President Trump has floated the idea of drawing down our troop-strength in Afghanistan by 2500. In response, Defense department types, people with stars on their shoulders, and politicos of every stripe, all declared the world was coming to an end! It seems that those 2500 troops are all that prevents the Taliban from taking over the country again.
Apparently, no one in Washington wants to "bring the boys/girls home" except Donald Trump. Back when he was running for president in 2016 he talked of doing this, and I recall thinking, well now that's the only sensible thing the man has said! I also remember thinking, I'll believe it when I see it.
Well it turns out that Donald Trump is the slowest and most reluctant occupation-ender that has ever resided at the Big House in Washington. In fact, as recently as October he was promising that all troops in Afghanistan would be home by Christmas. Ah, the old "Home by Christmas" chestnut.
And proving that people really can learn from history, absolutely no one believed him.
Still, the removal of 2500 troops from Afghanistan must really be a dreadful prospect, because all the Dems turn out to be against it. President-elect Biden promises to maintain some sort of modest military presence there for, apparently, ever! Think-tank gurus and revolving-door Defense Specialists (there are so many of these folk!) one and all have their hair on fire, right on cue.
Dare I say it? Joe Biden is going to be a business as usual president. He may surprise me, but I'll believe it when I see it.
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Read also:
Barbara Boland on 'Decapitations' at the DOD
Andrew Bacevich on How War Became Absurd -- Again
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