up your worst customers to your competition'.

So we surrender Afghanistan to the CCP. Im gonna take a guess that the Taliban arent so much interested in Chinese rule.

So we go back to the Military Industrial Complex supplying jihadists with weapons, paid for by you and me, that take down CCP military aircraft.

The wheels go round n round...

Posted by: BluesFish at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (kPJ/p)

103 I saw some things on Twitter where the Taliban has like billions of our drones now that we left that they can then sell to all sorts of foreign powers.

I can understand leaving Afghanistan, but not like this where it's an evacuation.

Fuck the NeoCons, I don't want a US soldier stepping foot on foreign soil again unless the homeland was actually attacked. And then I want to destroy the place and leave.

Posted by: Blago at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (PwNLq)

104 Pierre Omidyar reminds me of that SNL skit of the 1988 (I think) where someone called Pete DuPont, "Pierre" and he went all crazy over it.

Ironically enough he was the guv of Delaware while Senile Joe was a senator from Delaware.

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (GQ5VU)

105 31 Pic #3 of the male Who Dis is Chris Pratt. What do I win?
Posted by: Jordan61, I am the 10% at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (Ez6QX)

Nothing, because I changed it. Ha ha!

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (YXnKW)

106 Back in the 90s, I thought our going into the Middle East was a good thing.

Note me, I knew it would be a disaster, Desert Storm did excellent but Bush screwed up and stopped too soon. Then the Democrats took over and just like 'Nam it all went to sh*t. Bush was always Democrat-Lite.

Posted by: Vic at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (mpXpK)

107 New Zealand loses Lord of the Rings as Amazon moves filming to UK
Seems there are consequences when you lockdown the country

Posted by: SMOD at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (RHGPo)

108 >>89 Does anyone know a man in the Bible who had a gun?

One guy had the jawbone of an ass. Brick Tamland had a trident.

Posted by: ZOD at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (xK9An)

109 That third picture is not the same who dis as the others but Chris Pratt.
Posted by: Nicholas Kronos at August 16, 2021

***
Somebody p'shopped him as Indiana Jones? Ever since Jurassic World, I've been saying that would be the perfect casting

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (/XOcP)

110 Still In Saigon

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h7XljT29_aw

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (d9FiS)

111 Has Harris even been seen during this shit show? I know she was on the video conference the other day, but other than that sighting where is she? Besides on her knees.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (BFigT)

112 98 So, I recently binge-watched "Jack Ryan."

How can we lose Afghanistan when we have all that technology?

LOL.
Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at August 16, 2021 10:33 AM (xopIz)

==========

A great plot for a modern day James Bond movie would be set to something like this. The intelligence apparatus, that had left the relics like Bond behind, have committed giant errors in a region and everythins is suddenly going to shit. Bond has to go in and rescue someone or something.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:35 AM (LvTSG)

113 The bums wanted to be bums because they liked being bums. It's a low responsibility lifestyle and you can survive well enough on the charity of strangers.

I've heard this from more than one person who did work with the homeless. Most big cities have substantial charity for homeless people. It never really accomplishes anything. Between the mentally ill and people who just don't want to live the lifestyle that non-homeless people think is rational and good, there's probably no fixing the homeless problem unless you are willing to incarcerate or euthanize them.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at August 16, 2021 10:35 AM (QU5/8)

114 You guys and your fretting about some people doing something in Afghanistan.

Don't you understand that Karen doesn't have to hear about Trump's mean tweets anymore?
And that's what's really important.

Posted by: Mrm88 at August 16, 2021 10:35 AM (jIL4c)

115 Fuck the NeoCons, I don't want a US soldier stepping foot on foreign soil again unless the homeland was actually attacked. And then I want to destroy the place and leave.
Posted by: Blago at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (PwNLq)

__

But then how do we become multi millionaires?
- Execs at defense contractors

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 10:35 AM (GQ5VU)

116 You know you live in Texas when your choice of Mexican restaurants is heavily influenced by their chips and salsa.
Posted by: rickb223

And you have to get your dinner to go because you're full by the time it arrives.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic

Ahhhh. So you've seen me.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2021 10:35 AM (OCTRt)

117 95 89 Does anyone know a man in the Bible who had a gun?

No. But a bunch had swords.
Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2021 10:31 AM (OCTRt)

They couldn't afford guns.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy (z5Vrg) - The Republic is Already Dead at August 16, 2021 10:33 AM (z5Vrg)

They didn't have running water or pasteurization either. Is that guy stoned?

Posted by: CN at August 16, 2021 10:35 AM (ONvIw)

118 100 you forgot boobs...
Posted by: SturmToddler

It's BYOB

I'll teach the girls to cook just fine.
Posted by: Miklos awaits his bogracs at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (QzkSJ)

Bring your own burqa?

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at August 16, 2021 10:35 AM (s2VJv)

119 How can we lose Afghanistan when we have all that technology?

Where was the last place that you saw it?

Posted by: Joe Biden at August 16, 2021 10:35 AM (z36Kd)

120 53 Miklos, Given the shady circumstances of Soros leaving Hungary to study at the LSE in London, there is good reason to suspect that he was an intel asset for the Eastern bloc.

In a similar way, Armand Hammer, who founded Occidental Oil and later Occidental College where Barry was for two years, had close ties to the Soviet leadership from Lenin and all subsequent leaders until Hammer's death.

Posted by: whig at August 16, 2021 10:35 AM (pO7gM)

121 Going into Iraq and Afghanistan were the right choice, they were just done the wrong way. Now there's no way out of either one that ends well for either nation as a result.

If the Pentagon had done what Trump commanded and pulled out of Afghanistan, we'd see the same stuff happening, just a bit slower. He wasn't a hands-on guy for military stuff, trusting the "experts" so they would have done the same stupid crap and gotten the same stupid results.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:35 AM (KZzsI)

122 Posted by: whig at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (pO7gM)

Pete Teal is also an eBay founder I believe. Apparently they weren't friends.

Posted by: clutch at August 16, 2021 10:35 AM (9UmRs)

123 Nothing, because I changed it. Ha ha!
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (YXnKW)

Well it's still Gianna

Posted by: CN at August 16, 2021 10:36 AM (ONvIw)

124 That Taibibi guy is a good writer. He has an interestnig blog ($ required tho)
Posted by: LASue at August 16, 2021 10:30 AM (Ed8Zd)

Taibbi's always been a funny writer in terms of mocking gasbags like Thomas "Flathead" Friedman but I don't know if I'd trust him as much as the pale praying mantis as far as backstabbing.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at August 16, 2021 10:36 AM (y7DUB)

125 We're going to bring tens of thousands of Afghans to the US.

They'll eventually be settled in residential areas.

Posted by: Biden at August 16, 2021 10:36 AM (WdyQe)

126 Does anyone know a man in the Bible who had a gun?

No. But a bunch had swords.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2021 10:31 AM (OCTRt)

And at least one had the jaw bone of an ass. As opposed to the guy who tweeted that question who is definitely just an ass.

Posted by: Archer at August 16, 2021 10:36 AM (gmo/4)

127 The Afghan with the ice cream cones looks like Hunter Biden.

Posted by: President Select Decaf at August 16, 2021 10:37 AM (RMGKK)

128 92 How many men had their first experience of buggering while drunk or stoned? Honest question.
Posted by: Northernlurkerish at August 16, 2021 10:32 AM (cSyAR)

___

RAISES HAND!!

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 10:37 AM (GQ5VU)

129
Cassandra and Kennilworth Kensington, of the Kandahar Kensingtons.

They starred in "Whoa! Fast!", an eerily prescient 60s flick about the fall of Afghanistan.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at August 16, 2021 10:37 AM (+2sc/)

130 Wanna bet the former is exactly what he does? And takes no questions.

Posted by: Tami at August 16, 2021 10:33 AM (cF8AT)

Sucker bet.

The only interesting wagers will be how often he blames Trump.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2021 10:37 AM (Q9lwr)

131 >Pierre Omidyar (one of Ebay founders) picks up the check.
Posted by: whig at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (pO7gM)

Also note that Greenwald had to escape the thumb of Omidyar by abandoning a publication that Greenwald himself helped to create. Far more principled than any Bullwork cvck. I'll forgive him for his sockpuppet foolishness from way back when.

Posted by: Dworkin Barimen - anarcho-tyranny? you're soaking in it! at August 16, 2021 10:37 AM (DXFDM)

132 "In a way, it is similar to the fall of China after WWII. When the general mass of supposed troops of a regime refuse to fight and die for it, then the ideologically committed will win regardless of the superiority of arms.
Posted by: whig at August 16, 2021 10:31 AM (pO7gM)"

Here's the worst part. I've heard so many GO's and field grades tell me all about how they studied the history of that place. Yet most of them determined it was irrelevant and they could change things as you stated. That right there, that lack of self awareness and outright hubris will be our downfall. These people are and always will be a tribal society. That is, until someone comes in and completely goes scorched earth in order to bring them screaming into this century. I doubt anyone has the balls to do that now. So here they go back to a tribally based, authoritarian terrorist theocracy.

Posted by: Marcus T at August 16, 2021 10:38 AM (sOXXq)

133 Dumbness Level = 980 millikohns.

Once again - just what does it take to get 1,000 millikohns?

Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at August 16, 2021 10:38 AM (K58O6)

134 Who Dis: She's a MAN baby!!

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:38 AM (KZzsI)

135 Does anyone know a man in the Bible who had a gun?

Jael had some tent peg tricks that were pretty cool. But she's a woman so I don't know if that counts.

Posted by: grammie winger at August 16, 2021 10:38 AM (45fpk)

136 But then how do we become multi millionaires?
- Execs at defense contractors
Posted by: Joe XiDen

And to be intellectually honest, this was mostly a "Republican" form of graft that I actually have to concede liberals were right about.

Even Eisenhower warned about this.

Somehow "small government" never applied to what nearly 50 cents of every tax dollar was going to.

Seeing how the Pentagon is part of the deep state and all the woke generals, I think everyone is going to start sounding like Ron Paul.

Posted by: Blago at August 16, 2021 10:38 AM (PwNLq)

137 Without sounding like a know it all (which I am most certainly not), a book written by Steven Pressfield years ago....."The Afghan Campaign" (about Alexander's campaign there) was, of course, eerily prescient of today.

Which is why he wrote this novelized version of history. Of course, the reality of Alexander in what is now Afghanistan (then it was probably called Scythia) wasn't quite like his novel, but he did get the message across.

Posted by: Bozo Conservative...Living on the Prison Planet at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (vcOmj)

138 Guys like Taibibi is what everyone says they want. An honest journalist who reports things that both sides will disagree with. But then if he isn't 100% on your side, it's like fuck that guy, I don't trust him.

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (GQ5VU)

139 And at least one had the jaw bone of an ass.
Posted by: Archer

I can see Nanzi Pelosi way back then.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (OCTRt)

140 >Once again - just what does it take to get 1,000 millikohns?

Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at August 16, 2021 10:38 AM (K58O6)

Go past the singularity?? We don't have the physics for that.

Posted by: Muad'dib - Shhhhh Baby, We're in New South Wales at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (sjdRT)

141 133 Dumbness Level = 980 millikohns.

Once again - just what does it take to get 1,000 millikohns?
Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at August 16, 2021 10:38 AM (K58O6)

==========

The measurement of the Kohn is the story of an asymptotic curve. It is impossible to reach it.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (LvTSG)

142 >SuperBrain Kinzinger Neocons:

You guys should have listened to us. You can't have a disastrous ending to a war if you just never end the war!
Posted by: Match Checksout at August 16, 2021 10:27 AM (dYe5S)

Exact same talking point that Billy Kristol and Gay Pirate Crenshaw were squawking to any media that would listen to them.

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD

Posted by: Dworkin Barimen - anarcho-tyranny? you're soaking in it! at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (DXFDM)

143 One guy had the jawbone of an ass.

-
Ass is going to jawbone us at 3:45.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (d9FiS)

144 "The Afghan with the ice cream cones looks like Hunter Biden."

Hunter and Andrew Cuomo need to thank Joe for drawing fire away from them this week.

Posted by: lowandslow at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (qH6FZ)

145 Lots of military age guys fleeing.

Posted by: Barr Durham at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (WvtYc)

146 Does anyone know a man in the Bible who had a gun?

The same ones who had I-Phones and cars

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (KZzsI)

147 Given everything that has been left behind, the first Kabul Gun Show is going to be awesome!

Posted by: Diogenes at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (axyOa)

148 When are we going to get the original Star Trek, "Patterns of Force" fuhrer speech from Biden?

Posted by: Engineer at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (ExIA1)

149 That Afghani with the ice cream? Photoshop. His teeth are too white.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (OCTRt)

150 Al-Udeid...shit...I'm still only in Al-Udeid. I'm here a week now, swimming in an STD-infested pool, getting softer. Every minute I stay in this CHU I get weaker. And every minute hajji squats over a bleating goat, he gets weirder. Each time I look around the walls move in a little tighter...

Posted by: ZOD at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (xK9An)

151 @JackPosobiec 2m

Biden wanted to call 44 for advice but advisors convinced him not to, per WH official

Hahahaha! This all just gets worse and worse.

Posted by: Tami at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (cF8AT)

152 146 Does anyone know a man in the Bible who had a gun?

The same ones who had I-Phones and cars
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (KZzsI)

==========

And Twitter. Christians should bar themselves from all social media to be closer to God.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (LvTSG)

153 Jael had some tent peg tricks that were pretty cool. But she's a woman so I don't know if that counts.

Posted by: grammie winger at August 16, 2021 10:38 AM (45fpk)

Joshua had artillery at the Battle of Jericho.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (Q9lwr)

154 Biden doesn't need to give a canned speech he didn't write and can barely read.

He needs to answer actual questions from real reporters, not the DNC propagandists with bylines that masquerade as White House journos, about why his admin has been AWOL for the last week.

====

Wanna bet the former is exactly what he does? And takes no questions.

Posted by: Tami at August 16, 2021 10:33 AM (cF8AT)

I want him to come out and say, "I put VP Harris in charge of this issue day one but that bitch could fuck up a wet dream, which is pretty amazing considering how she got her start in politics. No questions."

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (T7iTv)

155 My biggest surprise right now is how much I agree with Glenn Greenwald.

If you told me 15 years ago that would be the case, I would have called you insane.

And I know he hasn't changed his positions.
Posted by: Dave in Fla (5p7BC) at August 16, 2021 10:22 AM (5p7BC)

-------------------

Same here, and I even remember the horde jokes about Glenn's sock puppets.

Posted by: President Select Decaf at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (RMGKK)

156 The same ones who had I-Phones and cars
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (KZzsI)

But the early church was all in one Accord.

Posted by: Northernlurkerish at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (cSyAR)

157 >147 Given everything that has been left behind, the first Kabul Gun Show is going to be awesome!

Posted by: Diogenes at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (axyOa)

I'd go if I could find a goat fucking costume.

Posted by: Muad'dib - Shhhhh Baby, We're in New South Wales at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (sjdRT)

158 If the Pentagon had done what Trump commanded and pulled out of Afghanistan, we'd see the same stuff happening, just a bit slower. He wasn't a hands-on guy for military stuff, trusting the "experts" so they would have done the same stupid crap and gotten the same stupid results.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:35 AM (KZzsI)

Somewhere this morning I saw a tweet in which Trump's agreement with the Taliban was briefly explained. It also listed eight different events where the Taliban broke the agreement and Trump ordered retalitation for them in the order of bomb strikes, etc. I don't believe the exact same thing would have happened because Trump would not have allowed the first town taken over by the Taliban to stand.

Posted by: Jen the original at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (5HZN2)

159 151 @JackPosobiec 2m

Biden wanted to call 44 for advice but advisors convinced him not to, per WH official

Hahahaha! This all just gets worse and worse.
Posted by: Tami at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (cF8AT)

==========

Holy shit, that's hilarious. Biden's on his own, and he's realizing how stupid he actually is. It's gotta hurt.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (LvTSG)

160 What color ribbon will Gen. Milley give himself for this strategic triumph?
Do you think he will reward himself now, or wait until our military hardware is used against civilians in the US?
Posted by: Tom Tuttle from Tacoma at August 16, 2021 10:21 AM (L9P9s)

Hahaha....yup. He can get with Petraeus, when he's not banging the help, and they can pin a nice rainbow colored, turd shaped ribbon on the back of their tunics, since the front is full up with all their gobblygook.

Then they can run for President /Vice President on the democrat ticket in 2024.

Win-win.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (R/m4+)

161 I can understand leaving Afghanistan, but not like this where it's an evacuation.

Fuck the NeoCons, I don't want a US soldier stepping foot on foreign soil again unless the homeland was actually attacked. And then I want to destroy the place and leave.

Posted by: Blago at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM

If he would have followed Trump's plan this would not have happened. Evacuate the civilians first, destroy any military equipment that can't be removed and then evacuate the military. biden refused to follow the plan because "trump" and it's complete and utter disaster now with civilians clinging to airplanes and falling to their death to get out of the Country ahead of the taliban. biden owns this 100%.

Posted by: Mister Scott (formerly GWS) at August 16, 2021 10:41 AM (JUOKG)

162 The Brit Defense Secretary has admitted that they will likely have to leave people behind.

Posted by: Diogenes at August 16, 2021 10:28 AM

People as in bureaucrats or as in military?

Posted by: clutch at August 16, 2021 10:41 AM (9UmRs)

163 "As for the collapse of the (outgoing) regime, it is most eloquently characterized by the way [Afghan President Ashraf] Ghani fled Afghanistan," Nikita Ishchenko, a Russian embassy spokesman in Kabul, was quoted as saying by Russian state-owned news outlet RIA, Reuters reported.

"Four cars were full of money, they tried to stuff another part of the money into a helicopter, but not all of it fit. And some of the money was left lying on the tarmac," Ishchenko was quoted as saying.

Posted by: SMOD at August 16, 2021 10:42 AM (RHGPo)

164 Fuck the NeoCons, I don't want a US soldier stepping foot on foreign soil again unless the homeland was actually attacked. And then I want to destroy the place and leave.
Posted by: Blago at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (PwNLq)

An actual declaration of war which requires an unconditional surrender of one side or the other.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 16, 2021 10:42 AM (T7iTv)

165 "If the Pentagon had done what Trump commanded and pulled out of Afghanistan, we'd see the same stuff happening, just a bit slower. "

Completely false. Trump and Pompeo had a conditions based strategy- and they proved it several times via the intra Afghan talks. Every time the Taliban defied them, they got smoked. That's demonstrably true. They were even thinking about holding onto to Bagram, which Puddin Head unconditionally abandoned.

Now Trump wasn't going to stay forever, and the Taliban may have indeed eventually taken over, but it wasn't going to look like this.

Posted by: Marcus T at August 16, 2021 10:42 AM (sOXXq)

166 162 The Brit Defense Secretary has admitted that they will likely have to leave people behind.

Posted by: Diogenes at August 16, 2021 10:28 AM

People as in bureaucrats or as in military?
Posted by: clutch at August 16, 2021 10:41 AM (9UmRs)

=======

Bureaucrats are first in line. Way down second is the military. Third is civilians, unless they're famous.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:42 AM (LvTSG)

167 Bring your own burqa?
Posted by: J.J. Sefton

Whatever boils yo crawfish, mon ami

*fires up button accordion, and instructs the jeunes filles to make hot wit' dem fiddles*

Posted by: Miklos awaits his bogracs at August 16, 2021 10:42 AM (QzkSJ)

168 A great plot for a modern day James Bond movie would be set to something like this. The intelligence apparatus, that had left the relics like Bond behind, have committed giant errors in a region and everythins is suddenly going to shit. Bond has to go in and rescue someone or something.

Yeah, Goldeneye was kind of that way (M hated Bond as a throwback and was all into modern tech, he showed you have to have someone like him), but I think a more clear statement would be a good film.

Start out with field agents being retrained to work a desk, because the way intelligence is done now is all remote through satellite imagery, spying on social media, etc. Show how the data gathered is useful as far as it goes but does not give the results that the man in the field working in the actual region does.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:43 AM (KZzsI)

169
Those Kabul helicopters were sent by Trump.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 16, 2021 10:43 AM (/U27+)

170 Rep. Matt Gaetz: "Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley was made a fool.. He should be fired!"

Posted by: SMOD at August 16, 2021 10:43 AM (RHGPo)

171 Didn't Winston Churchill order the sinking of French ships to prevent the Nazis from getting them?

Posted by: Northernlurkerish at August 16, 2021 10:43 AM (cSyAR)

172 This is forever going to leave a mark on Biden.

I know everyone thinks the media and vote counting means Dems are unstoppable , but I see the die being cast on Biden. Highly doubt he's going to be the nominee and you're going to start seeing Dems jockeying for position for 2024. Economy also looks like its sputtering on the last fumes of stimulus.

Posted by: Blago at August 16, 2021 10:43 AM (PwNLq)

173 He'll just blame Trump.
Posted by: Cosda at August 16, 2021 10:23 AM (RDxa6)

---------------------

They're now just trying to work out how to keep saying that for the entirety of a 10 minute speech.

Posted by: President Select Decaf at August 16, 2021 10:43 AM (RMGKK)

174 Somehow "small government" never applied to what nearly 50 cents of every tax dollar was going to.

Seeing how the Pentagon is part of the deep state and all the woke generals, I think everyone is going to start sounding like Ron Paul.
Posted by: Blago at August 16, 2021 10:38 AM (PwNLq)

___

I took a road trip the summer between HS and college and drove all over the country. One thing that kind of struck me was how many military bases there were. Like they were everywhere. You couldn't drive an hour without seeing a sign that said Naval Base exit here or Army Base this way. And I thought to myself, do we really need all this? And why the fuck is there a Naval base is Indiana??!?!?

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 10:43 AM (GQ5VU)

175 Be careful when reading Jack Posobiec, 50% of what he Tweets is made up bullshit. Which leaves him more trustworthy then the MSM but still.

Posted by: lowandslow at August 16, 2021 10:44 AM (qH6FZ)

176 Note me, I knew it would be a disaster, Desert Storm did excellent but Bush screwed up and stopped too soon. Then the Democrats took over and just like 'Nam it all went to sh*t. Bush was always Democrat-Lite.
Posted by: Vic

At the time of Desert Storm, I had just started a new job, and my boss was an expatriate Iraqi (a Kurd). He was a great guy, but we disagreed on the outcome of the Desert Storm operation. I said they should have gone on to Bagdad and gotten Saddam. He said that was a mistake, we didn't have the right to change Iraq. He was connected to the Iraqi National Congress, and said a couple of times they almost assassinated Saddam. Never got it done.

About a year and half later, he said...."You were right".

Posted by: Bozo Conservative...Living on the Prison Planet at August 16, 2021 10:44 AM (vcOmj)

177 172 This is forever going to leave a mark on Biden.

I know everyone thinks the media and vote counting means Dems are unstoppable , but I see the die being cast on Biden. Highly doubt he's going to be the nominee and you're going to start seeing Dems jockeying for position for 2024. Economy also looks like its sputtering on the last fumes of stimulus.
Posted by: Blago at August 16, 2021 10:43 AM (PwNLq)

===========

I still think Biden is going to live until at least 2035, and that he's going to run for re-election.

I would love it if Kamala decides to run against him in the 2024 primary, though. That would be hilarious.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:44 AM (LvTSG)

178 "Does anyone know a man in the Bible who had a gun?"
____________

Is that what passes for deep thought on Twatter? Americans shouldn't own guns because people who lived thousands of years before guns were invented didn't own guns?

Nobody in the Bible had computers or telephones or air conditioning either. Does that mean we don't need or shouldn't use those things either?

Posted by: TrivialPursuer at August 16, 2021 10:44 AM (k4dH2)

179 he's realizing how stupid he actually is. It's gotta hurt.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (LvTSG)

No...it's worse. He has glimpses of reality as he emerges from the fog of dementia, and he understands what is going on, and that he is overwhelmed.

And I have zero sympathy.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2021 10:44 AM (Q9lwr)

180 Doug McClure and some hotty.

Posted by: irright at August 16, 2021 10:44 AM (8rX4S)

181 Now Trump wasn't going to stay forever, and the Taliban may have indeed eventually taken over, but it wasn't going to look like this.

He wanted us out by January this year and ordered the Pentagon to do so. I'm not sure how that somehow gives different results, particularly as the same people in the military were in charge, then. They'd have made the same kind of stupid choices leaving crap behind, etc.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:44 AM (KZzsI)

182 A "functioning democracy" in the Middle East is not possible. To have such a thing requires institutions worthy of trust: not perfect, but at least accepted by the people. That kind of thing does not exist there. Having worked a lot of the 1980s and 1990s in the Middle East, even the concept of "patriotism" is dim, is unclear. "Patriarchism" is more understandable, but they do not regard government in anything close to the way that Westerners do. As such, Bush & Minions running around promoting "democracy in the Middle East" was a disgusting embarrassment: it just doesn't mean anything to the general populace.

Absenting the established and regarded institutions of a democratic society, democracy reverts to its first base as merely a method of selection - and we saw a mere 10 months ago how easily THAT can be subverted: even in a society where there is still a high, if steadily declining, faith in institutions. You cannot paste a functioning democracy on top of the Middle East culture and society.

Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at August 16, 2021 10:44 AM (K58O6)

183 Greenwald calls out the Usual Suspects for their Trump blame game:

https://tinyurl.com/nxax4z8t

Posted by: kallisto at August 16, 2021 10:44 AM (DJFLF)

184 I'd go if I could find a goat fucking costume.
Posted by: Muad'dib

*looks left, looks right*

I can help with the goat leggings.

Posted by: Sgt. Miklos Friday from the FBI at August 16, 2021 10:44 AM (QzkSJ)

185 67 Gianna Canale and some blondie guy

Posted by: CN at August 16, 2021 10:29 AM (ONvIw)

Not Gianna, sorry.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at August 16, 2021 10:45 AM (YXnKW)

186 Typical. When things go bad, everybody knew it was wrong to begin with.

Then the truly cowardly come out and start making apologies for their wrong-think and beg forgiveness.

Here it is, butt-wipes..... Going into Asscrackistan wasn't a bad idea, it was simply executed wrongly.

A hundred Special Forces did in 6 Months what the entire Russian Army couldn't do in 10 years.

Then the Big Generals with their big guns and big Units wanted in on it.

Posted by: Uncle Rick at August 16, 2021 10:45 AM (56PnC)

187 They didn't even have Obamacare in the Bible. It was a very dark time.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at August 16, 2021 10:45 AM (QU5/8)

188

Who dis'

Joan Jett & William Shakespeare

*hic*

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at August 16, 2021 10:45 AM (K2SnJ)

189 "I still think Biden is going to live until at least 2035, and that he's going to run for re-election."

If Biden outlives me I'm gonna be pissed.

Posted by: f'd at August 16, 2021 10:45 AM (Tnijr)

190 tap tap tap

This thing still working?

Posted by: Hacky Psaki at August 16, 2021 10:46 AM (GmzvP)

191 Is that what passes for deep thought on Twatter?

Yes. There's neither the climate nor the space for anything profound, only shower thoughts and sophistry.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:46 AM (KZzsI)

192 Look over there!

Posted by: Southern border at August 16, 2021 10:46 AM (Ayos0)

193 If the Pentagon had done what Trump commanded and pulled out of Afghanistan, we'd see the same stuff happening, just a bit slower. He wasn't a hands-on guy for military stuff, trusting the "experts" so they would have done the same stupid crap and gotten the same stupid results.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor

I mostly agree, I do think though they would have probably waited as they know Trump had no problem taking the gloves off.

With Biden. they knew they could rub our faces in it.

Even though its essentially a coup for the military to disobey a President, politically Trump was lucky not to have gone through this. He would have been destroyed in 2020.

Posted by: Blago at August 16, 2021 10:46 AM (PwNLq)

194 Didn't Winston Churchill order the sinking of French ships to prevent the Nazis from getting them?

Posted by: Northernlurkerish at August 16, 2021 10:43 AM

Yes he did. They destroyed an entire French fleet to prevent the Germans from getting the ships.

Posted by: Mister Scott (formerly GWS) at August 16, 2021 10:46 AM (JUOKG)

195 I made my first batch of salsa from my garden tomatoes last night.. Oh man.. home grown tomatoes makes all the difference!

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at August 16, 2021 10:46 AM (CjFDo)

196 I'd go if I could find a goat fucking costume.

Call the guys who made the bear costume for Super Troopers

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:47 AM (KZzsI)

197 More Greenwald placing the blame where it belongs:

https://tinyurl.com/333rhyk7

Posted by: kallisto at August 16, 2021 10:47 AM (DJFLF)

198 Didn't Winston Churchill order the sinking of French ships to prevent the Nazis from getting them?

Posted by: Northernlurkerish at August 16, 2021 10:43 AM (cSyAR)

Yup. July 1940, after France fell...he ordered an attack on the French fleet in Algeria.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 16, 2021 10:47 AM (Q9lwr)

199 Thank you, OM. The bum = Afghanistan is absolute truth.

Posted by: EveR at August 16, 2021 10:47 AM (MUpk6)

200 And I have zero sympathy.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

Now see?

We can have nice things.

Posted by: Sing along with Mitch-Miklos Miller! Zippity do-da, zippity-a at August 16, 2021 10:47 AM (QzkSJ)

201 175 Be careful when reading Jack Posobiec, 50% of what he Tweets is made up bullshit. Which leaves him more trustworthy then the MSM but still.
Posted by: lowandslow at August 16, 2021 10:44 AM (qH6FZ)

___

CNN spent 48 hours talking about Trump eating 2 scopps of ice cream. I give zero fucks if everything Jack is says is a lie. Spread that shit far and wide.

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 10:47 AM (GQ5VU)

202 >Holy shit, that's hilarious. Biden's on his own, and he's realizing how stupid he actually is. It's gotta hurt.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (LvTSG)

You know the stench of failure is bad when even King Mierdas has to edge away from it. Failure truly is an orphan, huh Bidum?

Posted by: Dworkin Barimen - anarcho-tyranny? you're soaking in it! at August 16, 2021 10:47 AM (DXFDM)

203 If the Pentagon had done what Trump commanded and pulled out of Afghanistan, we'd see the same stuff happening,

-------------------

How so? Why even offer that up? This is on Biden, this is on the generals, this is on the ruling class. They all suck. Trump never lost an embassy.

Posted by: SH (Non-Elite) at August 16, 2021 10:47 AM (sX1BW)

204 So biden is coming out of his basement at 3:45 today to speak

Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2021 10:47 AM (I2VcN)

205 >>Nobody in the Bible had computers or telephones or air conditioning either. Posted by: TrivialPursuer at August 16, 2021 10:44 AM (k4dH2)

Just because the Bible doesn't contain an exhaustive Domesday-Book-style inventory of the accoutrements of the age does not mean that there was *not* HFAC, guns, computers, or telephones at that time.

It just means that the folks using the stuff thought it so commonplace as not to have felt a need of mentioning it. Not unlike today.

Posted by: ZOD at August 16, 2021 10:47 AM (xK9An)

206 He said to them, "But now if you have a credit card, take it, and also an ultralight backpack; and if you don't have a gun, sell your iPhone and buy one.

Luke 22:36, New Millennial Version

Posted by: James Schuler at August 16, 2021 10:48 AM (j7w9/)

207 Even though its essentially a coup for the military to disobey a President, politically Trump was lucky not to have gone through this. He would have been destroyed in 2020.

he'd have looked bad this year, had he won, but it would not have affected the election as he wanted it done by the end of 2020. The bad imagery etc would have all been after the election.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:48 AM (KZzsI)

208 Don't look to the republican party to save you.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy is a great start, but there is so much more to be done! at August 16, 2021 10:48 AM (w/oaB)

209 How long before the NYT blames Climate Change for the cluster in Afghanistan?

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 10:48 AM (GQ5VU)

210 "Between the mentally ill and people who just don't want to live the lifestyle that non-homeless people think is rational and good, there's probably no fixing the homeless problem unless you are willing to incarcerate or euthanize them."

I knew a couple that walked away from a mortgage* to live on the streets so they could do heroin 24/7. They were still in a lucid state, they knew their future would be maybe a year of partying, then selling themselves when the money ran out, then life on the streets as addicts with no heroin, then death.

And they were fine with that.

*that was their side to the story, more likely they were foreclosed on because they were spending the mortgage payment on heroin

Posted by: Hoyt's Paid Turkish Provocateur at August 16, 2021 10:48 AM (49Exr)

211 JOE MUST GO!

Posted by: rd at August 16, 2021 10:49 AM (Z32m1)

212 132 Marcus T,
Somewhere thereabouts in the 60's and early 70's, the Arab socialist movement, partially funded by the Soviets, rose to a peak and then collapsed because of their inability to take out Israel. The few semi secular regimes left in N. Africa and the Middle East have little cultural impact as the West at the same time more or less surrendered its liberal cultural hegemony as evil. At the same time, the huge increase in oil revenues made the Saudis able to fund their ascetic Wahhabism along with the Shiite fundamentalism coming from Iran.

Posted by: whig at August 16, 2021 10:49 AM (pO7gM)

213 I recall someone in the Bible with a slingshot.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy is a great start, but there is so much more to be done! at August 16, 2021 10:49 AM (w/oaB)

214 208 Don't look to the republican party to save you.
Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy is a great start, but there is so much more to be done! at August 16, 2021 10:48 AM (w/oaB)

__

I look to the GOP to betray me, but never to save me.

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 10:49 AM (GQ5VU)

215 Didn't Winston Churchill order the sinking of French ships to prevent the Nazis from getting them?

Posted by: Northernlurkerish at August 16, 2021 10:43 AM (cSyAR)

Yup. July 1940, after France fell...he ordered an attack on the French fleet in Algeria.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

Was that after the French bombed Pearl Harbor?

Posted by: Official University Degree Person Miklos at August 16, 2021 10:49 AM (QzkSJ)

216 And then the scum of the Earth saw chances to make money on the corpses of American Servicemen and took the opportunity.

Asscrackistan wasn't a bad idea, it was led by the wrong people and they fucked it up.

Big Units, Big Divisions, Marines, etc aren't useful in these types of conflicts. All they are is targets. They all knew better. SF had it under control

We need to clean house in the Pentagon. And in the FBI. And at DoJ. And the CIA.

Actually, all of DC should plowed under

Posted by: Uncle Rick at August 16, 2021 10:49 AM (56PnC)

217 He would have been destroyed in 2020.

------------------

Thank God, they treated him so well in 2020.

Posted by: SH (Non-Elite) at August 16, 2021 10:49 AM (sX1BW)

218 Just because the Bible doesn't contain an exhaustive Domesday-Book-style inventory of the accoutrements of the age does not mean that there was *not* HFAC, guns, computers, or telephones at that time.

It's well known amongst Biblical scholars that Noah rode a Triceratops.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at August 16, 2021 10:49 AM (QU5/8)

219 Modern America lacks the civilizational confidence to "nation build" but also lacks the civilizational confidence to rule another nation so we get this weird, useless amalgam of State Department squishes pushing money to their college roommate's hot new social justice-type NGO that's going to bring civilization to the hill tribes by teaching Afghan schoolgirls the latest in Teen Vogue masturbation techniques but then we back that up with an army of 20 year old Oklahoma and West Virginia infantrymen armed to the teeth and willing to fight, but under strict orders not to do anything if at all possible that might cause a bad news cycle back in the States.

Posted by: Match Checksout at August 16, 2021 10:49 AM (dYe5S)

220 " McQueen seemingly has been in more classic and/or iconic films than you can shake a stick at."

If you watch any of the documentaries on McQueen, you'll know that he had his stick in more women than you can shake a film at.

Posted by: ID gent at August 16, 2021 10:49 AM (hyXBX)

221 203 If the Pentagon had done what Trump commanded and pulled out of Afghanistan, we'd see the same stuff happening,

-------------------

How so? Why even offer that up? This is on Biden, this is on the generals, this is on the ruling class. They all suck. Trump never lost an embassy.
Posted by: SH (Non-Elite) at August 16, 2021 10:47 AM (sX1BW)

=========

Because the Taliban was going to retake Afghanistan whenever we left, no matter how we left. This is a statement against the Deep State, about how they were so enamored with stopping Trump from doing what he wanted that they shot themselves in the foot by turning around and executing a worse idea for Biden. Yes, it should be said that Trump's plan would have ultimately led to pretty much the same situation, with the Taliban in complete control of the country, it would have just taken a year or two longer. The Deep State is so inept and blinded by domestic politics that they couldn't see that.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:49 AM (LvTSG)

222 Biden will speak to us plebs about Afghanistan at 3:45 Eastern Time.

Posted by: Gref at August 16, 2021 10:49 AM (AMIL/)

223 156 The same ones who had I-Phones and cars
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:39 AM (KZzsI)

But the early church was all in one Accord.
Posted by: Northernlurkerish at August 16, 2021 10:40 AM (cSyAR)

Ha ha! I'll bet they got great gas mileage.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at August 16, 2021 10:49 AM (YXnKW)

224 It is now AfGONEistan.

Back in '75, the church I was with did a good job of taking in and integrating recently arrived (1st wave) Vietnamese evacuees. And they were GOOD people, and nearly overnight became net contributors to the church and society as a whole.

I do not predict such success with any incoming Afghan refugees. In keeping with the Rant, I do predict that they'll be bums, at least in the sense of living off of the taxpayer's dole. Miight I propose though that we settle 'em all in the same parts of Minnesota where the Lutheran churches settled their Somali refugees? I mean, if we're gonna be payin' for this shit, we'd might was well make it entertaining!

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (QzJWU)

225 209 How long before the NYT blames Climate Change for the cluster in Afghanistan?
Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 10:48 AM (GQ5VU)

Have they blamed Cuomo's groping on climate change?

Posted by: Northernlurkerish at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (cSyAR)

226 Boris Epshteyn, Former Special Assistant to Trump @borisep -
The Biden administration is not going to give priority to Americans looking to escape the Taliban in Afghanistan. They are giving priority to Afghanis. This administration is no longer feckless, pathetic, or useless, it is downright treasonous.

Posted by: Stellastwocents at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (cRbt7)

227 People as in bureaucrats or as in military?
Posted by: clutch at August 16, 2021 10:41 AM (9UmRs)

He specifically said "...some people won't get back." He was discussing both citizens and allies sho supported their effort there.

Posted by: Diogenes at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (axyOa)

228 How so? Why even offer that up? This is on Biden, this is on the generals, this is on the ruling class. They all suck.

He ordered a withdrawal from Afghanistan, and while it was ignored by the Pentagon, there's no way that it would have ended up any differently. We leave, and the corrupt, pathetic losers in charge in Afghanistan collapse like a fat man punched in the gut by Mike Tyson, Taliban takes over.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (KZzsI)

229 When are we going to get the original Star Trek, "Patterns of Force" fuhrer speech from Biden?
Posted by: Engineer at August 16, 2021

***
Somebody suggested that last thread. I said it would be "Patterns of Farce".

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (/XOcP)

230 Desert Storm did excellent but Bush screwed up and stopped too soon.

-
We're great at winning the war and losing the peace.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (d9FiS)

231 "Afghanistan finally liberated from a regime that imposes mandatory face coverings, destroys statues, and promotes the genital mutilation of children.""

That's good....

That's REAL good!!!!
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice

I didn't get the joke until your comment, then it sunk in.

Wow.

Posted by: Taqiyyologist, Rickrolled by Jesus at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (OssQ4)

232 Salsa?

That looks more like pico de gallo.

Posted by: Anna Puma at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (LE8xc)

233 Those Kabul helicopters were sent by Trump.

We're plucking people off of a roof, the airport has been overrun, and yet somehow we're getting 30,000 refugees.

Posted by: t-bird at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (/2aWP)

234 "He wanted us out by January this year and ordered the Pentagon to do so."

It was always conditional. He also asked the military to remove any and all equipment. They kept a special focus on that. Biden on the other hand completely ignored factors like that. I know people at DoD who were getting a lot of airtime on this during Trump. Biden ignored them. Even the despicable SECDEF leaked out today him and CJC advised Biden against this.

Posted by: Marcus T at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (sOXXq)

235 I recall someone in the Bible with a slingshot.
Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy

It was a Wrist-Rocket.

Now illegal in 39 states

Posted by: Miklos had one at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (QzkSJ)

236 At first I thought our WhoDis couple were Miss Kitty and Marshall Dillon, but noooope, additional pics show I'm way off.

Posted by: Tex Lovera at August 16, 2021 10:51 AM (wtvvX)

237 Because the Taliban was going to retake Afghanistan whenever we left, no matter how we left.

-------------------

That statement can be made without throwing Trump's name into this catastrophe.

Posted by: SH (Non-Elite) at August 16, 2021 10:51 AM (sX1BW)

238 Was that after the French bombed Pearl Harbor?
Posted by: Official University Degree Person Miklos at August 16, 2021 10:49 AM (QzkSJ)

__

God you're so stupid. The Germans bombed Pearl Harbor after Lincoln tweeted something mean about Hitler.

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 10:51 AM (GQ5VU)

239 Biden is coming out to READ THE TELEPROMPTER.

Does anyone really care what he says? He's not the one running the shit show unfolding. Let's hear from the individuals who are.

Posted by: Ziba at August 16, 2021 10:51 AM (S1hrL)

240 Note me, I knew it would be a disaster, Desert Storm did excellent but Bush screwed up and stopped too soon. Then the Democrats took over and just like 'Nam it all went to sh*t. Bush was always Democrat-Lite.
Posted by: Vic at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (mpXpK)
++++
The USA cannot win a foreign war as long as democrats exist. When they aren't running the show, they prevaricate, obstruct and commit borderline (or sometimes outright) treason to defeat the mission, they pillory the fighting men and run constant psyops against the populace. When they come into power, they step down action to hold steady and consume capital and create a wedge that can be used for other policy goals. They never want to win, even if they knew how.

There is no way to win a war under those conditions.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 16, 2021 10:51 AM (3p5uk)

241 Not Gianna, sorry.
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at August 16, 2021 10:45 AM (YXnKW)

well it's an italian actress who did pirate films. Lisa Gastoni, then

Posted by: CN at August 16, 2021 10:51 AM (ONvIw)

242 228 How so? Why even offer that up? This is on Biden, this is on the generals, this is on the ruling class. They all suck.

He ordered a withdrawal from Afghanistan, and while it was ignored by the Pentagon, there's no way that it would have ended up any differently. We leave, and the corrupt, pathetic losers in charge in Afghanistan collapse like a fat man punched in the gut by Mike Tyson, Taliban takes over.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (KZzsI)

=========

The one major difference would be the potential number of arms claimed by the Taliban. A more measured drawn down would have pulled more of these assets out of the country. But still, yes, the Taliban would end up in control of the country, or we'd never leave.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 10:51 AM (LvTSG)

243 I look to the GOP to betray me, but never to save me.

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August

They will never have a chance to betray me again.

Posted by: Never Voting again at August 16, 2021 10:52 AM (4dCss)

244 So. The turd muncher is gonna make a statement today, supposedly at 2:45. However, I've received an advance copy and I can summarize it for all y'all --

blah blah Trump blah Trump Trump blah blah. Also, Trump. Additionally, Trump.

To which I reply, you nicklefucked every single one of Trump's policies and EOs, but somehow the 'deal' Trump made with the Taliban was sacrosanct and couldn't be changed. His poor little hands were tied, and it just ain't his fault, man.

You're welcome.

Posted by: GnuBreed at August 16, 2021 10:52 AM (F0YaR)

245 These nation building exercises were unwinnable. That was my thought when we committed to them but I really hoped my gut would be wrong. My gut was based on the religious divisions but I hadn't even considered the tribal factors. Nope. Can't have Jeffersonian Democracy when far too many in the countries in question see that as totally alien and weak and have an affinity towards the alternative.

Same with Vietnam, actually. I don't accept that we could have won without offering the peasants a serious alternative to communism. The North offered communism, while brutally and fundamentally flawed, was appealing to the unwashed masses as an alternative to corrupt bureaucratic feudalism. We offered a new set of corrupt bureaucrats. Some in the South fought fiercely against the commies (mostly those who had experienced communist abuse first hand in some aspect), but by and large they couldn't care all that much either way. Especially in the "fight to the death" way.

IMO this would have happened in some form or another at some point in time under the Trump plan as well. But, it doesn't bother me to see Biden getting the heat this time.

Posted by: Keith - Pinochet/Bell Helicopter 202447 at August 16, 2021 10:52 AM (jdGlx)

246 Why is the media thumping Biden over this? It's not because they are mad or surprised -- so why?

Is this a behind-the-scenes thing like Cuomo, where they are trying to distract from the nursing home deaths that could hurt other Blue State governors like Whitmer?

I KNOW they don't want Heels-Up as President, so what are they distracting us from? Or what plan are they working on, who do they want to replace Grandpa Badtouch with and how will they do it?

Posted by: acethepug at August 16, 2021 10:52 AM (qPKAe)

247 I don't think this really is going to hurt Biden. The attitude of most people is "who cares what those goat herders do to each other, we should have never gone there to begin with."

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:52 AM (KZzsI)

248 So biden is coming out of his basement at 3:45 today to speak
Posted by: It's me donna

It's the first trial run of his new animatronic double.

Posted by: Sock Monkey * Nil desperandum at August 16, 2021 10:52 AM (3C1R+)

249 "...so the people shouted, and the priests blew the horns. And it came to pass, when the people heard the horn, that the people gave a great shout, and the firebase on the other side of yon ridge heard that shout, and commenced an FFE mission, and the people heard the shells and shouted 'Incoming,' and the priests heard that shout and they shouted it, too, and everyone took cover, and the walls of Jericho, yea verily, they were leveled, so that the people went up into the city."

Posted by: ZOD at August 16, 2021 10:52 AM (xK9An)

250 STEGOSAURUS SHIT MY PANTS!

Posted by: Joe Biden at August 16, 2021 10:52 AM (rrqyB)

251 August 2021

A month that will live in infamy

Posted by: Pussy Galore at August 16, 2021 10:52 AM (GmzvP)

252 210 Hoyt,
Essentially, Western civilization has created its own death wish cult of Nihilism which ennervates leaders, leads to hedonism, and destroys the common people.

People with no hope in the future including an afterlife will more or less surrender to the pleasure/pain destruction of the immediate now in time and ignore any long term consequences. When that proportion becomes close to a majority in society, that civilization dies.

Posted by: whig at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (pO7gM)

253 Judas Iscariot used his 30 pieces of silver to buy an AR-15.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (JTpIQ)

254 So they trotting out Joey Bidet onto live TV?

Will he blow the last of his hair plugs? Stay tuned.

Posted by: Anna Puma at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (LE8xc)

255 People in the Bible didn't have cell phones either, and yet that jackass is posting on twitter.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe

Speaking of St. Paul and his E-Pistol, I'm currently reading "Paul, A Biography", by the esteemed NT Wright. It is excellent, and provides a yuge amount of context for the various epistles The Apostle wrote that have become scripture. I highly recommend.

Posted by: Sharkman at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (QkHuA)

256 213 I recall someone in the Bible with a slingshot.
_____________

That was David, but his was the souped-up version, with the solar-powered turbo charger, do don't feel bad for him.

Posted by: TrivialPursuer at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (k4dH2)

257 More Greenwald placing the blame where it belongs:
https://tinyurl.com/333rhyk7

Geez. Who here ever thought they would save a spot on their Post-Apoc Team for Glenn Greenwald?

Watch him turn out to be a PMI too...

Posted by: Hoyt's Paid Turkish Provocateur at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (49Exr)

258 The part where the DoS is requiring Americans in Kabul to " apply" online for " permission" to be transported out I find typical of this Marxist regime... wanna bet that the permissions will be determined by the " correctness" of those applying??

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (6Je/Q)

259 Has anyone done the math? How many flights to evacuate

1) American personnel and civilians
2) 30,000+ Afghans

Good luck with that.

Posted by: Ziba at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (S1hrL)

260 The attitude of most people is "who cares what those goat herders do to each other, we should have never gone there to begin with."

------------------

Probably correct. I don't think many on this board care about them much either. But we do care about the sacrifices made. And we should be pissed.

Posted by: SH (Non-Elite) at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (sX1BW)

261 He ordered a withdrawal from Afghanistan, and while it was ignored by the Pentagon, there's no way that it would have ended up any differently

Eventually, but he did have some requirements for leaving and he promised to punish the Taliban if they broke the agreement and he followed through when they broke the terms.... I doubt he would have left as much equipment and I believe he would have removed people from the embassy before dragging all the military out...

Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (I2VcN)

262 That Spiderman meme is wrong. The entire MIC/IC will turn as one, as they *always* do, and point the finger of blame for their chronic failures elsewhere. In this case, at Trump. And because they'll blame Trump this time, half the country will actually pretend to believe their lying asses, for once.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (GdOWZ)

263 The deep state didn't really care about anything but stopping the withdrawal and showing their ass. It had zero to do with Trump or Biden. It had to do with them. They really own this. But Biden is so incompetent he took the focus off of them. It's why they are all leaking they had nothing to do with this, and actually advise Puddin Head against it.

Posted by: Marcus T at August 16, 2021 10:54 AM (sOXXq)

264 The one major difference would be the potential number of arms claimed by the Taliban.

Maybe. The same people in the military are in charge now as were then. These are the same military who kept active troops in Syria and doing operations after Trump told them to get out. There's not really a lot of reason to expect they would have done what they are told, given that they flat out refused to pull out when ordered to, repeatedly.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:54 AM (KZzsI)

265 Don't look to the republican party to save you.
Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy is a great start, but there is so much more to be done!

There is no Republican Party. Only Zuul!

Posted by: Dana Barrett at August 16, 2021 10:54 AM (vcOmj)

266 re 84: I thought China's fall had something to do with Gen Vinegar Joe Stillwell.

Posted by: mallfly the Peach of Hoboken at August 16, 2021 10:54 AM (4a9Vv)

267 We could have wiped out the Taliban in 6 months if we wanted to. But when you tie one hand of every soldier on the ground in order to appease leftist TV networks, it's impossible to do that.

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 10:26 AM (GQ5VU)

Bingo. I still think the place should have been turned into a glass parking lot.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at August 16, 2021 10:54 AM (VwHCD)

268 August 2021

A month that will live in infamy

Naw, it's only been seven months- we're just getting started!

Posted by: The Biden Misadministration at August 16, 2021 10:55 AM (WLHrn)

269 Doug McClure and some hotty.
Posted by: irright at August 16, 2021

***
Pic 4 does resemble Doug McClure at that.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at August 16, 2021 10:55 AM (/XOcP)

270 Three quarters of hospital Covid cases in McAllen, Texas .. illegals

Posted by: SMOD at August 16, 2021 10:55 AM (RHGPo)

271 The part where the DoS is requiring Americans in Kabul to " apply" online for " permission" to be transported out I find typical of this Marxist regime... wanna bet that the permissions will be determined by the " correctness" of those applying??
Posted by: kraken

Have you been vaxxed?

Posted by: Bozo Conservative...Living on the Prison Planet at August 16, 2021 10:55 AM (vcOmj)

272 Posted by: GnuBreed at August 16, 2021 10:52 AM

Pretty sure you are right on the money with that

Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2021 10:56 AM (I2VcN)

273
They will never have a chance to betray me again.

Posted by: Never Voting again at August 16, 2021 10:52 AM (4dCss)

New nic concern troll is very concerned.

Posted by: GnuBreed at August 16, 2021 10:56 AM (F0YaR)

274 UPGRADE

I AM A GS-14

I DON'T CARE IF THERE IS NO FIRST CLASS ON THIS HELICOPTER

GET ANOTHER FIRST CLASS HELCOPTER

WHO IS YOUR MANAGER, MR MACHO MILITARY MAN

MANAGER! NOW!

Posted by: Karen, calling Mr. Talban HIMSELF at August 16, 2021 10:56 AM (QzkSJ)

275 I'm currently reading "Paul, A Biography", by the esteemed NT Wright. It is excellent, and provides a yuge amount of context for the various epistles The Apostle wrote that have become scripture. I highly recommend.

Yeah Wright is great on history and background. He gets screwy on justification and escatology, but if you avoid those areas he's solid.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:56 AM (KZzsI)

276 It absolutely would have ended differently if Trump had been President. I'm not going to give Biden the pleasure of being scapegoated by it just being a shitty place.

Posted by: SH (Non-Elite) at August 16, 2021 10:56 AM (sX1BW)

277 deleted

Posted by: SMOD at August 16, 2021 10:56 AM (RHGPo)

278 The part where the DoS is requiring Americans in Kabul to " apply" online for " permission" to be transported out I find typical of this Marxist regime... wanna bet that the permissions will be determined by the " correctness" of those applying??
Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (6Je/Q)

Saw an article earlier that said no priority given to American civilians over Afghans...an equal mix will be on the planes. WTF.

Posted by: Ziba at August 16, 2021 10:56 AM (S1hrL)

279 164 Fuck the NeoCons, I don't want a US soldier stepping foot on foreign soil again unless the homeland was actually attacked. And then I want to destroy the place and leave.
Posted by: Blago at August 16, 2021 10:34 AM (PwNLq)

An actual declaration of war which requires an unconditional surrender of one side or the other.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 16, 2021 10:42 AM (T7iTv)

This will never happen. Even if we were attacked, and by some miracle got the world to back us once again, our rules of engagement would prevent us from flattening that rock pile. Back into the briar patch we'd go.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at August 16, 2021 10:56 AM (mdjgu)

280 he'd have looked bad this year, had he won, but it would not have affected the election as he wanted it done by the end of 2020. The bad imagery etc would have all been after the election.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor

My understanding was there was summit planned at Camp David with the Taliban.

Now that could be fake news, but it seemed like Trump wanted this "wind down" to campaign on for 2020.

Posted by: Blago at August 16, 2021 10:56 AM (rgPy5)

281 He ordered a withdrawal from Afghanistan, and while it was ignored by the Pentagon, there's no way that it would have ended up any differently. We leave, and the corrupt, pathetic losers in charge in Afghanistan collapse like a fat man punched in the gut by Mike Tyson, Taliban takes over.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (KZzsI)
++++
Yes, I think that was inevitable. Under Trump's plan of staged withdrawal and handover with retaliation if the Taliban violated the agreement, however, would have been less disastrous. Victory was off the table, but we were in a position to choose how we'd lose. Under the Trump strategy (assuming it was executed by the generals and military generally), there wouldn't have been functional equipment and arms left behind, the step-down would have continued gradually, main strength through retaliation would have get the Taliban in line. We wouldn't be having a new Saigon moment.

12 months after final withdrawal, the country could have been in Taliban hands after the outrageous and embarrassing defeat of the Afghan regular army (which doesn't want to fight, or sympathizes with the Taliban) regardless, yes.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 16, 2021 10:56 AM (3p5uk)

282 I just think that some scores will be settled at that airport... this is the sort of rulers we have now...

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2021 10:57 AM (6Je/Q)

283 Probably correct. I don't think many on this board care about them much either. But we do care about the sacrifices made. And we should be pissed.
Posted by: SH (Non-Elite) at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM

THIS! My opinion. We should have sent more troops in right after 9-11. Bin Laden was cornered but Bush fucked it up in many ways. We should have leveled the place. Which wouldn't be much of a loss. And got out, no aid, no nation building etc. Fuck that. You mess with us and we will unleash hell on you and we won't even send a bottle of water. But we will level your country and leave you to your own devices.

Posted by: Minnfidel at August 16, 2021 10:57 AM (kI9rV)

284 There is nothing really to do anymore but watch the spectacle of America's crash. It's a fait accompli. The people in charge are not capable of not crashing, and feel no sense of duty in stopping it. The deeper truth to all this is that we need to crash.

Posted by: Ordinary American at August 16, 2021 10:57 AM (QIblF)

285 The part where the DoS is requiring Americans in Kabul to " apply" online

So they still have internet? Wonder how many asshats are still buried nosedeep in their phones?

Posted by: Sock Monkey * Nil desperandum at August 16, 2021 10:57 AM (3C1R+)

286 Harris was reportedly pressed to give an update on Afghanistan to the American people but refused.

White House source says Kamala Harris could be heard screaming today: "They will not pin this s*** on me!"

Posted by: SMOD at August 16, 2021 10:58 AM (RHGPo)

287 Happy Birthday!

Posted by: Joe Biden at August 16, 2021 10:58 AM (WLHrn)

288
*Gorilla*

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at August 16, 2021 10:58 AM (n+4am)

289 Luke 22:36 ....:and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. - Jesus

Im guessing the sword was the AR of the day.

Posted by: Fool Otto at August 16, 2021 10:58 AM (DB16e)

290 To fundamentally change a society in a war you have to kill a significant portion of its population - like we did in WWII.

Bribing our enemies and occasionally killing a few of them was never, ever going to work.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2021 10:58 AM (DpkTQ)

291 We could have wiped out the Taliban in 6 months if we wanted to. But when you tie one hand of every soldier on the ground in order to appease leftist TV networks, it's impossible to do that.
___________

Yep, and it was mainly the muzzie-loving Obama and his perfumed, rainbow-colored, graduate degrees in diversity and inclusion and white fragility bullshit, generals who wrote the most ridiculous ROE's.

Posted by: TrivialPursuer at August 16, 2021 10:58 AM (k4dH2)

292 Under the Trump strategy (assuming it was executed by the generals and military generally), there wouldn't have been functional equipment and arms left behind, the step-down would have continued gradually, main strength through retaliation would have get the Taliban in line.

That's the key, really. That the generals would do what they were told, when they repeatedly did not under Trump.

To me that was one of the most sickening parts, watching the military pull the mask off. Of all the possible institutions in the US, that was the one I thought least likely to stab him in the back, but they were lined up like the Panicking Woman scene in Airplane!

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:59 AM (KZzsI)

293 re; Vietnam

People tend to forget the 1972 Easter Offensive where North Vietnam tried to militarily conquer South Vietnam. ARVN forces with just US SF and air support destroyed that offensive. Look up the Battle of An Loc.

It wasn't until the Democrats in Congress cut off funding to Saigon that the North Vietnamese Army finally conquered South Vietnam.

Posted by: Anna Puma at August 16, 2021 10:59 AM (LE8xc)

294 Remember who the military leadership refused to let Trump withdraw from Afghanistan? Every solider that died between then and now died so these generals could help get Biden elected.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2021 10:59 AM (DpkTQ)

295 Im guessing the sword was the AR of the day.

They were just like the three-bladed shooting sword in The Sword and the Sorcerer.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at August 16, 2021 11:00 AM (QU5/8)

296

The photo of the chopper on the US Embassy in Saigon is complete bullshit.

I tried to post a link to help those few that are interested in actual history but it got rejected by the stupid filter

Posted by: Uncle Rick at August 16, 2021 11:00 AM (56PnC)

297 Boris Epshteyn, Former Special Assistant to Trump @borisep -
The Biden administration is not going to give priority to Americans looking to escape the Taliban in Afghanistan. They are giving priority to Afghanis. This administration is no longer feckless, pathetic, or useless, it is downright treasonous.
Posted by: Stellastwocents at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (cRbt7)

Tom Cotton has set up a direct phone line for any American left behind in Afghanistan so that he can try to get direct help for them So far this AM he had received over 500 calls . He said that there are thousands of Americans in the country that will need evacuated .

Posted by: Jen the original at August 16, 2021 11:00 AM (5HZN2)

298 Harris was reportedly pressed to give an update on Afghanistan to the American people but refused.

-------------------

Is it true? Sounds legit to me. I can see her being asked, and I can see her rightly saying screw that. It most certainly isn't her place. If Biden is incapable of leading, then she should take his place - as awful as that may be. It would not be worse, and it would at least be clarifying. I'm going to choose this is true because it is too comical to think otherwise. I can just hear some millennial staffer saying "Come on, the VP did it in Air Force One."

Posted by: SH (Non-Elite) at August 16, 2021 11:00 AM (sX1BW)

299 Luke 22:36 ....:and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. - Jesus

Im guessing the sword was the AR of the day.
Posted by: Fool Otto at August 16, 2021 10:58 AM (DB16e)

Ouch!!!! -- Guy at Gethsemane holding his ear and pointing at Peter.

Posted by: Napoleon XIV at August 16, 2021 11:00 AM (AiZBA)

300 Maybe an uncomfortable thought, but.... how many future domestic terrorists are we going to import in this bugout??? And I am not counting the State Department employees....

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2021 11:00 AM (6Je/Q)

301 299 Is it true? Sounds legit to me. I can see her being asked, and I can see her rightly saying screw that. It most certainly isn't her place. If Biden is incapable of leading, then she should take his place - as awful as that may be. It would not be worse, and it would at least be clarifying. I'm going to choose this is true because it is too comical to think otherwise. I can just hear some millennial staffer saying "Come on, the VP did it in Air Force One."
Posted by: SH (Non-Elite) at August 16, 2021 11:00 AM (sX1BW)

=========

"People only like me when I'm out of sight, like under a desk. I'm just gonna keep doing that."

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 11:01 AM (LvTSG)

302 Chalk me up as one who believes that, with the velvet gloves off and acting smartly, we could have destroyed the Taliban to the point of irrelevancy. But since Vietnam, our military has been handcuffed and tied at the ankles then told to fight. The pentagon is so worried about scandal and bad publicity that they destroy the military's ability to do its job.

With today's press and military mindset, we'd have lost WW2.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 11:01 AM (KZzsI)

303 To fundamentally change a society in a war you have to kill a significant portion of its population - like we did in WWII.

Bribing our enemies and occasionally killing a few of them was never, ever going to work.
Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2021 10:58 AM (DpkTQ)

Or at least not namby-pamby your way through nation building with this politically correct "all cultures are equal" bullshit.

We imposed major changes on Germany, and we pretty much rewrote Japan's entire culture into one that made the businessman the modern day warrior. We even outlawed their religion for a while.

Did we impose anything on Afghanistan at all? No. We pretended that they'd just take to democracy like a fish to water.

Posted by: Cato, Post-Apocalyptic Scourge of the Seas at August 16, 2021 11:01 AM (Msrhc)

304 Posted by: Ordinary American at August 16, 2021 10:57 AM (QIblF)

Yup, fait accompli and by the end of the week it will be all Fauxchi, CDC, and mandates.

Oh, and impeach Trump.

Posted by: Ziba at August 16, 2021 11:01 AM (S1hrL)

305 well it's an italian actress who did pirate films. Lisa Gastoni, then

Posted by: CN at August 16, 2021 10:51 AM (ONvIw)

Yes! That's exactly who it is!

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at August 16, 2021 11:01 AM (YXnKW)

306 Luke 22:36 ....:and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. - Jesus

Im guessing the sword was the AR of the day.
Posted by: Fool Otto at August 16, 2021 10:58 AM (DB16e)

Ouch!!!! -- Guy at Gethsemane holding his ear and pointing at Peter.
Posted by: Napoleon XIV

Friendly fire?

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2021 11:01 AM (OCTRt)

307 Has anyone done the math? How many flights to evacuate
Good luck with that.
Posted by: Ziba

Math be rayciss

So no problem

Afghanis be POC

We kool

Just don't be be puttin' out yo Kools on my hardwood embassy floors

Posted by: Billt Ray Valentine, Minister of "Defense" at August 16, 2021 11:01 AM (QzkSJ)

308 Why We Lost:

https://tinyurl.com/57uv6s8d

Posted by: kallisto at August 16, 2021 11:02 AM (DJFLF)

309 That's the key, really. That the generals would do what they were told, when they repeatedly did not under Trump.

To me that was one of the most sickening parts, watching the military pull the mask off. Of all the possible institutions in the US, that was the one I thought least likely to stab him in the back, but they were lined up like the Panicking Woman scene in Airplane!
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:59 AM (KZzsI)
++++
Which is why we were still in Afghanistan despite deadline after deadline expiring with no progress. But I suspect that Trump's plan (or his people's) would have had better outcomes than this shit show. And that the Biden administration is now saying this was "Trump's withdrawal" is as asinine as it is astounding. None of this was Trump's plan, and they know it. They were boasting about their new withdrawal plans - including Kamala making hay with her role in it - before it all went to shit.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 16, 2021 11:02 AM (3p5uk)

310 Crazy muja pic is priceless.

Posted by: runner at August 16, 2021 11:02 AM (iS/NP)

311 "The Biden administration is not going to give priority to Americans looking to escape the Taliban in Afghanistan. This administration is no longer feckless, pathetic, or useless, it is downright treasonous."
Posted by: Stellastwocents at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (cRbt7)

Try getting the GOP to say this.

Posted by: Ordinary American at August 16, 2021 11:02 AM (QIblF)

312 You know the senile old fraud will be reading the speech his handlers wrote for him and it will be rife with blame on Trump

Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2021 11:02 AM (I2VcN)

313 Maybe an uncomfortable thought, but.... how many future domestic terrorists are we going to import in this bugout???

Thousands. Trained, hardened zealots.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 11:02 AM (KZzsI)

314 Harris was reportedly pressed to give an update on Afghanistan to the American people but refused.

Why ask Harris or Biden when CNN is in bed with the Taliban? (or embedded with, I always forget)

Posted by: t-bird at August 16, 2021 11:02 AM (WLHrn)

315 so, what are the Republican leadership going to do about this administrations treasonous acts? LOL
There is something not right about all of this. And China has clearly received the signal to invade Taiwan without interference from the US. Trump was right when he said if the Dems get in we are going to see a worldwide depression the likes of which we can't imagine.

Posted by: Stellastwocents at August 16, 2021 11:03 AM (cRbt7)

316 230 Desert Storm did excellent but Bush screwed up and stopped too soon.

-
We're great at winning the war and losing the peace.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (d9FiS)

When Barry McCaffrey was ordered to halt his 24th Mechanized Infantry Division along the northern Kuwait-Iraq border, he assured Schwartzkopf he could get the Division to Baghdad and take the western section within 24 hours. He requested the order to go. Refused.

McCaffrey is a libtard. He was also a hard-ass successful warfighter in Desert Storm.

Posted by: Gref at August 16, 2021 11:03 AM (AMIL/)

317 Friendly fire?
Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2021 11:01 AM

A Roman soldier, IIRC

Posted by: Fool Otto at August 16, 2021 11:03 AM (DB16e)

318 Friendly fire?
Posted by: rickb223

Don't give pissacky any ideas

Posted by: Cautionary Miklos at August 16, 2021 11:03 AM (QzkSJ)

319
This one is truly remarkable. *Every* single thing he says in this one tweet about guns is wrong. Dumbness Level = 980 millikohns.

No, he got one thing right, the Glock IS the standard sidearm of the NYPD.

I still think you underestimated the Dumbness Level.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at August 16, 2021 11:03 AM (n+4am)

320 294 re; Vietnam

People tend to forget the 1972 Easter Offensive where North Vietnam tried to militarily conquer South Vietnam. ARVN forces with just US SF and air support destroyed that offensive. Look up the Battle of An Loc.

It wasn't until the Democrats in Congress cut off funding to Saigon that the North Vietnamese Army finally conquered South Vietnam.

me:
They won't. It's easier just to accept the lying scumbag media's version than to actually understand the facts.

Posted by: Uncle Rick at August 16, 2021 11:03 AM (56PnC)

321 The Biden administration is not going to give priority to Americans looking to escape the Taliban in Afghanistan.

None of that Trumpian "America First" garbage on our watch!

Posted by: The White House at August 16, 2021 11:03 AM (pbStR)

322 KumSwallow is incredibly unpopular and as dumb as a brick.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at August 16, 2021 11:03 AM (y7DUB)

323 On July 8, 2021, Bidete assured the nation that the Taliban was no match for the Afghan army of 300,000 strong...and that U.S. intelligence had not concluded that collapse of Afghan govt. was likely:

https://tinyurl.com/9jwu8yjn

Posted by: kallisto at August 16, 2021 11:03 AM (DJFLF)

324 306 i have no idea on the guy.

Posted by: CN at August 16, 2021 11:03 AM (ONvIw)

325 "Does anyone know a man in the Bible who had a gun?
"

Excellent point!

Now do legal abortions
and Islam

Write your answers on papyrus scrolls, and place in a clay jar.

No texting.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice. Asymptomatic raycist at August 16, 2021 11:03 AM (3D/fK)

326 Shouldn't it be The Bullwark? It is a bunch of bull.

Posted by: SFGoth (KAi1n/7HpQm) at August 16, 2021 11:04 AM (KAi1n)

327 Biden went to sleep earlier than usual tonight, per WH official. "He was confused by all the conflicting intel reports"

It's time for a fully functional POTUS

Posted by: SMOD at August 16, 2021 11:04 AM (RHGPo)

328 Remember when a solider got arrested for trying to stop one of our Afghan allies from raping a kid?

That's when you knew this war was not serious.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2021 11:04 AM (DpkTQ)

329 That gun expert forgot to mention that all Glocks have a chainsaw attachment point.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at August 16, 2021 11:04 AM (PiwSw)

330 The part where the DoS is requiring Americans in Kabul to " apply" online for " permission" to be transported out I find typical of this Marxist regime... wanna bet that the permissions will be determined by the " correctness" of those applying??
Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (6Je/Q)

___

Question 1:
Are you a white heterosexual male?

If Yes, your application has been denied

If No, go to question 2.

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 11:04 AM (GQ5VU)

331 Clock question" means more people calling Biden photo a fake.
https://tinyurl.com/5cmyujmp
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 16, 2021 10:19 AM (mZzAJ)

I wouldn't put it past the general incompetence of the Parasite State to have those clocks be manually adjusted by some chair-moistener pulling down six figures, who's been too stoned or busy watching pr0n at work since March to change the time.

Posted by: spindrift at August 16, 2021 11:05 AM (h5TKJ)

332 30k Afgan refugees are coming....

Posted by: runner at August 16, 2021 11:05 AM (iS/NP)

333 Poor Taiwan

I thought it would be years. It will months or weeks until China takes it.

How long until it is US that the Chinese take?

Posted by: Dr Evil, formerly Loki, looking to water the Tree of Liberty with my F-15 and nukes at August 16, 2021 11:05 AM (KqiMr)

334 Screw the Afghanis. Now we have our own oppressors to throw off.

Posted by: OleanderSalad at August 16, 2021 11:05 AM (qTq4x)

335 328 Biden went to sleep earlier than usual tonight, per WH official. "He was confused by all the conflicting intel reports"

Did they actually report that?

Posted by: It's me donna at August 16, 2021 11:05 AM (I2VcN)

336 Joe's days are numbered one way or another and Kamal will soon be president.
Who the Dems pick for her to select as Vice President is going to be the nominee in 2024

Posted by: JoeF. at August 16, 2021 11:05 AM (mR6Gs)

337 Breaking!

Apparently, Silly General Milley is going to receive a medal for the Afghan Operation:

The Pink Starfish for Conspicuous Showing of Your Ass During a Panicked Runaway Surrender.

Wear it proudly, Sir. Wear it proudly.

Posted by: naturalfake at August 16, 2021 11:05 AM (5NkmN)

338 Why We Lost:

https://tinyurl.com/57uv6s8d
Posted by: kallisto

In WWII, it was Why We Fight

Posted by: Miklos, unmemoryholed at August 16, 2021 11:05 AM (QzkSJ)

339 TRUMP'S MESS RAAWWK!

Posted by: Propaganda Parrot at August 16, 2021 11:05 AM (wzfz6)

340 and Islam

Write your answers on papyrus scrolls, and place in a clay jar.

The Byzantines seemed to think Islam was just another odd Christian heresy from the boonies at first.

Of course it isn't clear what early Islam believed either based on what we have for real historical records.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2021 11:05 AM (DpkTQ)

341 Salsa?

That looks more like pico de gallo.
Posted by: Anna Puma at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (LE8xc)

That is liquid-y. Pico has a more solid consistency.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 16, 2021 11:06 AM (T7iTv)

342 And this is a shocking example of how disconnected from reason and normal behavior the government and the military have become. Several weeks ago, pictures started surfacing of large quantities of our military hardware being abandoned in theater because it was either too old/worn out or too difficult to bring it home. I can understand that. I thought to myself, "surely, it has all been scuttled. They've been packing thermite grenades onto engine blocks or dumping sand in the transfer cases and shooting the equipment with 50 cal and disabling it. This is just so much future rust."

But that didn't happen. Seeing the Taliban not only with our transportation equipment but with our *weapons* and surveillance gear that we left behind has floored me. How fucking stupid are we? You don't abandon materiel in theater and leave it functional. That's super-basic shit.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 16, 2021 11:06 AM (3p5uk)

343 The deeper truth to all this is that we need to crash.
Posted by: Ordinary American at August 16, 2021 10:57 AM (QIblF)

I have a pet theory that Nero was misunderstood. He was fiddling out of joy not madness, happy to finally see this corrupt abomination burnt down to it's foundations.

Posted by: Hoyt's Paid Turkish Provocateur at August 16, 2021 11:06 AM (49Exr)

344 Administration is willing to work with Taliban... Carter was willing to work with Khomeini govt too. That worked out well...

Posted by: runner at August 16, 2021 11:06 AM (iS/NP)

345 309 Why We Lost:

https://tinyurl.com/57uv6s8d

Posted by: kallisto at August 16, 2021 11:02 AM (DJFLF)

But hey - at least the US government was able to fly the gay pride flag at the embassy 6 weeks ago. Not to mention the hard stop we did with the military to root out "white supremacists".

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at August 16, 2021 11:06 AM (N39Ws)

346 > You know the senile old fraud will be reading the speech his handlers wrote for him and it will be rife with blame on Trump.

Yup. However that is beginning to grow tiresome to the base he's playing to, which is getting smaller. The media will run with it, they can't help themselves in that regard. But it's a fact every administration blames their failures on the previous one.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 16, 2021 11:06 AM (BFigT)

347 I remember some interview with Colin Powell regarding Desert Storm where supposedly he ordered the fighting to stop after 24 hours because it was a "turkey shoot". His quote.

So basically stop a war with people that want to kill you because you are winning by too much of a margin.

Posted by: Blago at August 16, 2021 11:06 AM (rgPy5)

348 333 30k Afgan refugees are coming....
Posted by: runner at August 16, 2021 11:05 AM (iS/NP)

With Scatter-Site Housing provided gratis???

Posted by: kraken at August 16, 2021 11:06 AM (6Je/Q)

349 To fundamentally change a society in a war you have to kill a significant portion of its population - like we did in WWII.

Bribing our enemies and occasionally killing a few of them was never, ever going to work.
Posted by: 18-1

In all honesty, the Soviets DID that in the 1980's (killed easily over a million Afghans with bombing, etc), and yet, it really didn't work.
At that time, Pakistan was giving refuge to a lot of the fighting "Mujahadeen" in the provinces. The Soviets even, on occasion, bombed Pakistan (frontier provinces).
The Muj were getting arms from the US, China and Iran. They had no loyalty to anyone, outside of their own tribe. Bin Laden would have liked to have claimed influence, but he was a useless rubber duck in a bubble bath in Afghanistan. If you read about him, he was actually kind of a dumb-ass schnook.

Posted by: Bozo Conservative...Living on the Prison Planet at August 16, 2021 11:06 AM (vcOmj)

350 Shade War going hot - Kamala refused a request to do a presser today. Said she was focused on Haiti not Afghanistan. Now staffers for the rival teams have been openly fighting all day, per WH official

Posted by: SMOD at August 16, 2021 11:06 AM (RHGPo)

351 I don't think this really is going to hurt Biden. The attitude of most people is "who cares what those goat herders do to each other, we should have never gone there to begin with."
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:52 AM (KZzsI)
************
I think it will. Reading posts on FB and other social media sites and people are pissed that our border is open and another 9/11 could happen.

Posted by: redridinghood at August 16, 2021 11:06 AM (NpAcC)

352 When Barry McCaffrey was ordered to halt his 24th Mechanized Infantry Division along the northern Kuwait-Iraq border, he assured Schwartzkopf he could get the Division to Baghdad and take the western section within 24 hours. He requested the order to go. Refused.

Yeah Schwarzkopf made two big mistakes.

1) Stopping the highway of death
2) allowing the Iraqis to use helicopters

Both were obvious, unforced errors.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 11:07 AM (KZzsI)

353 Another 1000 paratroopers to Afghanistan, I guess meaning the airport? To do what exactly?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 16, 2021 11:07 AM (GPwVZ)

354 Who the Dems pick for her to select as Vice President is going to be the nominee in 2024

----------------------

Wasn't this the plot from the last season of Homeland?

Posted by: SH (Non-Elite) at August 16, 2021 11:07 AM (sX1BW)

355 No one is going to buy this on Trump.

Posted by: Blago at August 16, 2021 11:07 AM (rgPy5)

356 I have a pet theory that Nero was misunderstood. He was fiddling out of joy not madness, happy to finally see this corrupt abomination burnt down to it's foundations.
Posted by: Hoyt's Paid Turkish Provocateur at August 16, 2021 11:06 AM (49Exr)

Or maybe he realized that there was nothing he could do but dance around the fire of everything he once believed in.

Posted by: Cato, Post-Apocalyptic Scourge of the Seas at August 16, 2021 11:07 AM (Msrhc)

357 Let's predict Biden's speech.... "Afghanistan in untenable state after last four years of confusion and mixed messages.... we inherited chaos... American military doing its best to facilitate evacuation... America will be safe haven for refugees..."

Posted by: Ordinary American at August 16, 2021 11:07 AM (QIblF)

358 Questions a actual free and fair press would ask...

Gen Milley will you be resigning over this failure?

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2021 11:07 AM (DpkTQ)

359 Joe's days are numbered one way or another and Kamal will soon be president.
Who the Dems pick for her to select as Vice President is going to be the nominee in 2024
Posted by: JoeF. at August 16, 2021 11:05 AM (mR6Gs)

Yeah, I suspect Veep Throat will find herself aced out of most news cycles by whatever her Veep is doing.

Posted by: naturalfake at August 16, 2021 11:07 AM (5NkmN)

360 But that didn't happen. Seeing the Taliban not only with our transportation equipment but with our *weapons* and surveillance gear that we left behind has floored me. How fucking stupid are we? You don't abandon materiel in theater and leave it functional. That's super-basic shit.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 16, 2021 11:06 AM (3p5uk)

___

Biden is owned by China. China wanted that equipment. It's not stupidity, it's following the chain of command....Xi to Biden to Miley on down.

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 11:07 AM (GQ5VU)

361 I second the comment about Jack Posobiec being 50% bullshit. I'm just not sure if he makes it up or someone tells him bullshit and he runs with it anyway.
Anyway, he's not above saying things just to get clicks.
He also never seems to sleep.

Posted by: JoeF. at August 16, 2021 11:07 AM (mR6Gs)

362 That looks more like pico de gallo.

The line is really blurred between the two. Salsa is usually much hotter than pico though.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 11:08 AM (KZzsI)

363 342 Salsa?

That looks more like pico de gallo.
Posted by: Anna Puma at August 16, 2021 10:50 AM (LE8xc)

That is liquid-y. Pico has a more solid consistency.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 16, 2021 11:06 AM (T7iTv)

So something along the consistency of that Iranian General Solemeini after he was visited by a couple of our drones? Back when the USA actually had a president?

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at August 16, 2021 11:08 AM (N39Ws)

364 324 On July 8, 2021, Bidete assured the nation that the Taliban was no match for the Afghan army of 300,000 strong...and that U.S. intelligence had not concluded that collapse of Afghan govt. was likely:

https://tinyurl.com/9jwu8yjn
____________

That was a month ago.

It's just unreal how f*cking clueless that senile old fool is.

Posted by: TrivialPursuer at August 16, 2021 11:08 AM (k4dH2)

365 nood, boring news weekend results

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, nihilism is all fun and games with a Carpenter leading the way at August 16, 2021 11:08 AM (LvTSG)

366 Nood.

Posted by: What's a Seawolf? at August 16, 2021 11:08 AM (khAeP)

367 342 That is liquid-y. Pico has a more solid consistency.

hmm. that gives me an idea. *scribbles* pico brittle

Posted by: Anachronda at August 16, 2021 11:08 AM (fGXo6)

368 Another 1000 paratroopers to Afghanistan, I guess meaning the airport? To do what exactly?

-----------------

Why not just send James Taylor to sing an acoustic song of peace?

Posted by: SH (Non-Elite) at August 16, 2021 11:08 AM (sX1BW)

369 317 230 Desert Storm did excellent but Bush screwed up and stopped too soon

Me: Turkey refused to allow the 4th Division (the US Military's most powerful) to travel through its territory. Tactically, Bush had to stop.

Turkey is not, and has never been, an ally

Posted by: Uncle Rick at August 16, 2021 11:08 AM (56PnC)

370 Another 1000 paratroopers to Afghanistan, I guess meaning the airport? To do what exactly?
Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 16, 2021 11:07 AM (GPwVZ)
++++
Hold back the hordes and maintain clearance for the evacuation - and hope and pray like never before that they get out on the last planes or helicopters instead of become hostages or corpses.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 16, 2021 11:08 AM (3p5uk)

371 I remember some interview with Colin Powell regarding Desert Storm where supposedly he ordered the fighting to stop after 24 hours because it was a "turkey shoot". His quote.

So basically stop a war with people that want to kill you because you are winning by too much of a margin.
Posted by: Blago

I understand the "Mercy Rule" in D League Recreational Softball, but not in war.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (OCTRt)

372 Kamala refused a request to do a presser today. Said she was focused on Haiti not Afghanistan.

How many damned countries ARE there?!

Posted by: Kamala Harris at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (pbStR)

373 No one is going to buy this on Trump.
Posted by: Blago at August 16, 2021 11:07 AM (rgPy5)

Unless they are already in the throes of TDS

Posted by: JoeF. at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (mR6Gs)

374 One thing to consider with WWII comparisons is that each defeated society was susceptible to the post war western peace.

Germany was a western society with a base of western values and at least some experience with a representative government.

japan was unified under the wishes of the emperor. They also had some experience with representation. When the emperor supported the MacArthur plan they went along.

Then you had the very real Soviet threat for each.

The nation building involved was relatively easy when it was obvious the war was lost. Of course, we are also talking about conventional nation states vs. religious and tribal conglomerations with non traditional values (relative to the west) and motivations.

Posted by: Keith - Pinochet/Bell Helicopter 202447 at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (jdGlx)

375 I cannot see a way that the left will successfully lay this on Trump, its been too long and the entire process took place under Biden.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (KZzsI)

376 McCaffrey is a libtard. He was also a hard-ass successful warfighter in Desert Storm.
Posted by: Gref

I got stuck on stupid.

Go figuree

Posted by: Gen Miklos-Russel Honoree at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (QzkSJ)

377 Bidet Admin says no preference to Americans in Kabul. Just like it says no to Americans at home.
Illegals and now Afghan refugees. How much more are we going to take?

If this is not worth standing up for, what is?

Posted by: Ziba at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (S1hrL)

378 What do places do with uneaten chips and salsa? This had always bothered me

Posted by: banana Dream at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (auAfW)

379 Kamala refused a request to do a presser today. Said she was focused on Haiti not Afghanistan.

How many damned countries ARE there?!
Posted by: Kamala Harris at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (pbStR)

She can't focus on TWO things at the same time?

Posted by: JoeF. at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (mR6Gs)

380 Saint Paul had epistle.

Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (xopIz)

381 Hey Miklos!
I worked with George Soros back then, also. It, too, was for an educational project.

Posted by: French Jeton at August 16, 2021 11:10 AM (pj5K6)

382 Did you guys see there's another bit of damning information in Biden's little Camp David picture?

Apparently the clocks are set to standard time, which means the photo was taken before March.

https://bit.ly/3yRX2TF

Posted by: bonhomme at August 16, 2021 11:10 AM (i0wNm)

383 Remember when a solider got arrested for trying to stop one of our Afghan allies from raping a kid?

That's when you knew this war was not serious.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2021 11:04 AM (DpkTQ)

I knew we were screwed when they fucked over Alan West.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at August 16, 2021 11:10 AM (VwHCD)

384 In Stormin' Norman's book he admits allowing the Iraqis use of helicopters was a serious mistake.

Posted by: Anna Puma at August 16, 2021 11:11 AM (LE8xc)

385 Stop everything. We need to go back into Afghanistan. It has been learned that there is a tranny USAF veteran contractor trapped in a Taliban controlled area.
--Every leftist

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at August 16, 2021 11:11 AM (N39Ws)

386 I don't think this really is going to hurt Biden. The attitude of most people is "who cares what those goat herders do to each other, we should have never gone there to begin with."
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 10:52 AM (KZzsI)

For now this will damage him more inside DC than outside, and erode his ability to enact larger agenda. Media is forced to talk about this in ways they are not with his other debacles.

Posted by: Ordinary American at August 16, 2021 11:11 AM (QIblF)

387 "how many future domestic terrorists are we going to import in this bugout?"

Working up my Dari translator now:

hawula' laysuu mithliiy aljins alnaaziiyn aladhin tabhath eanhum

(these are not the gay nazis you are looking for)

Posted by: Hoyt's Paid Turkish Provocateur at August 16, 2021 11:11 AM (49Exr)

388 Just imagine if this were under Trump!!!! The screaming on CNN, ABCBSNBC! The Times and WaPo!!!! Just imagine the 24/7 coverage!!!

The media are the flying monkeys of the Democrats.

Posted by: SMOD at August 16, 2021 11:11 AM (RHGPo)

389 Miranda Devine is slamming Biden on Outnumbered. Can't wait for her book to come out on Hunter.
Miranda talked with Trump yesterday and said this would not have happened under Trump and gave details as to why.

Posted by: redridinghood at August 16, 2021 11:11 AM (NpAcC)

390 383 Did you guys see there's another bit of damning information in Biden's little Camp David picture?

Apparently the clocks are set to standard time, which means the photo was taken before March.

https://bit.ly/3yRX2TF

Posted by: bonhomme at August 16, 2021 11:10 AM (i0wNm)

Didn't I hear that there were CIA agents on that call that were "outed" as well?

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at August 16, 2021 11:11 AM (N39Ws)

391 If the left wanted to blame the Afghan war on Trump they shouldn't have stolen the election from him.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2021 11:11 AM (DpkTQ)

392 So, have they determined who will perform the seppuku ?
... or will be Jim Jones style ?

Posted by: SMOD at August 16, 2021 11:11 AM (RHGPo)

393 The nation building involved was relatively easy when it was obvious the war was lost. Of course, we are also talking about conventional nation states vs. religious and tribal conglomerations with non traditional values (relative to the west) and motivations.

Posted by: Keith - Pinochet/Bell Helicopter 202447 at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (jdGlx)

In 2003, I thought there was a slight chance that Iraq could be molded into a real country, but I always knew A'Stan was a lost cause.

Posted by: JoeF. at August 16, 2021 11:12 AM (mR6Gs)

394 I cannot see a way that the left will successfully lay this on Trump, its been too long and the entire process took place under Biden.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (KZzsI)

You underestimate the Left and the cluelessness of the majority of American people, imo. What hasn't the Left laid on Trump with more or less success and they're still doing it!

Posted by: Ziba at August 16, 2021 11:12 AM (S1hrL)

395 Another question a free and fair press would ask...

Was flying the gay flag in Afghanistan needless provocation?

Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2021 11:12 AM (DpkTQ)

396 People with no hope in the future including an afterlife will more or less surrender to the pleasure/pain destruction of the immediate now in time and ignore any long term consequences. When that proportion becomes close to a majority in society, that civilization dies.
Posted by: whig at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (pO7gM

The last time this happened it was called, "The Dark Ages".

Posted by: tbodie at August 16, 2021 11:12 AM (YE5vl)

397 She can't focus on TWO things at the same time?
Posted by: JoeF. at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (mR6Gs)

Trust us, she can.

Posted by: Turkish Joe, Bob and Big Mike at August 16, 2021 11:13 AM (49Exr)

398 One thing to consider with WWII comparisons is that each defeated society was susceptible to the post war western peace.

Germany was a western society with a base of western values and at least some experience with a representative government.

I don't think any of this is true. Germany had virtually no history of democracy. The brief democracy it had was squalid. And the Hun's commitment to "Western" values has always been overstated. They were susceptible to normalization because we firebombed their cities into ruins, we actively deNazified the country, and doing what we said clearly beat watching their women be gangraped by Russians.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at August 16, 2021 11:13 AM (QU5/8)

399 If the left wanted to blame the Afghan war on Trump they shouldn't have stolen the election from him.
Posted by: 18-1 at August 16, 2021 11:11 AM (DpkTQ)

They didn't want Trump to get credit for ending it and bringing the boys home.
Also, they tried to be too slick making the date 9/11

Posted by: JoeF. at August 16, 2021 11:13 AM (mR6Gs)

400
Poor Taiwan

I thought it would be years. It will months or weeks until China takes it.

Posted by: Dr Evil, formerly Loki, looking to water the Tree of Liberty with my F-15 and nukes at August 16, 2021 11:05 AM (KqiMr)

The thing that's both scary, and possibly satisfying is that I don't think there's any illusions in Taiwan about what the ChiComs are planning once they get on the ground there. Flat out genocide, because they are still jonesing for vengeance against the Kuomintang after 70+ years.

So I fully expect Taiwan to start assembling the nukes before long, and a lot of Chinese coastal cities are likely to be turned into glass parking lots, including Peking itself. Of course, Taiwan itself will be first, and it'll just be a gesture of defiance before the whole island dies, but at least it'll give the rest of the world a chance in the aftermath.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at August 16, 2021 11:13 AM (n+4am)

401 The nation building involved was relatively easy when it was obvious the war was lost. Of course, we are also talking about conventional nation states vs. religious and tribal conglomerations with non traditional values (relative to the west) and motivations.

Posted by: Keith - Pinochet/Bell Helicopter 202447 at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (jdGlx)

___

You'd think they teach that at the Harvard School of Public Policy, that graduates all the super smart people at the State Dept. Apparently not.

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 11:14 AM (GQ5VU)

402 @300

Peter had been negligent in his training regimen and missed, badly.

Posted by: CZ = FNG To Remain Silent Because, FNG at August 16, 2021 11:14 AM (MkuC5)

403 Kamala wants to bring the Haitians here. Wait for it.

Posted by: Ziba at August 16, 2021 11:15 AM (S1hrL)

404 Has anyone done the math? How many flights to evacuate

1) American personnel and civilians
2) 30,000+ Afghans

Good luck with that.
Posted by: Ziba at August 16, 2021 10:53 AM (S1hrL)
1000 plus flights.

Posted by: LASue at August 16, 2021 11:15 AM (Ed8Zd)

405 Posted by: IllTemperedCur at August 16, 2021 11:13 AM (n+4am)

I see the possibility of the use of nukes more likely than ever. The world is descending into an unsupervised kindergarten.

Posted by: Ordinary American at August 16, 2021 11:16 AM (QIblF)

406 I don't think any of this is true. Germany had virtually no history of democracy. The brief democracy it had was squalid. And the Hun's commitment to "Western" values has always been overstated. They were susceptible to normalization because we firebombed their cities into ruins, we actively deNazified the country, and doing what we said clearly beat watching their women be gangraped by Russians.
Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at August 16, 2021 11:13 AM (QU5/

Nonsense. Germany was totally Westernized by 2000 years of Christianity plus the Reformation
They had little history being a unified state true, but they had a lot of stuff going for it that no Muzzie country ever had.

Posted by: JoeF. at August 16, 2021 11:16 AM (mR6Gs)

407 Did you guys see there's another bit of damning information in Biden's little Camp David picture?

Apparently the clocks are set to standard time, which means the photo was taken before March.

https://bit.ly/3yRX2TF
Posted by: bonhomme at August 16, 2021 11:10 AM (i0wNm)
++++
Or the clocks were wrong.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 16, 2021 11:18 AM (3p5uk)

408 And I think it likely that most of the Afghanis have decided that no, it's not worth it. They would rather live under the Taliban as best as they can and not fight them.
_________

If history is any guide, many will fight. But not in the way we think, some cause against the Taliban, or whoever else is "in charge." They'll just fight among themselves, as they have done for ages. I see no reason to think the Taliban will "rule" Afghanistan any more than anyone else did.

I will grant that, contrary to what many say, Alexander and Genghis did beat them. But we're not likely to embrace outright genocide. And of course, neither tried to stay.

The trick is, as it has always been, to forget nation building. If this week's President for Life is too obnoxious, get in, get rid of him, and get out. Always was my position.

Posted by: Eeyore at August 16, 2021 11:19 AM (7X3UV)

409 Or the clocks were wrong.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 16, 2021 11:18 AM (3p5uk)

That's reassuring

Posted by: JoeF. at August 16, 2021 11:19 AM (mR6Gs)

410 In other news...

For the 1/2 half of 2021, only 10% of new cars sold in Norway were either gas or diesel. 60% were all electric and 30% were hybrid.

I know one of the big arguments against EVs is cold weather makes them unusable. Norway is kinda cold, I think.

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 11:20 AM (GQ5VU)

411 ++++
Or the clocks were wrong.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 16, 2021 11:18 AM (3p5uk)

They're right twice a day.

Posted by: JoeF. at August 16, 2021 11:20 AM (mR6Gs)

412 How can you tell if a clock is set to standard time or not?

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 11:21 AM (GQ5VU)

413 Nonsense. Germany was totally Westernized by 2000 years of Christianity plus the Reformation

Germany was Christianized fully something around, what, 700? So rather less than 2000 years.

Now, do Russia. Which was Christianized, what, some 200 years later?

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at August 16, 2021 11:22 AM (QU5/8)

414 376 I cannot see a way that the left will successfully lay this on Trump, its been too long and the entire process took place under Biden.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (KZzsI)

Doesn't mean they're not going to try. And when it's obvious nobody is buying it, they'll just repeat the 'Trump did it' talking points, only louder, more shrill, and more frantic.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at August 16, 2021 11:22 AM (YXnKW)

415 I cannot see a way that the left will successfully lay this on Trump, its been too long and the entire process took place under Biden.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at August 16, 2021 11:09 AM (KZzsI)

__

Obama/MSM were blaming Bush in 2013/4 for bad unemployment numbers.

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 11:23 AM (GQ5VU)

416 411 In other news...

For the 1/2 half of 2021, only 10% of new cars sold in Norway were either gas or diesel. 60% were all electric and 30% were hybrid.

I know one of the big arguments against EVs is cold weather makes them unusable. Norway is kinda cold, I think.
Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 11:20 AM (GQ5VU)

Govt incentives make it cheaper to go electric.

https://elbil.no/english/norwegian-ev-policy/

It will end in disaster.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe at August 16, 2021 11:23 AM (UuD2k)

417 Does anyone know a man in the Bible who had a gun?

*****

Elijah called in an air support mission to fire on his position when battling the prophets of Ba'al.

Posted by: Muldoon at August 16, 2021 11:26 AM (Xwt96)

418 And why the fuck is there a Naval base is Indiana??!?!?

Posted by: Joe XiDen - Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya help ya help ya Variant at August 16, 2021 10:43 AM (GQ5VU)

NSWC Crane. They're a R&D base for Naval gunnery and missiles. They also manage "Constitution Grove" - a white oak forest maintained to support Old Ironsides.

Posted by: Jeff Weimer at August 16, 2021 11:26 AM (fpng3)

419 Salsa.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, #SuperStraight #maskless (Mzdiz) at August 16, 2021 11:26 AM (Mzdiz)

420 @JackPosobiec

We now have multiple reports that US forces on the ground warned Biden the collapse was happening and he gave the order anyway, while saying the opposite in public

Posted by: Tami at August 16, 2021 11:27 AM (cF8AT)

421 And there Used to be a Navy base in *Iowa*. NAS Ottumwa. Was a training base for heavy lift transport aircraft (C-46 and larger). My great uncle was a nose-picker there during WWII.

Posted by: Jeff Weimer at August 16, 2021 11:28 AM (fpng3)

422 I don't think any of this is true. Germany had virtually no history of democracy. The brief democracy it had was squalid. And the Hun's commitment to "Western" values has always been overstated. They were susceptible to normalization because we firebombed their cities into ruins, we actively deNazified the country, and doing what we said clearly beat watching their women be gangraped by Russians.
Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at August 16, 2021 11:13 AM (QU5/

I was being generous with both German and Japan in that regard. Both had parliaments dating back before WWI, though there was strong authoritarian leadership. And clearly the Soviet threat was a critical driver for both. Firebombing both countries to ash did little to change the basic support for the regimes, though.

They were conventional conflicts, with nation states, and our alternative at the end of the war was acceptable to both societies. In the middle east, our alternatives are not acceptable to a great many parties. Our alternatives are seen as degenerate, weak, ineffective, unrealistic (relative to how they know society works). 4th Generation warfare.

Posted by: Keith - Pinochet/Bell Helicopter 202447 at August 16, 2021 11:29 AM (jdGlx)

423 Saigon redux. This was coming from the get go.

Unmistakable.

Posted by: irongrampa at August 16, 2021 11:34 AM (KATBx)

424 We could have wiped out the Taliban in 6 months if we wanted to. But when you tie one hand of every soldier on the ground in order to appease leftist TV networks, it's impossible to do that.

Well, the Russians were much harsher that we would be will to be and ....

Posted by: Paladin at August 16, 2021 11:36 AM (7qvpm)

425 This is just the "defund the police" argument for the rest of the world. Like, Chicago (say) is full of thugs who rob and rape the populace, so we pay for policemen to control them. But after 20 years there are still criminals. What's the endgame? When will we be able to stop paying cops because we've solved crime? It's hopeless. We give up. So let's pull out all the police overnight and send in some social workers from the UN to ask them to be nice. That doesn't work, the thugs get stronger and start spreading, and eventually come knocking on our door again, and we're all astonished that the world works this way. Afghanistan works like Chicago, or weeding the back yard for that matter - you can't ever stop. You have to keep fighting, or the thugs take over. All that is required for evil to win is for good men to do nothing.

Posted by: NiV at August 16, 2021 11:37 AM (XRqr/)

426 There's a NAS in Fallon, NV too.

Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at August 16, 2021 11:58 AM (xopIz)

427 The fall of Afghanistan is a SUCCESS for the Deep State. This is EXACTLY what they want their puppet Biden to do. Make no mistake, this is their progress in their quest to kill us all. And yes: They want us DEAD, DEAD, DEAD!!!

Posted by: Jonah Kyle at August 16, 2021 12:08 PM (R4j1g)

428 1. Afghanistan is NOT in the "Middle East". Perhaps you should say what you mean -- in the "Muslim world."

Posted by: Delilah at August 16, 2021 12:20 PM (PfCku)

429 I feel sorry for the Afghanies that have reason to believe that they are going to be the subject of retaliation.

I do not feel sorry for the Afghans as a nation. let it be.

Neither nither nor and if, por favor,
dondo puerdo compra cocaina.
Just to enhance my evening during these cold times.

Truth be told I do believe the Taliban are going to behave themselves if only to prove us all wrong.

Posted by: FundMe at August 16, 2021 02:49 PM (e5IqU)

430 "'Nonsense. Germany was totally Westernized by 2000 years of Christianity plus the Reformation'

"Germany was Christianized fully something around, what, 700? So rather less than 2000 years.

"Now, do Russia. Which was Christianized, what, some 200 years later?"

A quick look at Wiki (I know, I know) tells me that missionary efforts to Christianize Germany were adversely affected by the Norman conquest of the Anglo Saxons (apparently the main source of missionaries for Germany) in 1066. And the Prussian Crusade by the Teutonic Knights to forcibly Christianize the pagan old Prussians, amongst others, was still going on in the 13th Century. So Germany wasn't fully Christianized until maybe 800 years ago. And it wouldn't surprise me to learn that there were still pockets of pagan worship remaining much later.

Posted by: Carlos V at August 16, 2021 02:51 PM (Ap+cR)

431 About the Saigon picture - that isn't the US embassy and that isn't a military helo. It is the Pittman Building and that helo was flown by an Air America crew. Bob Caron was the pilot, Jack Hunter was the co-pilot, and OB Harnage was the crew chief. You can see Harnage outside the bird helping people. The photo was taken by a Dutch photographer Hubert van Es. I think they are all gone now.

Posted by: Richard at August 16, 2021 05:37 PM (6KoNE)

432 Puma, hanging around, bang bang thank you mam.

Posted by: FundMe at August 16, 2021 07:47 PM (e5IqU)

433 Least but not last

Posted by: FundMe at August 16, 2021 08:17 PM (e5IqU)

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