US and Taliban sign deal to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan

[WinterHold]

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

It might have something to do with the Taliban having much shorter supply lines, fighting on their own turf, being supported by Russia, and having things like grenade launchers, armoured fighting vehicles, anti-aircraft guns...those sorts of things.

Historically, Afghanistan has always been hard on invaders.

Boru

[Mister Agenda]

The original stated goal of invading Afghanistan was to 'get' Osama bin Laden (who didn't get shot until the next administration and by then he was in Pakistan); ousting the Taliban was an ad hoc justification. The reasoning behind staying was that it would be a hotbed for international terrorism otherwise. Without US air support; Afghan government forces can't prevail in the provinces. The Taliban will probably conquer most of the country except Kabul. The Taliban has no designs on the USA, but strong ties to Al-Qaeda. US presidents have been reluctant to withdraw from Afghanistan because there's a fair chance a terrorist attack on the USA will be launched from or through that country. Cost/benefit is that we should leave; but the political risk to a president who makes that decision is huge if such a terrorist attack should materialize. I would say the primary thing that has kept the USA in Afghanistan is the political calculations of American presidents.

[The Valkyrie]

A peace treaty and troop withdrawal work out so well for South Vietnam.

Bloodbath incoming...

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

A peace treaty and troop withdrawal work out so well for South Vietnam.

Bloodbath incoming...

Yeah, I was thinking that. Trump’s withdrawal from Syria worked out SO well.

Boru

[onlinebiker]

It might have something to do with the Taliban having much shorter supply lines, fighting on their own turf, being supported by Russia, and having things like grenade launchers, armoured fighting vehicles, anti-aircraft guns...those sorts of things.

Historically, Afghanistan has always been hard on invaders.

Boru

In Vietnam a Huey pilot RTB to find arrows stuck in the bottom of his chopper.

He laughed and said to his crew chief -"How the fuck do the gooks think they can win a war with bows and arrows"?.

The crew chief replied "How can you defeat a man who is so determined as to attack against all odds?"

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

It might have something to do with the Taliban having much shorter supply lines, fighting on their own turf, being supported by Russia, and having things like grenade launchers, armoured fighting vehicles, anti-aircraft guns...those sorts of things.

Historically, Afghanistan has always been hard on invaders.

Boru

In Vietnam a Huey pilot RTB to find arrows stuck in the bottom of his chopper.

He laughed and said to his crew chief -"How the fuck do the gooks think they can win a war with bows and arrows"?.

The crew chief replied "How can you defeat a man who is so determined as to attack against all odds?"

During the Soviet occupation, there were report of Mujahideen disabling tank columns from horseback.

Never underestimate the tenacity of the locals when it comes to getting you the fuck out of their country.

Boru

[WinterHold]

It might have something to do with the Taliban having much shorter supply lines, fighting on their own turf, being supported by Russia, and having things like grenade launchers, armoured fighting vehicles, anti-aircraft guns...those sorts of things.

Historically, Afghanistan has always been hard on invaders.

Boru

The Taliban had nothing but their faith confronting the U.S; especially the "U.S".
The U.S means accurate airstrikes, satellites, active GPS and billions of Saudi cash by their side, aside from the help of their allies like Pakistanis who helped killing Osama bin Laden.

Back then, the Taliban was a joke in American media. I'll just say how ironic.

---

The original stated goal of invading Afghanistan was to 'get' Osama bin Laden (who didn't get shot until the next administration and by then he was in Pakistan); ousting the Taliban was an ad hoc justification. The reasoning behind staying was that it would be a hotbed for international terrorism otherwise. Without US air support; Afghan government forces can't prevail in the provinces. The Taliban will probably conquer most of the country except Kabul. The Taliban has no designs on the USA, but strong ties to Al-Qaeda. US presidents have been reluctant to withdraw from Afghanistan because there's a fair chance a terrorist attack on the USA will be launched from or through that country. Cost/benefit is that we should leave; but the political risk to a president who makes that decision is huge if such a terrorist attack should materialize. I would say the primary thing that has kept the USA in Afghanistan is the political calculations of American presidents.

First it was the "Soviet threat", then it was "The Taliban threat", then it was "Terrorism", but the real logical cause for the U.S staying in Afghanistan is the same cause making it stay anywhere abroad its borders: wealth and natural resources.

Afghanistan is full of minerals that the U.S needs. That what kept it there, and made withdrawing a very tough choice to make.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

It might have something to do with the Taliban having much shorter supply lines, fighting on their own turf, being supported by Russia, and having things like grenade launchers, armoured fighting vehicles, anti-aircraft guns...those sorts of things.

Historically, Afghanistan has always been hard on invaders.

Boru

The Taliban had nothing but their faith confronting the U.S; especially the "U.S".
The U.S means accurate airstrikes, satellites, active GPS and billions of Saudi cash by their side, aside from the help of their allies like Pakistanis who helped killing Osama bin Laden.

Back then, the Taliban was a joke in American media. I'll just say how ironic.

---

The original stated goal of invading Afghanistan was to 'get' Osama bin Laden (who didn't get shot until the next administration and by then he was in Pakistan); ousting the Taliban was an ad hoc justification. The reasoning behind staying was that it would be a hotbed for international terrorism otherwise. Without US air support; Afghan government forces can't prevail in the provinces. The Taliban will probably conquer most of the country except Kabul. The Taliban has no designs on the USA, but strong ties to Al-Qaeda. US presidents have been reluctant to withdraw from Afghanistan because there's a fair chance a terrorist attack on the USA will be launched from or through that country. Cost/benefit is that we should leave; but the political risk to a president who makes that decision is huge if such a terrorist attack should materialize. I would say the primary thing that has kept the USA in Afghanistan is the political calculations of American presidents.

First it was the "Soviet threat", then it was "The Taliban threat", then it was "Terrorism", but the real logical cause for the U.S staying in Afghanistan is the same cause making it stay anywhere abroad its borders: wealth and natural resources.

Afghanistan is full of minerals that the U.S needs. That what kept it there, and made withdrawing a very tough choice to make.

Double post.

Boru

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

It might have something to do with the Taliban having much shorter supply lines, fighting on their own turf, being supported by Russia, and having things like grenade launchers, armoured fighting vehicles, anti-aircraft guns...those sorts of things.

Historically, Afghanistan has always been hard on invaders.

Boru

The Taliban had nothing but their faith confronting the U.S; especially the "U.S".
The U.S means accurate airstrikes, satellites, active GPS and billions of Saudi cash by their side, aside from the help of their allies like Pakistanis who helped killing Osama bin Laden.

Back then, the Taliban was a joke in American media. I'll just say how ironic.

---

The original stated goal of invading Afghanistan was to 'get' Osama bin Laden (who didn't get shot until the next administration and by then he was in Pakistan); ousting the Taliban was an ad hoc justification. The reasoning behind staying was that it would be a hotbed for international terrorism otherwise. Without US air support; Afghan government forces can't prevail in the provinces. The Taliban will probably conquer most of the country except Kabul. The Taliban has no designs on the USA, but strong ties to Al-Qaeda. US presidents have been reluctant to withdraw from Afghanistan because there's a fair chance a terrorist attack on the USA will be launched from or through that country. Cost/benefit is that we should leave; but the political risk to a president who makes that decision is huge if such a terrorist attack should materialize. I would say the primary thing that has kept the USA in Afghanistan is the political calculations of American presidents.

First it was the "Soviet threat", then it was "The Taliban threat", then it was "Terrorism", but the real logical cause for the U.S staying in Afghanistan is the same cause making it stay anywhere abroad its borders: wealth and natural resources.

Afghanistan is full of minerals that the U.S needs. That what kept it there, and made withdrawing a very tough choice to make.

Well, they had nothing but their faith, unless you count the RPG, tanks and anti-aircraft weapons I mentioned earlier.

Are you seriously contending that the Taliban are the good guys? The Taliban went a long way towards destroying Afghanistan before the US ever set foot there.

Boru