http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...ME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-08-21-21-22-20 WASHINGTON (AP) -- Reversing his past calls for a speedy exit, President Donald Trump recommitted the United States to the 16-year-old war in Afghanistan, declaring U.S. troops must "fight to win." He pointedly declined to disclose how many more troops will be dispatched to wage America's longest war. In a prime-time address to unveil his new Afghanistan strategy, Trump said Monday the U.S. would shift away from a "time-based" approach, instead linking its assistance to results and to cooperation from the beleaguered Afghan government, Pakistan and others. He insisted it would be a "regional" strategy that addressed the roles played by other South Asian nations - especially Pakistan's harboring of elements of the Taliban. "America will work with the Afghan government as long as we see determination and progress," Trump said. "However, our commitment is not unlimited, and our support is not a blank check." Still, Trump offered few details about how progress would be measured.
I really wanted him to announce we're bringing the troops home. But he learned from Obama's mistake: Before becoming a candidate, Trump had ardently argued for a quick withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling the war a massive waste of U.S. "blood and treasure" and declaring on Twitter, "Let's get out!" Seven months into his presidency, he said Monday night that though his "original instinct was to pull out," he'd since determined that approach could create a vacuum that terrorists including al-Qaida and the Islamic State would "instantly fill." ... On one point - the definition of victory - Trump was unequivocal. He said American troops would "fight to win" by attacking enemies, "crushing" al-Qaida, preventing terror attacks against Americans and "obliterating" the Islamic State group, whose affiliate has gained a foothold in Afghanistan as the U.S. squeezes the extremists in Syria and Iraq. ... Still, Trump was intent on differentiating his approach from his predecessors - at least in rhetoric. He emphasized there would be no timelines, no hamstringing of the military and no divorcing of Afghanistan from the region's broader problems.
http://www.philly.com/philly/column...n-taliban-mcmaster-troops-obama-20170822.html After speech, Afghanistan is Trump's war now | Trudy Rubin In his Monday speech on Afghanistan, President Trump admitted something he’s rarely faced up to: Decisions are “much different” when you are president than in the heat of a campaign. The president’s original instinct, expressed repeatedly over the years, was to pull any remaining troops out of Afghanistan. The American public is understandably tired of America’s longest war that has dragged on for nearly 16 years. There are no good military options in sight. Yet after a policy review that dragged on for seven months and bitterly divided the White House, the president finally faced up to grim reality: a full retreat from Afghanistan meant al-Qaeda and ISIS would find safe havens again as the Taliban seized more swaths of the country.
Yes, I am. He ran on ending the war, which I see no "victory" of any kind possible. Even if we had a million troops there. There are a lot of things I'm critical of him on. That doesn't mean that when people in the media write bullshit that they shouldn't be called out.
He's not making the same mistake Obama did, even by staying there. There's no surrender in this, and certainly no utterly (Obama incompetent) fucked up strategy, like announcing an end date so the bad guys can sit tight and wait it out.
You wanted him to announce a withdrawal. You say that's a mistake. So you wanted him to make a mistake. barfo
I want him to make no mistake if we stay. He's making no mistake after deciding to stay. What would be a mistake is doing much of what Obama did, all things, in general.
You wanted him to announce a withdrawal. You say announcing a withdrawal would be a mistake. You seem kind of confused, but it's great that you can support Trump no matter what he does. barfo
The logic fault is yours. There's little to be confused about. IF <--- we're staying, don't make the same mistakes Obama made. So far at least that's what he's doing. Plus, you inject that somehow I think it's a mistake to stay. It's not what _I_ want, but he's not the first president to keep us there.
I didn't inject that. You said it yourself, in post #2 of this thread. Obama announced a withdrawal. You think that's a mistake. But you wanted Trump to make the same mistake. Now you are trying to pretend you didn't say that. SAD! barfo
You quote me and then say I said something completely different. Completely different. "I wanted him to announce we're brining the troops home." in barfo filter means "It's a mistake to stay." Just wow.
Where did I say that you said it was a mistake to stay? Just wow indeed. What you did say is that you think it is a mistake to announce a withdrawal. And that you wanted Trump to announce a withdrawal. barfo
Too bad it makes no sense in this context. You wanted him to make the mistake of announcing a withdrawal. No matter how many times you deny you said that, it's right there in post #2. barfo
Trying to backpedal? I didn't want him to announce a withdrawal. I wanted him to say" the troops are already on their way home." Not "we'll be leaving in 6 months." No matter how many times you translate me, you get it wrong.
Oh, yes, that makes a lot of sense. Saying "We'll be leaving in 6 months" emboldens the enemy to wait it out. Saying "They're already on the way home," on the other hand, means the enemy doesn't have to wait at all. Denny's all about making things as convenient as possible for the enemy.
