According to a report from NBC News, President Biden is considering keeping troops in Afghanistan until November instead of leaving by May 1st, the deadline set by the US-Taliban peace deal.
Citing “people familiar with the matter,” the NBC report said Biden has been pushing back against the Pentagon’s efforts to stay in Afghanistan after May 1st but has been convinced to consider a six-month extension.
Biden was presented with three options: leave by May 1st, extend the withdrawal deadline, or stay in Afghanistan indefinitely. The report said deliberations are still being made, and a final decision has not been reached.
An extension of the withdrawal deadline would have to be negotiated with the Taliban, or the group would again target US troops. February 8th marked the first full year since the war started that no US troops died in combat in Afghanistan.
In an interview that aired Wednesday, Biden said meeting the May 1st deadline would be “tough” and that he is still in the process of making a decision on withdrawal.
On Thursday, Zalmay Khalilzad, the US envoy for the Afghanistan peace process, participated in an Afghanistan summit in Moscow. The US, Russia, Pakistan, and China all called for the warring sides to agree to a ceasefire.
Is their any doubt the US can’t adhere to treaties and troop withdrawals–agreements in general?
With the bombing of Taliban positions, I guess that means troops will be there beyond even November.
They will never leave with warmongers like Biden in charge.
Back to “6 more months and we will see”? I guess you have to recycle if you want to go past 20 years.
It’s getting more interesting–
…from TOLO, Afghanistan
Representatives in Moscow Reject Restart of Islamic Emirate
Point of Order!! The Agreement last year was repeatedly stated as being between the US and “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban.”
The six-month itch. Come November it will become May 2022.
re: An extension of the withdrawal deadline would have to be negotiated with the Taliban, or the group would again target US troops.
You got that right.
from Stripes, Mar 19
Taliban expect US withdrawal, vow to restore Islamic rule
https://thealtworld.com/andrew_korybko/should-iran-be-worried-about-russias-coordination-with-israel-the-us-in-syria2
http://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=1969
Should Iran be worried about Russia-US-Israel coordination in Syria?
It strikes me as an odd war, so this assertion may not be without some merit. It could mean Iran and Russia aren”t kosher regarding many Middle East issues.
The theft of Syrian oil hasn’t elicited a Russian military response as near as I can determine. This war’s nature seems not to antagonize the Kurds, Turks, and Americans performing this operation despite its widespread public acknowledgement. I likely have no accurate insights into Russia-Syria relations.
The Fog of War.
Not sure they’ll last 6 more months against the Taliban.