The US was supposed to be out of Afghanistan in May, and by the end of August they’ll finally make good on that pledge, more or less. Officials are quick to argue that the US will retain military capabilities in Afghanistan going forward.
This has a political dimension. President Trump made the initial peace deal to withdraw from Afghanistan, but now Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R – IL), an opponent of ending the war, is arguing that the withdrawal is tantamount to a “crushing defeat” in the war.
Instead of defending the peace plan, the Biden Administration is arguing that the war is effectively ongoing, openly talking about heavy airstrike campaigns against the Taliban well beyond the pullout.
Officials are envisioning adding more and more military options to Afghanistan, seeking military base access along the Afghan border in other countries.
While those deals aren’t in place, the Pentagon is still arguing that they will retain military leverage over the Taliban after finishing their withdrawal in late August.
The US has been arguing for weeks now that they will retain military capacity in Afghanistan, and has been assuring the Afghan government that they will be supporting them.
This comes amid Afghan officials insisting they’d be fine without US support, and amid mounting losses the Afghans are facing despite the US troops being present as it is.
After 20 years, the US is so used to being at war in Afghanistan that even when the troops leave they can’t imagine not being able to attack that nation. It’s not clear what that’s going to look like, but they just assume attacks can happen.
The weapons industries are loosing money, so they must carry on. Is Afghanistan going to be another Yemen?
I read another article in Antiwar that the ship building companies are worried that they will not be able to pay workers or keep them unless we buy more war ships.
Of course they will. Did you have any doubts?
Meanwhile; China’s highly profitable railroad transport trade with Afghanistan continues to increase at 6000% per year.
Pentagonians are a world-class joke.
“It’s not clear what that’s going to look like, but they just assume attacks can happen.”
If the U.S. assumes “attacks can happen” Attacks WILL happen 2B sure.. Just who will attack whom, where & when are the questions. The answers to attacks will be retaliatory attacks on & on until some ceassation is negotiated or one or another of parties stand down unilaterly. Not any great prospect for the complete involvement of American forces to end. Much more like a quasi conditional state biligerence which could change with the wind direction, or the number of dollars needed to ensure Afghan quiesence.
As always, ignore the splashy headlines and read the fine print.
https://sputniknews.com/world/202107111083361965-dod-deeply-concerned-by-speed-of-talibans-advance-briskly-looking-for-bases-near-afghanistan/
The US appears frightened that among the first major domestic policies the Taliban will implement is “encouraging” Afghan farmers to choose other than poppy production.
The Taliban has concerns India and Pakistan’s ISI will continue supporting Washington’s policies. Public comments from Narendra Modi and Imran Khan are essentially meaningless or lies.
Neocons from the Apartheid state may be whispering in Biden’s ear that he can have the best of both worlds. Publicly announce Departure, but then proceed to treat Afghanistan as a larger version of the open-air prison called Gaza. (Bomb the hell out of them from a safe distance.)
That allows Big Weapons to continue to make and deliver their expensive and deadly toys at a great profit, and also to keep the towelheads of Afghanistan/Gaza in line.