A Bungled End to the War in Afghanistan

It is finally over...almost The 18-year war the United States fought in Afghanistan, to defeat, er, rather, to bring to justice, that is, not lose any ground to…uh, Osama bin Laden, no-no, al-Qaeda, I meant, the Taliban, wait, we’ll just call it terror…has ended, maybe in 14 months, with a truce signed February 29, 2020, by the U.S. and Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar. Strangely, it was U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, not Mike Pompeo, who signed for the U.S. even though Pompeo was at the signing, almost as if he knew there was dishonor in signing it. 
        The current Afghan president Ashraf Ghani was not included because “talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban are due to follow.” In other words, they haven’t started yet. This treaty, or truce, or whatever it is, is strictly between the U.S. and the Taliban. Trump left it up to the Taliban to make peace with the Afghan government. This took Ghani by surprise and he lashed out at several points Trump guaranteed the Taliban. For one thing, Ghani will NOT agree to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners! The Taliban immediately responded that they “would resume fighting Afghan forces.” Think there will be any lasting peace once U.S. and NATO forces leave?

In the name of peace......fire!

        While it appears this could be more of a withdrawal or retreat without surrendering (like a poor man’s version of the truce we have with North Korea where technically we’re still at war) than a treaty document, Pompeo claims the Taliban has committed to certain peace moves that aren’t clearly spelled out (about like Trump wrangled from Kim Jong Un at Singapore – a lot of words but no substance), but somehow this is a glorious day for our military and a bold move by Trump. The Taliban has however continued to gain momentum and last year the BBC found they were in control of 70% of Afghanistan. When the U.S. invaded in 2001, the Taliban controlled about 55%.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urgently stressed "the importance of sustaining the nationwide reduction in violence, for the benefit of all Afghans" in the looming withdrawal of U.S. forces in areas that have been repeatedly contested. All the Taliban has to do is wait until U.S. forces flee and then any ‘contesting’ will be to their advantage. We are leaving the NATO troops to fend for themselves. We are leaving President Ashraf Ghani and the Afghan government high and dry, defenseless, and without a fallback plan. Trump is simply withdrawing our forces, destroying what equipment is left that we don’t want to fall into someone else’s hands, stuffing the flag in a bag and hightailing it out of Afghanistan like rats deserting a sinking ship. Surrendering is the foremost trait of a coward.

Did we win, draw even, or at least can hold our heads high? No.

         But I am celebrating the end of the U.S. involvement in the war. Not for a second do I believe the killing has ended. It is just the end of U.S. military forces doing a majority of the fighting, killing, and being killed. So, what did they ultimately die for? To Trump, what does that matter?
The U.S. suffered over 2,400 KIAs, over twice that number injured. NATO troops paid in blood with over 3,500 casualties. Between the Taliban and US-led forces, well over 50,000 Afghani civilians were killed simply to fight, or prop up, an unpopular government (that Bush and Cheney thought would do their bidding.) The U.S. tried to fight the war in a more streamlined way, yet in a similar fashion to the Soviets. It’s no wonder we couldn’t succeed. The British discovered the same damned thing earlier in the century. Afghanis have to settle Afghanistan’s problems and challenges. Anyone else involved in their ceaseless feuding unites the Afghanis just long enough to savagely bleed the invaders, drive them out, and then they go back to killing each other as they’ve done for centuries. Their fighting is religion-based with the Sunnis and Shiites believing the other holds a heretical view of Islam, deserves no mercy, and must be destroyed. The Taliban is the political and military muscle of the Sunnis in Afghanistan. As long as any religion is used to justify bigotry, hatred, differences, and divides, the killing won’t stop.

Does Trump deserve credit for ending U.S. involvement? Yes, in the same way that the driver who crashes a car into a wall to stop the pinging noise in the engine is responsible for putting an end to the annoying sound. Trump didn’t have many options in order to get out without actually surrendering. Plus, this is an election year; he needs something to brag about since the coronavirus and the slowing economic conditions around the world are going to impact how he is viewed. And while he’d never admit it publicly, the germ-o-phobe in Trump has him near panic over the coronavirus. This is what happens when you don’t read. Trump spends more time watching TV, refuses to learn or listen to others, and has the least scientifically-inquisitive mind of any president in history. Does anyone trust Trump to come up with a responsible plan that he just staples together on the fly? Trump is retreating from the world because he doesn’t know what to do, he doesn’t understand foreign policy, diplomacy, and honoring our word. So in order to avoid the realities of dealing with a world he’s too ignorant to understand and work with, Trump retreats from it like a turtle pulling back into its shell but puffing himself up to project a tough guy image to a world that is not even looking in his direction anymore.

        Here is Trump qualifying his ending the war, as reported by the BBC. Speaking at the White House, Mr. Trump said the Taliban had been trying to reach an agreement with the U.S. for a long time. (Yes, the Taliban has been trying to get the U.S. to leave for 18 years!)

        He said U.S. troops had been killing terrorists in Afghanistan "by the thousands" and now it was "time for someone else to do that work and it will be the Taliban and it could be surrounding countries". (If Trump is saying the Taliban will now have to kill ‘the terrorists,’ then who have our troops been killing for 18 years? The U.S. has been switching designated enemies from al-Qaeda or Taliban to terrorists since 2002 right after U.S. troops ousted the Taliban from Kabul. Who are the 'surrounding countries' who should now step into Afghanistan's affairs? Iran? Pakistan?)

        "I really believe the Taliban wants to do something to show we're not all wasting time," Mr. Trump added. "If bad things happen, we'll go back with a force like no-one's ever seen."

Check out Trump’s language: “If bad things happen, we’ll go back with a force like no-one’s seen.”

Really?

You’ll go back after you turned tail and ran? You got nothing for your treaty. The Taliban agrees to “not to allow al-Qaeda or any other extremist group to operate in the areas they control.” How about in areas they don’t control? How will that be enforced once U.S. and NATO troops are gone? What constitutes “bad things?” But the ‘reveal’ so to speak, might be the phrase “no-one’s seen.” If you don’t do anything, will anyone see it? Trump is a coward to his core. He’d no more go back to Afghanistan than he’d go back to Marla Maples.

This Afghan debacle is a war George W. Bush launched immediately after 9/11 in which we never should have been engaged. Afghanistan didn’t attack us, Iraq didn’t attack us. Elements of bin Laden’s al-Qaeda attacked us and they were spread across the Middle East; from Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, with a heavy concentration in Pakistan. Yet Bush chose Afghanistan because he thought - as primitive as they appeared to be - the Taliban would be easy to knock off and he could claim he was keeping the caves in eastern Afghanistan out of al-Qaeda's hands. Now, Trump is ending it like the fiasco it has been for the U.S. all along; like a cowering cur with its tail tucked between its legs, limping off the battlefield dragging the flag in the mud behind it. This is Trump’s foreign diplomacy. This will be his legacy. He has no honor, and he has no pride in anything except when he looks in a mirror.

            Addendum-dum: On March 4^th, Trump authorized dozens of drone airstrikes on Taliban positions in southern Afghanistan after the Taliban launched numerous attacks on Afghan Security Forces on March 3rd, which is exactly what the Taliban said they’d do. They did not attack US forces, but Trump ordered US forces to respond. This will unravel any treaty and I fully expect Trump to accelerate withdrawal in an almost panic mode that will increasingly appear to be a rout of US forces.

Trump told reporters on March 3^rd that he spoke on the phone with the leader of the Taliban, He stated, “We’ve had a good conversation. We agreed there’s no violence, we don’t want violence. But we’ll see what happens.” Does that sound like a confident statement or that anything was ironed out? Less than 24 hours later Trump sends in the drones to attack the Taliban. How good was that conversation again?

SHAME ON THE COWARD-IN-CHIEF, DONALD J. TRUMP

         Imagine how the Kurds feel about the United States now? Or what Taiwan, South Korea, or Israel must be thinking about the prospect of the U.S. having their backs? Why would any country trust anything the U.S. did from this day forward?
         This is what Trump supporters, with Russian help, forced on us in the 2016 election...a self-centered coward who is loyal to no one. The United States will be paying for Trump's disastrous foreign policies (not to mention his domestic ones) far into the future.
         The popular old flag meme needs to be updated to this for U.S. military personnel to wear so our allies know...

What Might Happen when Kim Jong-Un Meets Trump at the very first meeting

It was hoped the unprecedented, ground-breaking meeting set up by new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo between President Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong-Un would distract the world's news organizations from the looming threat of obstruction of justice charges against the president, the deepening Russian collusion scandal, the lawsuit brought by adult film actress Stephanie Clifford a.k.a. Stormy Daniels, the criminal charges stemming from incriminating information found in Michael Cohen's confiscated material, a lawsuit 19 women brought against Trump for serial sexual assault, 26 plaintiffs suing Trump regarding his golf courses over non payment of labor, personal injuries, and unannounced changes to membership fees, and several other cases making their way through federal courts regarding Trump's Emoluments violations, Oath of Office violations, and even overcharging the government when secret service agents had to rent his golf carts in order to protect him at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Instead, what did happen caught everyone off guard.

If the Trump Administration was a railroad train...

          In a startling development, just as the meeting with Kim Jong-Un got under way, President Trump asked for, and was granted, political asylum in North Korea. 
          Trump was accompanied to the meeting by his entire cabinet and several aides, most of whom waited just outside the hall. Trump had deliberately excluded the U.S. press from the summit meeting so it was left to North and South Korean journalists and photographers to report on what happened. They said at the very opening Mr.Trump entered the room and walked over to the table as Kim Jong-Un entered from the opposite side of the room. Breaking protocol, Trump moved around to Kim’s side of the table and kept going toward Kim and his group of advisers. The journalists were expecting Trump’s usual power-handshake when he reached Kim. But instead, Trump put his hand on Kim’s shoulder and leaned down to his ear. The North Korean security men started to close in to protect Kim when Kim’s interpreter Chun Kei-Ryong, who had walked rapidly up behind Kim, spoke quickly and then turned to the gathered officials.

Chun Kei-Ryong (left) and Kim Jong-Un moments before meeting President Trump

          “Mr. Trump says he would like to come and stay in North Korea permanently,” Kei-Ryong said. “He has asked for asylum.”

There was a loud gasp from the South Koreans lining the southern and eastern walls and many rushed outside, while two American aides who had accompanied President Trump into the room stopped in their tracks at the table and stared at Trump’s back.

          Trump again leaned down to Kim’s ear and spoke for several seconds, then reach down for Kim’s hand. Jong-Un, looking uncomfortable, hesitatingly held up his hand and Trump grasped it, shaking it in a rapid, piston-like movement and smiled as North Korean cameras began clicking away.

          “Mr. Trump says he can bring much to the North Korean people. He has offered to show how a Trump Tower can be built in Pyongyang. He would only ask to have the top five floors for himself when finished.”

          One of the Americans called out several times to the President but Mr. Trump never acknowledged him.

Still furiously pumping Kim’s hand Trump spoke more loudly. “I think this is a great day for the people of North Korea, a great, great day, and Mr. President, I will help make North Korea Great Again, that I can tell you…that I can tell you.”

Kim and Trump fist-bump to cement their bromance

          Still looking baffled and uncomfortable, Kim stared at Trump for several moments and then turned to whisper to Chun. Kei-Ryong nodded several times as four of Kim’s highest ranking generals also drew closer. Kim’s hand was still being held and shaken by the president as Kim occasionally looked back and smiled at Trump. One of the generals spoke loud enough for a South Korean news anchor to overhear. The anchor blurted out to others nearby, “He just asked if Trump is willing to supply them with the U.S. missile codes.”

          There was a distinct rise in panic of the voices of the South Koreans near the news anchor and they all noted that Trump, smiling at the generals, appeared to nod his head yes to the question, then spoke softly to Kim and his entourage.

"What are you hiding in there?" Trump and Kim enjoy an intimate train ride to Pyongyang

          “President Kim Jong-Un is pleased to offer Mr. Trump freedom in the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea. We know Mr. Trump had been the target of many unfair investigations in his country. He has been accused of breaking many laws, having sex with many women who were not his wife, and enriching himself with millions of dollars from American taxpayers by signing a GOP tax plan last December. Here, he will be free to live his life without such annoyances, distractions, and threats to his freedom. He said his wealth has already been transferred to a Swiss bank. He will be able to access it through our connections in Pyongyang.” 
                    Mr. Trump handed a folded piece of paper to Chun, walked over to and through the door Kim had originally entered the room from. He never looked back and never offered an explanation. It was later reported he did stop long enough out in a portico to say goodbye to Melania before leaving.

Trump and Kim upon leaving his armored rail car 

          
          Chun Kei-Ryong glanced at the paper and continued “We will make arrangements once a week to operate a flight down to Seoul to buy McDonalds and KFC food for Mr. Trump, as well as purchase however many boxes of golf balls he needs. We do not allow Fox News in Pyongyang so President Kim will have to address that issue if Mr. Trump still wants to watch Fox and Friends before he twitters when he gets up."

          Kei-Ryong then read the rest of the sheet and shook his head in disbelief. “These actions granting asylum apply only to him. This says it is specifically not to extend to Don Junior, Eric, Ivanka, Melania, Barron, Kellyanne Conway, Stephen Miller, John Kelly, Sarah Huckaboo Sanders, Mike Pompeo, Mike Pence, Betsy DeVos, Mick Mulvaney, or any other member of his administration past or present. They will be responsible for whatever is left to do in Washington DC.

Before he left, Trump stopped to shake Melania's hand in a farewell gesture. Aides say she had never looked happier.

          Shocked and saddened aides to Trump grabbed their cell phones and called home. But when they reported what the Korean press said had happened at the meeting, they were stunned to hear a party broke out all across the nation. Congress immediately recessed, called it a day of thanksgiving, and gave federal employees the day off. Bars stayed open all night and fireworks were shot off continuously for the impromptu three day celebration.

          A strange glitch occurred later that got little news coverage. When Air Force One and Two returned from the aborted summit, they were diverted from landing in Hawaii due to heavy fog and were sent far to the north to a small airfield just outside Unalaska in the Aleutians. There the 747s were refueled but everyone was told the weather was getting so poor they would have to stay for the night. Next day the aircraft engines could not be started and all communications on the island were inexplicably cut off. 
          No one noticed any of them missing in Washington DC for several weeks until people realized the government was working correctly again. When an inquiry was made, the press was told a temp staff had been hired and was handling government business from a small office in the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building and that the remaining administration members who had been on the planes had not returned. They had been encouraged to take a long vacation after Trump defected and they asked not to be contacted in any way. To date, no one has heard from any of them.