September 11 Afghan pullout announcement may get U.S. troops there killed

The media is heralding President Biden’s announcement he’ll withdraw all U.S. forces from Afghanistan by September 11. Their emphasis on Biden’s decision to completely withdraw from Afghanistan misses the big story: Biden’s refusal to honor Trump’s May 1, 2021 withdrawal promise puts U.S. troops in harm’s way.

Why? The Taliban, whom Trump agreed with fifteen months ago to be out by this May 1, have met their obligation not to kill any more troops defiling their country for the past 20 years. But they were up front that attacks would resume if we reneged.

The Taliban kept their bargain, not killing a single U.S. soldier in over 14 months. The U.S. did not, claiming Trump negotiated a lousy, unrealistic deal. Biden had no intention to meet the May 1, 2021 deadline. He’s under enormous pressure form the Military Industrial Complex to stay there at least till he can hand off the Afghan quagmire to his successor. The argument is if we leave, the Taliban will take control of Afghanistan and allow bad guys to again plan knocking down U.S. landmarks. That’s a business plan for a forever war in Afghanistan, just like it is in Iraq, Syria and every other country we senselessly interfere with.

By breaking Trump’s agreement to get out, arguably the only sensible foreign policy decision Trump made in 4 years, Biden has put a target on all 3,500 U.S. troops there, well as the 7,000 NATO and other allies’ troops. When the first one gets killed the U.S. hawks will charge, ‘See, the Taliban are still a threat and we must stay to protect the homeland.”

This October 7 marks the 20th anniversary of the Afghan war. Don’t be surprised if it makes it to its 3rd decade.