And there we get into the territory of ordinary diplomatic bullshittery, where if someone is promising the moon and the stars, there's probably some kind of trap or bullshit hidden in there. Everyone knows it, business as usual, the few who don't are getting a learning experience soon.That would work if that is all that was promised. But what people fail to get is that, if you promise to give or do something, then fail to do it. It makes your credibility look bad. If the occupation of Afghanistan was run competently then besides many other things being differently, one other big difference would be only promising the collaborators money and maybe a higher position in the puppet government of Afghanistan and nothing else. But when people from other 3rd parties see you promise someone else the moon and the stars, and then you fall short, it makes them far less likely to trust you or actually decide they want to make an agreement with you unless it is absolutely necessary.
We are seeing that right now. Soldiers and operatives went around having to bypass the brass and pretty much go AWOL to rescue americans and allies in Afghanistan because the tabletop generals in D.C. refused to let them do it. It is already happening. The people blame the deaths of the 13 service members as much on D.C. as they do on the Taliban, if not more. If anything I have seen more hatred thrown towards D.C. than the Taliban on social media, because in a way they expected the Taliban to do what they have done but what the government has done is unexcusable and unbelievable.
EDIT: A further show of how disconnected the higher ups are to reality and even basic optics
Umm dude. No the US reputation is going to take a big hit for a while. For your next invasion you won’t have as many people willing to be collaborators and act as your interpreters when they saw how you abandoned them to get their tongues cut out by the Taliban. Now the thing that makes it look bad is that you said you’d take them in for betraying their home for America. If you pulled an Alexander and from the very start said that they were contemptible because they were betrayers and not worthy of respect since they were just willing to submit instead of having the self respect to not bow before invaders, yes you would have fewer interpreters, but the world would at least say well there is some honor there. But when you try to have your cake and eat it too it by making a promise for someone to defect but then don’t accept them in because you are worried by the risks or something that makes you untrustworthy.
Remember what happend to carter?If we left american citizens behind and something happens to those people, the repercussions here are going to be....ugly.
Except the job almost always seems to be at odds with what's actually good for American citizens; and thus far, most of you guys have proven to be unwilling to disobey the orders of the establishment. Even when it orders you to abandon American citizens, allow women to be carted off to be executed, and murder children.No.
They still will. Because it is better to have a US Soldier then any other, because we will get the job done.
Our government is the issue. Yes, doesn't mean we will always listen
So. Start a war while completely surrounded and the State department has a gun to your head basically? Because they were doing most of who gets to leave and not.Except the job almost always seems to be at odds with what's actually good for American citizens; and thus far, most of you guys have proven to be unwilling to disobey the orders of the establishment. Even when it orders you to abandon American citizens, allow women to be carted off to be executed, and murder children.
When is it worth it to disobey orders then? Because it seems like it never is.So. Start a war while completely surrounded and the State department has a gun to your head basically? Because they were doing most of who gets to leave and not.
Man, I wonder why....
The point I am getting at is.
This whole situation was a shit show, and risking a firefight and breaking orders are not worth it in that situation.
But of course, gotta try and let those who are probably Afghan nationals on refugee status wanting back to the US because they truly are refugees now.
When the risk of igniting a firefight in a place where hundreds of civilians will get mowed down in the crossfireWhen is it worth it to disobey orders then? Because it seems like it never is.
So, not when the government orders you into that position? Or when they order you to murder innocent children?When the risk of igniting a firefight in a place where hundreds of civilians will get mowed down in the crossfire
Except the job almost always seems to be at odds with what's actually good for American citizens; and thus far, most of you guys have proven to be unwilling to disobey the orders of the establishment. Even when it orders you to abandon American citizens, allow women to be carted off to be executed, and murder children.
So you want then to push out, potentially making things worse for many others, to save people who should have left earlier?So, not when the government orders you into that position? Or when they order you to murder innocent children?
Maybe start with small steps, like not leaving a bunch of service dogs behind for the Afghans.So you want then to push out, potentially making things worse for many others, to save people who should have left earlier?
More Americans should die for those that decided to not pay attention to what was going on?
Do I feel bad for those left? Holy hell yes.
Do I wish we got them? Yes.
Do I want us to get more troops killed just to save those who were not paying attention? Potentially keeping us there? No
Maybe start with small steps, like not leaving a bunch of service dogs behind for the Afghans.
Do not try to foist this off on inter-service bullshit, own it as another military/gov fuck up under the Biden regime.That may be something the AF said no too, because that is something the Army definitely wouldn't want to do
Do you know how easy it is for "A dog to sit on a soldiers lap?" In most likely VERY packed planes, for a VERY long flight?Do not try to foist this off on inter-service bullshit, own it as another military/gov fuck up under the Biden regime.
They could have let the dogs sit on soldiers laps on flights out if the people in charge of the evac actually cared enough to allow it.
They are leaving behind hundreds or thousands of Americans, and these ones you cannot even claim 'well, they should have gotten out beforehand'.