US signs historic peace deal with Taliban, Pompeo strikes cautious tone

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

28 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

They in fact did not strike the US on 9/11, but they were harboring Al Qaeda as guests in their country when it happened. 

5 hours ago, Burnt Reynolds said:

Indeed. Note, however, that this isn't merely about getting out of Afghanistan. It's about signing a peace treaty with the Taliban. The same Taliban that harbored and protected Osama and AQ and said the US deserved 9/11.

 

3 hours ago, Burnt Reynolds said:

It's an awful idea to sign a peace treaty with the Taliban. Just leave. And if they want to cover for another OBL and 9/11 friends in AQ, blow them off the face of the Earth next time.

 

1 hour ago, Burnt Reynolds said:

Thank you for your service, and for the story, but regarding the logic, it really makes no sense that we must sign a treaty with the Taliban, Sharia Islamic terrorists that were supposedly rooted out of running Afghanistan nearly 20 years ago, following them helping OBL/AQ after their 9/11 attacks, in order not to look weak while leaving the country.

 

 

21 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

I think it is a play to strengthen our position around the world.  Sign a peace treaty, and pull out.  Then if they attack us or our interests again, we will have a legal recourse to take up arms against them.  But in the meantime, we bring our folks home and enjoy the peace.  (Not that anyone signing the treaty on our side should turn their backs on those people)

True, it just seems a pointless charade. A Taliban treaty is akin to a Charles Manson treaty. They are not people notable for their trustworthiness or civility.

Edited March 2, 2020 by Burnt Reynolds

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

1 hour ago, Burnt Reynolds said:

 

 

 

 

True, it just seems a pointless charade. A Taliban treaty is akin to a Charles Manson treaty. They are not people notable for their trustworthiness or civility.

I agree.  But it's "good optics" if it works out.  Unlike the Korean peace accord.  

[JoBri 548]

11 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

Man, I THOUGHT I recognized your posts.  Brijo!!  I remember when Jopay enlisted.  Tell her congrats on still going strong, and thanks for her service (again)!

Yes, she is still going strong. She went to Commissioned Officers Training as a new Second Lieutenant at Maxwell AFB in Alabama last year after 6 years in the Tennessee Air National Guard as an enlisted airman. She is in the Nurse Corps. We got orders for Germany last year and arrived here last July. In December she was promoted to First Lieutenant. But we are here at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In 4 months she will go next door to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, an Army hospital. So many Filipinos here, both military and civilian!

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

42 minutes ago, JoBri said:

Yes, she is still going strong. She went to Commissioned Officers Training as a new Second Lieutenant at Maxwell AFB in Alabama last year after 6 years in the Tennessee Air National Guard as an enlisted airman. She is in the Nurse Corps. We got orders for Germany last year and arrived here last July. In December she was promoted to First Lieutenant. But we are here at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In 4 months she will go next door to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, an Army hospital. So many Filipinos here, both military and civilian!

That’s awesome buddy, glad to hear you guys are doing well.  I was in Germany many years ago, and don’t remember seeing even one Filipino.  Then again, I probably wasn’t looking.  I was stationed at K-16, not far from Würzburg.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

Welp, THAT didn't last long enough for the ink to dry...

 

https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-end-partial-truce-afghan-violence-resumes-153659616.html

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

2 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Welp, THAT didn't last long enough for the ink to dry...

 

https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-end-partial-truce-afghan-violence-resumes-153659616.html

22 hours ago, Burnt Reynolds said:

True, it just seems a pointless charade. A Taliban treaty is akin to a Charles Manson treaty. They are not people notable for their trustworthiness or civility.

 

I'm shocked. The "experts" choice failed in a matter of hours.

 

So it's basically, just leave, or stay. 🤔

Edited March 3, 2020 by Burnt Reynolds

[JoBri 548]

On 3/2/2020 at 4:08 PM, Voice of Reason said:

That’s awesome buddy, glad to hear you guys are doing well.  I was in Germany many years ago, and don’t remember seeing even one Filipino.  Then again, I probably wasn’t looking.  I was stationed at K-16, not far from Würzburg.

Yes, at least in Kaiserslautern Military Community they are everywhere. Both military and civilian. Last Christmas my wife had met a Filipino woman who is married to a German. She had bought a lot of clothes for our 9 year old son at some used cloths store, and sold them to my wife. So in the German community as well as on base. In fact, one of the airmen directly under my wife who she has to evaluate, who she works with, is Filipino. And the Section Chief of her unit is Filipino. And there is a Filipino food stand just out the doors of the BX too, privately contracted there. And there is a Filipino stand inside the BX, selling tropical drinks, like smoothies. And a Filipino couple inside the BX has a little area they sell hats at. 

[JoBri 548]

On 3/3/2020 at 2:02 AM, Burnt Reynolds said:

 

I'm shocked. The "experts" choice failed in a matter of hours.

 

So it's basically, just leave, or stay. 🤔

At least they tried, and still are trying. Trying to save American lives. Hoping for the best for everyone. You dont get anywhere in life without trying, including out of Afghanistan.

Edited March 6, 2020 by JoBri

[JoBri 548]

You dont get anywhere in life without trying, including out of Afghanistan. I tell my son that all the time, based on experiences of when I was in the Army. If you choose to quit, you fail 100% for sure. If you keep trying, you at least have a chance, and if you still fail it wont be your fault. I would rather see us try, and fail, no matter what slim chance, than to not try at all. 

[JoBri 548]

I think we are trying to do this the right way. Better than Bolton who would have had us there fighting indefinitely. The USA is not like Russia. We will try to do this the right way.

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

Agreed on Bolton. The neocons set the US up for wars with no end, no "victory". 

 

But as for trying to do it the right way.. that's funny. The US has first hand knowledge of what the right way was, they forced the stubborn Soviets out after 10 years pointlessly protecting leadership people in the region didn't want, while oppositions (i.e. the US) were funding guerrillas, rebels, etc., and gave those people billions. That set up the Taliban rule. Many of those Taliban still have weapons and such the US supplied to them, for the war, and when the Taliban became leaders, which they're killing Americans with over the years. American weapons and money killing Americans.

 

The only obvious "right way" is just leaving and US leadership knows that. It's basically how long they want to pointlessly dwarf Soviet stubbornness.  It took the Soviets 10 years to leave. The US? 20 years, trillions of dollars, thousands of American deaths, and counting, and still insistence on some untold fairy tale "right way" while refusing to just leave. 

 

Edited March 6, 2020 by Burnt Reynolds

[JoBri 548]

16 minutes ago, Burnt Reynolds said:

Agreed on Bolton. The neocons set the US up for wars with no end, no "victory". 

 

But as for trying to do it the right way.. that's funny. The US has first hand knowledge of what the right way was, they forced the stubborn Soviets out after 10 years pointlessly protecting leadership people in the region didn't want, while oppositions (i.e. the US) were funding guerrillas, rebels, etc., and gave those people billions. That set up the Taliban rule. Many of those Taliban still have weapons and such the US supplied to them, for the war, and when the Taliban became leaders, which they're killing Americans with over the years. American weapons and money killing Americans.

 

The only obvious "right way" is just leaving and US leadership knows that. It's basically how long they want to pointlessly dwarf Soviet stubbornness.  It took the Soviets 10 years to leave. The US? 20 years, trillions of dollars, thousands of American deaths, and counting, and still insistence on some untold fairy tale "right way" while refusing to just leave. 

 

This is 2020. We have a president who doesn't want us to be there, but we will try to exit the right way. Not sure as of this moment what the US is doing regarding the attacks on the Afghan military. Do you know if we are continuing to honor the agreement? I know the Afghan government said they are, at least until March 10, in spite of the attacks. I haven't heard more than that. 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

9 minutes ago, JoBri said:

This is 2020. We have a president who doesn't want us to be there, but we will try to exit the right way. Not sure as of this moment what the US is doing regarding the attacks on the Afghan military. Do you know if we are continuing to honor the agreement? I know the Afghan government said they are, at least until March 10, in spite of the attacks. I haven't heard more than that. 

As of right now we are honoring the agreement unless for self defense. 

 

Of course the President ran on a strong anti-war message. Which has cause many Neo-Cons to leave the administration because they want endless wars and our people hurt/killed. This is something that resonates with many people on both sides. 

 

All I want from the DOD is to approve my award and to transition me to medical retirement

[JoBri 548]

19 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

As of right now we are honoring the agreement unless for self defense. 

 

Of course the President ran on a strong anti-war message. Which has cause many Neo-Cons to leave the administration because they want endless wars and our people hurt/killed. This is something that resonates with many people on both sides. 

 

All I want from the DOD is to approve my award and to transition me to medical retirement

Yeah, I am a Conservative, but I want us out of the war. I hope it ends soon. Mind answering why medical retirement? I hope you get your wish, and that there is quick healing for the medical issues.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

28 minutes ago, JoBri said:

Yeah, I am a Conservative, but I want us out of the war. I hope it ends soon. Mind answering why medical retirement? I hope you get your wish, and that there is quick healing for the medical issues.

I am a Conservative as well I hate how we are still in Afghanistan with no exit strategy at all. I have been to Afghanistan, had friends wounded and killed there. So I want us to stop wasting money, people, and resources in a country where we have no reason to be in right now. 

 

As to the award part and the medical retirement..... The vehicle I was riding in was hit by a large IED on January 21, 2007 the last  weeks our unit was in Iraq. After we got back I PCS'd to Parris Island for my last 2+ years in the Marines. I was later diagnosed as suffering a TBI from that incident. So I have put together a packet with the occupants of the Humvee writing statements of endorsement for a Purple Heart. One of them is a E-8 right now, and the other is a O-5 right now. I should hear something back next month in regards to the award. Then I will submit for change to medical retirement because the base I went to was severely lacking for clinical physiologists. 

 

I want medical retirement so that I can get that Tricare, lol. 

Edited March 7, 2020 by Cyberfx1024