With the new round of Doha peace talks between the US and Taliban
getting underway, reports are that a peace deal could be reached. On
Thursday, reports indicated that could include the US withdrawing 5,000 troops as an initial cut.
Though no deal is apparently finalized as of Thursday evening, the indications are that the US has expressed a willingness for more or less immediate draw down of forces in return for a Taliban ceasefire.
US officials have long presented the peace process as four stages, with
deals on withdrawing foreign troops, the Taliban pledging to keep ISIS
and al-Qaeda out of Afghanistan, the ceasefire, and then a power-sharing
deal between the Taliban and Ghani government.
The first two parts seem to be more or less settled, and the reports
suggest the ceasefire may be coming along with them for an immediate
drawdown. The Afghan government has appointed people to negotiate with
the Taliban now, and seems likely to be moving to do so quick if
everything else starts falling into place.
Will we see the mighty empire holding the white flag and its tail between the legs?
So that will pretty much eliminate Trump’s “surge”. Wonderful. Now lets see how long presidents Trump, Pompeo and Bolton take to remove the remainder of the troops.
I am sure if trump can get troop and air strike levels down to when he took office, his supporters will hail a “great victory”
Willing is not yet doing. After the reduction by 5000 at least 9000 are left in Afghanistan.
May 2014: Obama announces his plan to pull virtually all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by the end of 2016, when his second term in office will be drawing to a close.
December 2014: Troop levels have been cut in half since Obama’s announcement in May, down to 16,100. Obama declares their combat mission over, but troops will continue training and advising Afghan forces.
March 2015: Troops decline to their current number — about 9,800 — on track for a nearly total withdrawal in 2016.
Oct. 15, 2015: In a reversal, Obama says the situation is too fragile for the American military to leave. He announces plans to keep the current force of about 9,800 in place through most of 2016 to continue counterterrorism missions and advise Afghans battling a resurgent Taliban. The plan is for the number to decrease to about 5,500 troops by December 2016.
July 6, 2016: Saying the security situation in Afghanistan “remains precarious,” Obama announces that instead of dropping the U.S. troop level to 5,500, he will keep it at about 8,400 through the end of his term on Jan. 20, 2017. He said his successor can determine the next move.
Continued….trump deploys 7000 combat troops in early 2017, and greatly increases airstrikes. A campaign promise trump kept, was to keep deployments “secret”, obviously from US citizens, as the national resistance in Afghanistan know how many come and go, and what they are doing there. Today’s estimate is 14,ooo US military personnel, 26,ooo “contractors”, of which 11ooo are US citizens.
Right, I wonder how much Eric Prince, the brother of Betsy DeVos, is making by making war in Afghanistan.
2014 was 5 years and about 11 months after it was obvious that Obama was a lousy president.
I see the typical Trump whining in the comments, so let me be the first to say this a good move, and hopefully a precursor to full withdrawal.
I see, stating trump deployments is “whining”….. guess that’s all this blog is, people whining about war.
Sorry I can’t get excited to be back where we were when Trump took office. Especially since he increased the bombing and lessened the rules of engagement so we could kill a little easier. Oh, and the MOAB that gave him a chubbie. But sure, good move.
The thief is upset we didn’t thank him for returning the wallet he stole, with the money gone.
We likely have terrorists crossing our southern border. FBI terrorism-related investigations across the US may be a hint.
I’m not concerned about Al Qaeda or ISIS members coming to America. The US and Israel have supported them all along, so I just assume their US “sponsors” have given them a home here or possibly in Israel and Saudi Arabia, among other locales.
Trump, Pompeo, and Bolton are worried the Taliban and Iran will succeed in wiping out their proxy force.
The scenario I see is Taliban operations against US troops escalates. US MSM will refuse to report most instances, fearing an intense US citizen backlash.
Trump supporters may yet see the light re 2016 campaign promises. At some point, delivery is requested on at least one foreign policy promise.
“terrorists crossing our southern border”, possible, I guess. But we know for sure white nationalist domestic terrorists are driving around our towns today, right now.
If you’re referring to Antifa, I don’t think they have a nationalist bone. Are you referring to cops and sheriffs deputies?
Respond.
Guess considering all the things to be scared of…..kinda shows where you are at.
I’m trying to figure out where your at. You’re being vague. The terrorists you refer to are ANTIFA? Not placing words in your mouth, just attempting an honest answer.
Some people are think of LEOs as globalist enablers, and that’s understandable if Portland, Seattle, and perhaps San Francisco are the examples.
Where I’m “at” is outside the continental 48 within a year, barring something unforeseen. Where are you at?
Antifa is not a terror organization, unless one were a fascist. The evidence of terrorists coming across the southern border is not substantiated at all. Since you mentioned terrorists in the US , I mentioned white nationalists 3 days ago, morbidly prescient. What’s a LEO ?
Invading Afghanistan was never about ousting al-CIAda. It was about securing the lucrative Afghan drug trade and their lithium deposits, and enriching the MIC, of course. PNAC neocons like Bolton and Cheney made out like bandits on lucrative deals for defense contractors. We have effectively destroyed the country for money and the Taliban know this. Just like in Vietnam, it will take decades to restore some semblance of normality to that poor benighted land. If the Taliban know what’s good for the country they will hook up with the New Silk Road initiative and deny the Empire any profits ever again.
I wholeheartedly agree, Thomas Carlson. Invading Afghanistan certainly wasn’t about ousting al-CIAda at all .. It was all about securing the lucrative Afghan drug trade and their lithium deposits, and enriching the MIC, of course. Indeed, PNAC Bolsheviks like Bonkers Bolton and Darth Cheney made out like bandits (which they were) on lucrative deals for defense contractors,
Yes, we’ve effectively destroyed the country for mompireney and the Taliban know this .. And just like in Vietnam, it’ll take decades to restore some semblance of normality to that poor benighted land. If the Taliban knows what’s good for their country the’ll hook up with the New Silk Road initiative and deny the Empire any profits ever again.
Excellent point.
Hey, you lost – deal with it.