Biden's Biggest Blunder

Quote: Gandler

So now Afghanistan is in the bizarre position of the former government has become the resistance group as the former resistance group (Taliban) now controls the government. Its insane how fast the tables turned. Sadly, if the former government was not able to defeat the Taliban while they had power (and money and the best equipment you could get), I am not sure how they will now. Its going to be an uphill battle. Without external support, probably not one that can be won.


https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/09/24/afghan-resistance-taliban-takeover-government-exile-tajikistan/

As long as we are out, who cares?

Quote: AZDuffman

As long as we are out, who cares?

I don't think it's Afghanistan we care about. It's the placement of it's real estate. We want to block China's BRI .

Quote: AZDuffman

As long as we are out, who cares?

We should care, because we will be back eventually. And, the worse it gets, the harder the return will be.

Even if Biden never does, the next President quite likley will return.

The Taliban is going to keep violating their agreement, and eventually a red line will be crossed when they do something that offends somebody and we will be forced to return.

Quote: Gandler

We should care, because we will be back eventually. And, the worse it gets, the harder the return will be.

Even if Biden never does, the next President quite likley will return.

The Taliban is going to keep violating their agreement, and eventually a red line will be crossed when they do something that offends somebody and we will be forced to return.

We need to be smart and get China to go in

Quote: AZDuffman

We need to be smart and get China to go in

China and Russia already have staffed embassy's, they are there to do business.

Quote: AZDuffman

We need to be smart and get China to go in

That would be even worse, because if China starts dealing with the Taliban, they will have even more money and equipment, making taking the country back even more challenging.

China wants to expand their power (and they are), we need to work on expanding our influence faster than they do. This will probably mean America will have to start having more overseas operations. Not just in the Middle East, but in Africa, and Latin America. We need to make sure we are in a position to win on all fronts.

And, China has been quietly (now not so quietly) expanding their presence in many developing countries. America needs to start doing this (or at least doing it more, America has been lowering presence oversees the last couple decades, a couple of countries are exceptions).

China has been investing in, and securing mining and oil drilling contracts in Afghanistan since 2007, while the pathetic US spent $2 trillion providing free military protection. Today, the Taliban regard the Chinese as their ‘most important partner’ and ‘pass to essential markets’. More heroin for US junkies.

Nearly three tons of Afghan heroin seized at a port in India.

'China Weighing Occupation of Former U.S. Air Base at Bagram'

Quote: Gandler

That would be even worse, because if China starts dealing with the Taliban, they will have even more money and equipment, making taking the country back even more challenging.

Why would we want to take it back? It is a landlocked backwater of little geopolitical importance.

Quote:

China wants to expand their power (and they are), we need to work on expanding our influence faster than they do. This will probably mean America will have to start having more overseas operations. Not just in the Middle East, but in Africa, and Latin America. We need to make sure we are in a position to win on all fronts.

And, China has been quietly (now not so quietly) expanding their presence in many developing countries. America needs to start doing this (or at least doing it more, America has been lowering presence oversees the last couple decades, a couple of countries are exceptions).

First, China is going to keep trying to expand their influence. Let them. We already have bases everywhere. When I worked for the military bank I would time to time get calls from guys overseas from countries and I would ask what on earth we were doing there. We cannot defend every inch of every place as that is defending nothing. Let them do some of the heavy lifting.

Secondly, China has plenty of real problems that will cause her to self-destruct along the lines of the USSR. Namely some under the surface but regional tensions combined with a demographic time bomb going off by the late 2020s.

Thirdly, the USA is on a path towards breaking up and collapsing. Places like Portland, Detroit, and much of CA are already in social collapse. No need to keep pushing out when you are collapsing from within.

Quote: Tanko

China has been investing in, and securing mining and oil drilling contracts in Afghanistan since 2007, while the pathetic US spent $2 trillion providing free military protection. Today, the Taliban regard the Chinese as their ‘most important partner’ and ‘pass to essential markets’. More heroin for US junkies.

Nearly three tons of Afghan heroin seized at a port in India.

'China Weighing Occupation of Former U.S. Air Base at Bagram'

One thing I'm not blaming the Taliban for, is for Americans buying heroin.

Quote: AZDuffman

....Secondly, China has plenty of real problems that will cause her to self-destruct along the lines of the USSR. Namely some under the surface but regional tensions combined with a demographic time bomb going off by the late 2020s.

Why is China collapsing? They will have the largest influence over the world reserve currency. And be the manufacturing center for the world. They've had continued phenomenal growth for years. They've brought their countryside ag lifestyle to the city's. I don't see them collapsing for a long time.

Quote:

Thirdly, the USA is on a path towards breaking up and collapsing. Places like Portland, Detroit, and much of CA are already in social collapse. No need to keep pushing out when you are collapsing from within.

Can't argue with the downfall of a country that doesn't produce.