Ls2012
Amethyst
Posts: 7,364 Likes: 32,621
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Post by Ls2012 on Aug 16, 2021 10:57:34 GMT -6
Gentle hugs, notexactly. I can only imagine how hard this news is to watch, and how close to home it hits for you. ❤️
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Post by carmensandiego on Aug 16, 2021 11:02:12 GMT -6
What strikes me is the lack of planning. Like others have mentioned, a wind-down was going to happen at some point. But it doesn't look like there was a plan to remove US (or US allied) personnel.
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Post by enchanted on Aug 16, 2021 11:04:32 GMT -6
Hugs, notexactly. I can't imagine how you're feeling right now. ❤️
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overboard
Sapphire
Dull normal
Posts: 3,132 Likes: 15,815
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Post by overboard on Aug 16, 2021 11:37:32 GMT -6
I can’t stop thinking about the interpreters and other people who have aided the U.S. and are now being left behind. I mean, it’s nice that all of these orgs are trying to rush things through and find them a way out, but why should they have to? I’m sick to my stomach thinking about the people left behind.
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jaygee
Diamond
Posts: 28,215 Likes: 219,426
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Post by jaygee on Aug 16, 2021 11:41:12 GMT -6
What strikes me is the lack of planning. Like others have mentioned, a wind-down was going to happen at some point. But it doesn't look like there was a plan to remove US (or US allied) personnel. This is what I think as well. We all knew how this would be the outcome just not that it would happen so quickly. But what was the contingency plan? I wouldn’t be surprised if our intelligence was very lacking due to TFG and his mess. So that will probably be a whole thing.
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addymac
Emerald
Posts: 12,676 Likes: 54,007
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Post by addymac on Aug 16, 2021 11:46:26 GMT -6
I’m so sick to my stomach reading about all the things that happened this weekend. Thanks for all the posts and info you guys share, it helps me when I feel overwhelmed about where to look, and I am able to come here and get a quicker catch up.
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clucky
Opal
Posts: 7,821 Likes: 32,842
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Post by clucky on Aug 16, 2021 12:05:02 GMT -6
Little bit of good news. Hoping next they look at the income level caps as well. So many are just above and struggling - many are on free or reduced lunch yet make too much for SNAP, as was evidenced by those who got PEBT.
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jaygee
Diamond
Posts: 28,215 Likes: 219,426
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Post by jaygee on Aug 16, 2021 12:06:46 GMT -6
I mean…what is going to happen? What can we even do?
That’s what’s so stressful. Do we just have to watch this in horror?
These are rhetorical questions. I just feel very overwhelmed with sadness.
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Post by notexactly on Aug 16, 2021 12:21:29 GMT -6
I mean…what is going to happen? What can we even do? That’s what’s so stressful. Do we just have to watch this in horror? These are rhetorical questions. I just feel very overwhelmed with sadness. To add to it: where are SA and UAE? How come they are not trying to help? I hate that some of these wealthy ME countries just don't seem to give a shit.
Also just thinking out loud. It's so beyond terrible.
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Post by crimsonandclover on Aug 16, 2021 12:27:37 GMT -6
Someone on my FB timeline posted the video of the plane taking off with people falling from it and I was horrified. The images from 9/11 of people jumping from the towers stayed with me for a very long time and I would never have wanted to see that video of Afghanistan. I don't want to bury my head in the sand, but at the same time, I do not want to see video of people's last moments alive.
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byjove
Ruby
Posts: 15,191 Likes: 74,077
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Post by byjove on Aug 16, 2021 12:39:26 GMT -6
I mean…what is going to happen? What can we even do? That’s what’s so stressful. Do we just have to watch this in horror? These are rhetorical questions. I just feel very overwhelmed with sadness. I signed up to find out more about volunteer opportunities since there are so many refugees coming to the greater DC area. I mean, it’s not much, but if can deliver a hot meal somewhere, at least I’ve tried to do something. Idk. Not feeling great about things either.
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Post by notexactly on Aug 16, 2021 12:54:00 GMT -6
I mean…what is going to happen? What can we even do? That’s what’s so stressful. Do we just have to watch this in horror? These are rhetorical questions. I just feel very overwhelmed with sadness. I signed up to find out more about volunteer opportunities since there are so many refugees coming to the greater DC area. I mean, it’s not much, but if can deliver a hot meal somewhere, at least I’ve tried to do something. Idk. Not feeling great about things either. I saw that in our FB group and could not help but smile. Trust me, it IS a lot. That's going to mean a world to the refugees you help.
I still think very fondly of the people who helped us in any manner and it has been years!
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starbuck
Emerald
Posts: 12,464 Likes: 81,139
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Post by starbuck on Aug 16, 2021 12:55:58 GMT -6
Someone on my FB timeline posted the video of the plane taking off with people falling from it and I was horrified. The images from 9/11 of people jumping from the towers stayed with me for a very long time and I would never have wanted to see that video of Afghanistan. I don't want to bury my head in the sand, but at the same time, I do not want to see video of people's last moments alive. I saw that too and had the exact same feeling. It was hard enough to hear that, but to see it.
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athn64
Ruby
Posts: 17,412 Likes: 76,719
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Post by athn64 on Aug 16, 2021 13:46:09 GMT -6
Biden should be speaking soon.
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starbuck
Emerald
Posts: 12,464 Likes: 81,139
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Post by starbuck on Aug 16, 2021 13:46:57 GMT -6
Tapper is on, waiting for presser.
Biden is increasing troop levels to 6k. Tapper says it is a sign of "inept planning" and suggests it is indicative of the administration ignoring guidance from intelligence and military officials.
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starbuck
Emerald
Posts: 12,464 Likes: 81,139
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Post by starbuck on Aug 16, 2021 13:47:20 GMT -6
Oh God Tapper is playing the tape of the bodies falling.
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starbuck
Emerald
Posts: 12,464 Likes: 81,139
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Post by starbuck on Aug 16, 2021 13:48:36 GMT -6
This is a really scathing indictment from Tapper.
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athn64
Ruby
Posts: 17,412 Likes: 76,719
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Post by athn64 on Aug 16, 2021 13:49:02 GMT -6
Tapper is on, waiting for presser. Biden is increasing troop levels to 6k. Tapper says it is a sign of "inept planning" and suggests it is indicative of the administration ignoring guidance from intelligence and military officials. It's a failure of more than one administration.
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starbuck
Emerald
Posts: 12,464 Likes: 81,139
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Post by starbuck on Aug 16, 2021 13:51:04 GMT -6
Tapper is on, waiting for presser. Biden is increasing troop levels to 6k. Tapper says it is a sign of "inept planning" and suggests it is indicative of the administration ignoring guidance from intelligence and military officials. It's a failure of more than one administration. Oh I agree on that. The argument is that they were told months ago to evacuate US citizens and allies before troop withdrawals and didn't listen. Which seems like a fair criticism. It's not necessarily that Biden fucked everything, or that we are here because of him and him alone, but that the withdrawal was not appropriately managed.
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athn64
Ruby
Posts: 17,412 Likes: 76,719
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Post by athn64 on Aug 16, 2021 13:52:41 GMT -6
It's a failure of more than one administration. Oh I agree on that. The argument is that they were told months ago to evacuate US citizens and allies before troop withdrawals and didn't listen. Which seems like a fair criticism. It's not necessarily that Biden fucked everything, or that we are here because of him and him alone, but that the withdrawal was not appropriately managed. It definitely was not. I don't understand why they didn't.
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jkjacq
Ruby
Posts: 21,737 Likes: 94,324
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Post by jkjacq on Aug 16, 2021 13:55:29 GMT -6
It's a failure of more than one administration. Oh I agree on that. The argument is that they were told months ago to evacuate US citizens and allies before troop withdrawals and didn't listen. Which seems like a fair criticism. It's not necessarily that Biden fucked everything, or that we are here because of him and him alone, but that the withdrawal was not appropriately managed. on one hand I get leaving embassy officials until the end because you want to give the illusion of supporting the Afghan govt. BUT this was gonna happen and they should have evac'd way more than they did and left a skeleton crew. Also instead of yanking around those citizens who spent the past 20 years helping allied forces should have had been brought out earlier as well.
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athn64
Ruby
Posts: 17,412 Likes: 76,719
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Post by athn64 on Aug 16, 2021 14:00:16 GMT -6
Joni Ernst is one of the last senators I want to hear from, Jake.
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starbuck
Emerald
Posts: 12,464 Likes: 81,139
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Post by starbuck on Aug 16, 2021 14:02:14 GMT -6
Biden is up
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dc2london
Admin
Press Secretary
Posts: 61,576 Likes: 418,997
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Post by dc2london on Aug 16, 2021 14:02:55 GMT -6
Oh I agree on that. The argument is that they were told months ago to evacuate US citizens and allies before troop withdrawals and didn't listen. Which seems like a fair criticism. It's not necessarily that Biden fucked everything, or that we are here because of him and him alone, but that the withdrawal was not appropriately managed. on one hand I get leaving embassy officials until the end because you want to give the illusion of supporting the Afghan govt. BUT this was gonna happen and they should have evac'd way more than they did and left a skeleton crew. Also instead of yanking around those citizens who spent the past 20 years helping allied forces should have had been brought out earlier as well.
My understanding is that they kept personnel on the ground frantically trying to process visas
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dc2london
Admin
Press Secretary
Posts: 61,576 Likes: 418,997
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Post by dc2london on Aug 16, 2021 14:03:40 GMT -6
But I still don't understand why they didn't start getting Afghanis out of there in May, June and July
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starbuck
Emerald
Posts: 12,464 Likes: 81,139
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Post by starbuck on Aug 16, 2021 14:04:58 GMT -6
He's explaining that we went in to Afghanistan for counterterrorism not to nation build. Says we cannot focus on threats of yesterday.
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jkjacq
Ruby
Posts: 21,737 Likes: 94,324
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Post by jkjacq on Aug 16, 2021 14:05:14 GMT -6
on one hand I get leaving embassy officials until the end because you want to give the illusion of supporting the Afghan govt. BUT this was gonna happen and they should have evac'd way more than they did and left a skeleton crew. Also instead of yanking around those citizens who spent the past 20 years helping allied forces should have had been brought out earlier as well.
My understanding is that they kept personnel on the ground frantically trying to process visas they could have processed visas in Qatar.
i'm not arguing I'm just mad.
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athn64
Ruby
Posts: 17,412 Likes: 76,719
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Post by athn64 on Aug 16, 2021 14:05:32 GMT -6
Biden is focusing on us not being there to help them build their democracy.
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Post by blurnette989 on Aug 16, 2021 14:05:54 GMT -6
But I still don't understand why they didn't start getting Afghanis out of there in May, June and July And also quite frankly many of the Afghanis wed need to get out already had been vetted to you know, work with the US govt. Maybe we can expedite the family members so that we just keep this train moving.
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starbuck
Emerald
Posts: 12,464 Likes: 81,139
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Post by starbuck on Aug 16, 2021 14:06:56 GMT -6
He's talking about inheriting Trump's deal with Taliban
He says he had a choice to honor that agreement or risk war. No ceasefire agreement for after May 1. There was only the cold reality to follow thru or escalate and send thousands back to combat in Afghanistan, begin a third decade.
He does not regret the decision to follow thru. "There was never a good time to withdrawal"
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