As part of his Axios interview, President Trump reiterated plans to cut another 4,000 US troops from Afghanistan by the November election, saying he estimates 4,000 or 5,000 will be left after that. Pentagon officials announced planned cuts awhile ago.
Trump has been wanting to cut US troops from Afghanistan since the peace deal was worked out, and was particularly interested in removing much of the force before the election. At the same time, it seems unlikely he’ll get all US troops out by then.
It’s not impossible, however. US drawdowns have been way ahead of schedule in Afghanistan, despite intra-Afghan talks being rather slow. The question is if the US wants to finish up by then or simply get close enough.
Trump has played on the 19 years in Afghanistan being too long, and it is hopeful that it might come to an end. At the same time, the Pentagon emphasizes any cuts are “conditions-based.”
“The question is if the US wants to finish up by then or simply get close enough.”
I’d bet my house on “close enough”. Probably in 2024 also. Those bullsh*t articles about “ISIS resurgence” in Afghanistan aren’t for nothing.
Somewhat ironically, the Taliban have proven themselves to be the most efficient force taking them on. Why waste all that blood when the Taliban is more than happy to do it for us?
Trump will likely pull just enough troops out to get the Democrats to sh*t the peace vote by overreacting like neocons, and then send them back in if/when he wins to fight some “New” fangled ISIS threat. Ain’t democracy grand?!
While ending the war in Afghanistan would be good politics, it doesn’t come anywhere close to giving Trump the election. Trump is toast, and, although the devil coming in will present a new set of evils, I will be glad to see the old devil leave. I always welcome kicking out the president after one term, it’s the only way to have any accountability at all.
Biden’s team is terrifying. One thing that can be said for Trump is at least he didn’t know how to start a war. He couldn’t even take Portland, let alone Tehran.
“Biden’s team is terrifying.”
I agree. There are one or two on this site who think he is sufficiently the lesser of two evils to actually vote for him, but I cannot agree, as the same order of an infinite quantity is always equivalent in number.