"So your military advisers did not tell you, “No, we should just keep 2,500 troops. It’s been a stable situation for the last several years. We can do that. We can continue to do that?""
That's what Biden answered no to. No general told him they could keep a stable situation in Afghanistan with only 2,500 troops staying there especially given the Doha agreement between TFG and the Taliban.
From the same link above, Austin said, “the intelligence was clear that if we did not leave in accordance with that agreement, the Taliban would recommence attacks on our forces.”
So keeping 2,500 US forces there would not nearly have been enough to keep any kind of stability.
But I'm looking forward to Shay Khatiri's next hyperventilating article about how we should have stayed in Afghanistan forever because reasons.
Lol, and right on cue today Shay has an article using a Bakerite partial quote to cliam Biden either may have lied or, using the Fox Newsian claim that Biden might have dementia, forgotten the advice from the generals.
I hope no one takes my post as a takedown of Charlie or The Bulwark in general. I'm a progressive and I consider this site one of the best. But as Charlie says, we aren't here to create a safe space for anyone and will say what we think.
About that Peter Baker tweet: he "creatively" edited Stephanoplous's question. The actual question was:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/09/28/3-big-takeaways-mark-milley-hearing/
"So your military advisers did not tell you, “No, we should just keep 2,500 troops. It’s been a stable situation for the last several years. We can do that. We can continue to do that?""
That's what Biden answered no to. No general told him they could keep a stable situation in Afghanistan with only 2,500 troops staying there especially given the Doha agreement between TFG and the Taliban.
From the same link above, Austin said, “the intelligence was clear that if we did not leave in accordance with that agreement, the Taliban would recommence attacks on our forces.”
So keeping 2,500 US forces there would not nearly have been enough to keep any kind of stability.
But I'm looking forward to Shay Khatiri's next hyperventilating article about how we should have stayed in Afghanistan forever because reasons.
I thought it was a mistake for The Bulwark to publish that. Khatiri's posts were more appropriate for the anti-Biden Washington Post.
Lol, and right on cue today Shay has an article using a Bakerite partial quote to cliam Biden either may have lied or, using the Fox Newsian claim that Biden might have dementia, forgotten the advice from the generals.
https://www.thebulwark.com/did-biden-lie-about-what-the-generals-recommended-for-afghanistan/
I love The Bulwark and being part of Bulwark+, but on this issue you guys really need to do better.
It's way off message. The Lincoln Project has been relentlessly on-message.
They never used to be so much, and the NYT's is still worse...but, I have been disappointed lately
Thank you, Kevin. I had assumed the Q&A was as presented.
You're welcome Peggy. :)
I hope no one takes my post as a takedown of Charlie or The Bulwark in general. I'm a progressive and I consider this site one of the best. But as Charlie says, we aren't here to create a safe space for anyone and will say what we think.