Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Now that he is president Donald Trump goes all in for endless war in Afghanistan.

And in closing I would just like to point out that it's more of the same.
Courtesy of the New York Times:

President Trump put forward on Monday a long-awaited strategy for resolving the nearly 16-year-old conflict in Afghanistan, but he declined to specify either the number of troops that would be committed, or the conditions by which he would judge the success of their mission there. 

In a nationally televised prime-time speech to troops at Fort Myer, Va., Mr. Trump said there would be no “blank check” for the American engagement in Afghanistan. But in announcing his plan, Mr. Trump deepened American involvement in a military mission that has bedeviled his predecessors and that he once called futile. 

“My original instinct was to pull out, and historically I like following my instincts,” Mr. Trump said. “But all my life, I’ve heard that decisions are much different when you sit behind the desk in the Oval Office.”

Gee, no shit Sherlock.

By saying that there will be no troop numbers provided to the media, and no timelines made public, Trump is essentially working to remove any tools that can be used to hold him accountable for failure.

Of course that is a little late since continuing the war itself is already a measurable failure.
Courtesy of HuffPo: 

To the wall that Mexico is not going to pay for and the Iran nuclear deal that hasn’t been torn up, to China still not being labeled a currency manipulator and an embassy in Israel still not being moved to Jerusalem, President Donald Trump can now add the Afghanistan war still not ending. 

Seven months into his presidency, not only is he not withdrawing from what he had called a “terrible mistake” during his campaign, he is reportedly approving thousands of more troops, along with an open-ended commitment to remain.

It can be argued that opposition to the wars is what separated Trump from his fellow Republican candidates in the primaries, in fact he even used it to portray Hillary as a war hawk in the general. 

With this speech about staying in Afghanistan, and removing any metrics to gauge success or failure, Trump is essentially committing to sending an unknown number of American soldiers into combat, to achieve an unspecified goal, for an undetermined number of years. 

THAT is exactly what the American people DON'T want.

Donald Trump lied to virtually everybody about what he was going to do as president, and now that he is failing to keep ANY of his promises one has to wonder if that small but rabid group of Trump supporters will finally start to turn on him. 

35 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:48 AM

    Well, what else is new! Anybody that still believes anything this fake president says, is simply an idjit!

    That said, I had to LOL when I read he did not want to say how many soldiers he will sacrifice for the potential of making big $$$ from the mineral rights in Afghanistan - when the military generals have said there would be 4000 more sent there...

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    1. Anonymous9:33 AM

      'T'rillon$>
      "This article, first published in June 2010, points to the “real economic reasons” why US-NATO forces invaded Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11.
      NATO partners have established a permanent military presence in Afghanistan, with military facilities located within proximity of China’s Western frontier. The pact was intended to allow the US to maintain their nine permanent military bases, strategically located on the borders of China, Pakistan and Iran as well as Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan."
      "In addition to its vast mineral and gas reserves, Afghanistan produces more than 90 percent of the World’s supply of opium which is used to produce grade 4 heroin."
      "The War on Afghanistan is a Profit driven “Re$ource WAR”."While Afghanistan is acknowledged as a strategic hub in Central Asia, bordering on the former Soviet Union, China and Iran, at the crossroads of pipeline routes and major oil and gas reserves, its huge mineral wealth as well as its untapped natural gas reserves have remained, until June 2010, totally unknown to the American public." 'T'RILLION$!
      "Afghanistan could eventually be transformed into one of the most important mining centers in the world, the United States officials believe."
      "Afghanistan could become, according to The New York Times “the Saudi Arabia of lithium”."The Mining Journal, June, 1984). These surveys suggest that the actual value of these reserves could indeed be substantially larger than the one (1) trillion dollars “estimate” intimated by the Pentagon-USCG-USAID study." Afghanstan is a rich country as confirmed by Soviet era geological surveys."From the outset of the Soviet-Afghan war in 1979, Washington’s objective has been to sustain a geopolitical foothold in Central Asia." the drug trade generates cash earnings in Western markets in excess of $200 billion dollars a year."
      "The 2001 US-NATO invasion and occupation has set the stage for their appropriation by Western mining and energy conglomerates."
      {dick FUCK cheney & $crew}
      "The war on Afghanistan is a profit driven “resource war”
      ."Part of the US-NATO agenda is also to eventually take possession of Afghanistan’s reserves of natural gas, as well as prevent the development of competing Russian, Iranian and Chinese energy interests in Afghanistan."

      "According to United Nations data, the revenues of the drug trade accruing to the LOCAL economy are of the order of 2-3 BILLION annually." <2009

      Delete
  2. Anonymous9:04 AM

    John McCain may now die in peace knowing there will be a SURGE in troops and the war will last one hundred years.

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    1. Anonymous11:05 AM

      McCain and so many of his fellow Republicans are war mongers. They could care less if Americans are killed wherever they send them. Fucking deplorable bunch of hypocrites!

      Delete
  3. Anonymous9:08 AM

    57 Journalists Killed in 2016
    " Nine bloggers and eight media workers have also been killed"In Afghanistan, all of the 10 journalists killed were deliberately targeted because of their profession. Seven, including three women, were killed in a suicide attack in January on a minibus used by privately-owned Tolo TV."
    "Afghan authorities instead of limiting the movement of the journalists must ensure their security and the overall security in the country."

    http://outlookafghanistan.net/editorialdetail.php?post_id=16991

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous9:09 AM

    After her tirade on instagram, Steve Mnuchin’s new wife, actress Louise Linton is proof positive that we need to think about bringing back the guillotine ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And we thought rMoney's wife was the "Let them eat cake" spouse.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous9:13 AM

    Well when you are out of options.
    Speaking of, what's with a re-election announced by Wiggly?
    That's Walker by the way. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous9:20 AM

    As one journalist pointed out, of the thousands of ridiculous, annoying and unhinged tweets coming out of the White House from the orange orangutan, Trump has never once tweeted a personal condolence for any service member who has lost their life in Afghanistan, in service to their country!

    I hate that guy.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous4:41 PM

      all the best people do, 9:20.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous9:29 AM

    Trump is a flipping fool. The war was lost! The Russians are arming the Taliban against us just like we armed the Mujahideen against the Soviets. Face it Trump, pull the troops out and end it Now!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous10:25 AM

      Hang on, Putin has Dons dick in his hands. Not done yet jacking him off. Dogs.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous1:40 PM

      trump is a proven stupid idiot!he has set the bar well below what might considered ridiculous!
      The average dumb republican Nazi is smarter.
      Why is it taking so long to get him/nazi
      Pence/cabinet gone?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous2:41 PM

      Haha. 1025. Trump has the MUTT mentality. Whoff whoof.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous9:33 AM

    It just keeps getting worse. Much of the damage this neo-feudalist is doing will take a long time to reverse. Some of it will be irreversible. The human costs will be enormous. This is truly a nightmare.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous10:40 AM

    The biggest lie of the speech was when he claimed that he had studied his options in great detail and from every angle. The only things this jackoff has studied like that are Playboy and Penthouse centerfolds. Oh, and Ivanka's body. So he's studied Mercede Johnston more thoroughly than any briefing books or other things related to his job. He's nothing but a fucking pig.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous1:09 PM

      The real tragedy is that Playboy lowered their standards by having that woman pose nude. I guess they wanted dirt on Palin.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous11:03 AM

    I thought the exact same thing, 10:40 AM He doesn't study a friggin' thing and never has! Everyone says he can't focus for longer than a couple of minutes.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. What about his secret plan? During the campaign he had a secret plan to eliminate ISIS but he wasn't going to tell anyone unless he was elected.

      Well.....?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous2:43 PM

      It's what the kids tossed their folks down, way back.
      Can't cha feel the L 0 V E?

      Delete
  11. Anonymous12:03 PM

    Smoke and bullsh-t. How thinks trump wrote that speech? This plays into the R- Right that want a big war before our lords son comes back to earth, or what ever is left of planet earth after WW3 kicks into serious action. T is pounding the drum for the believers.

    When is he gong to jail?

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    1. abbafan1:40 PM

      Whoever wrote that speech was a fuckin' idiot; they never did their research. trump babbled about knocking off terrorists, stating that the 9/11 hi-jackers were from Afghanistan.

      NO, 19 of the 20 hi-jackers were Saudi nationals, you fuckin' moron! Dubya's gang let the bin Laden family fly out of the country that day, when ALL aircraft were ordered GROUNDED!

      After all these years, these jag-offs are still boldly lying to the people. And his moron "base" will eat up all of the red meat he throws at them in Phoenix tonight! Un-fuckin'- believeable!!

      Delete
    2. He doesn't write any of his speeches.

      That's how you can tell when he goes off the rails and is using his own words. When it's angry, whackjob incoherent and nutjob offensive.

      You can tell which tweets are his and which are the staff cleaning up his messes.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous12:14 PM

    Afghanistan is endowed with a wealth of natural resources, including extensive deposits of natural gas, petroleum, coal, marble, gold, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semi-precious stones, and many rare earth elements. In 2006, a U.S. Geological Survey estimated that Afghanistan has as much as 36 trillion cubic feet (1.0×1012 m3) of natural gas, 3.6 billion barrels (570×106 m3) of oil and condensate reserves. According to a 2007 assessment, Afghanistan has significant amounts of undiscovered non-fuel mineral resources. Geologists also found indications of abundant deposits of colored stones and gemstones, including emerald, ruby, sapphire, garnet, lapis, kunzite, spinel, tourmaline and peridot

    In 2010, U.S. Pentagon officials along with American geologists have revealed the discovery of nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan. A memo from the Pentagon stated that Afghanistan could become the "Saudi Arabia of lithium". Some believe, including Afghan President Hamid Karzai, that the untapped minerals are worth up to $3 trillion.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Afghanistan#Trade_and_industry

    Opium production in Afghanistan
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_production_in_Afghanistan
    According to the U.S. Department of Labor's 2014 List of Goods Produced by

    Child Labor or Forced Labor, opium production is one of the sectors that rely on child labor in Afghanistan. Poppies being the source of the crude drug, children are still recruited to harvest these flowers in the country's farming fields.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. They recently uncovered more rare earths.

      I'm sure Trump has gutting and pillaging Afghanistan's natural resources in mind after he "wins". Spoils of war and all that.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous3:27 PM

      Trump knows he will be winning with all the new assets he and his pals can control.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous12:34 PM

    "As the withdrawal got nearer, investors in Afghanistan moved their money abroad -- they transferred it to Dubai, China, Pakistan, India, Turkey,"

    Since 2002, America has pumped more than $104 billion into Afghanistan -- a figure that, when adjusted for inflation, surpasses the Marshall Plan that helped Europe rise from the ashes of World War II, according to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), a US watchdog.
    But the bulk of this money has gone on combat operations rather than reconstruction and while Afghan forces are taking over the fight against the Taliban, their wages still come from overseas support.

    The Kabul government is expecting income this year of around $1.8 billion dollars -- less than the value of Afghanistan's opium crop, which feeds the coffers of the Taliban.
    However, Afghanistan's NATO decade has brought huge economic growth -- GDP has risen from $2.5 billion in 2001 to more than $20 billion, according to the World Bank, boosted by transport, construction, telecoms and media.
    One sector which has caught investors' eyes more than any other is mining. The US Geological Survey has estimated the value of Afghanistan's mineral deposits, including gold, iron and copper, at between one and three trillion dollars.

    "Our economy still relies on international aid. Cutting the aid is like cutting the oxygen -- we will die,"

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-2894061/Afghanistan-faces-economic-timebomb-NATO-war-ends.html

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous12:35 PM

    Stocks sure went back up. Racket.
    Wash.Repeat. Rinse. Repeat.
    Hey anyway to avoid that century of crime expose? Not happening.
    Wait until the USA is slapped with sanctions. Depression v2.0.
    If Trump wants to dig for gold, let him quit and go open a mine!
    Oh right, it's hot/dry/dusty AND it involves L A B 0 R. Nevermind

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous1:36 PM

    Tried and true reason for perpetual wars
    Arms trafficking, also known as gunrunning, is the trafficking of contraband weapons and ammunition. What constitutes legal trade in firearms varies widely, depending on local and national laws.

    "Merchants of Death": The International Traffic in Arms... these men tend to operate out of public view but the impact they have had on societies around the world is hard to over-estimate.
    http://origins.osu.edu/article/merchants-death-international-traffic-arms

    Shadow World is a documenary about global arms trade, the business that counts its profits in dollars and its losses in human life. International arms trade
    http://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/shadow-world-film-review-1201762486/

    Opening with this footage is Grimonprez’s way of saying war is not necessary, yet the decision-making has never been in the hands of foot soldiers.
    Such is the documentary’s nod to early 20th century history: from there it jumps to the 1980s, when Ronald Reagan had Margaret Thatcher arrange massive arms deals with Saudi Arabia so that Israel wouldn’t accuse the U.S. of collaborating with the enemy. This, according to “Shadow World,” was the crucial moment when Saudi influence began its staggering ascent. There are a number of nemeses here, but none as adept as the Saudis in manipulating world powers to ensure monumental kick-backs.
    That’s probably the biggest takeaway, along with the harsh realization that governments are heavily invested in ensuring the “war on terror” remains an undefinable state of semi-emergency with no end in sight. According to the film, the reason is simple: War is lucrative, especially for lobbyists and politicians who ensure the arms trade remains a feeding frenzy with no oversight. It backs that point with mind-boggling figures: an $87 million slush fund from Britain’s BAE arms manufacturer to Saudi beneficiaries (Maggie’s son Mark Thatcher got more than $17 million for that one), plus a $1.5 billion bribe to Prince Bandar bin Sultan; $10 billion paid by South Africa for arms they certainly didn’t need, with $300 million as bribes to ANC officials; etc., etc.

    SHADOW WORLD Movie TRAILER
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6IUL7U76vM

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    1. Anonymous2:13 PM

      Watch this tOO> WAR DOG$
      "Based on the true story of two young men, David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, who won a $300 million contract from the Pentagon to arm America's allies in Afghanistan."

      http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2005151/

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Dogs_(2016_film)

      Delete
  16. Well, they did just find a lot of valuable metals for high tech beneath Afghanistan.

    I'm sure Trump wants to "win", take over the country and then mine it for all it's worth.

    You know.

    19th century British Raj style.

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    1. Anonymous2:45 PM

      Oh paybacks will be a bitch for England. Let me tell you what. Brexit is nothing. Hello Queenie!

      Delete
  17. Anonymous4:34 PM

    he just wanted to be on tv. look at ME!!!!!!!! who gives a shit any more???? oh, i forgot, Sarah (i will do anything or say thing to get attention- see me in my xxx movie soon) Palin.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous6:59 PM

    Generals win key fight over Afghanistan they lost with Obama

    http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/22/trump-generals-afghanistan-241922

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous3:17 AM

    Trump has now killed more civilians than Obama fighting ISIS
    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/08/trump-has-now-more-civilians-than-obama-fighting-isis/

    ReplyDelete

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