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US Troops to Leave Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021: Washington Post
[ToloNews] "President Joe Biden
...... 46th president of the U.S. Former Senator-for-Life from Delaware, an example of the kind of top-notch Washington intellect to be found in the World's Greatest Deliberative Body.......
will withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan over the coming months, people familiar with the plans said, completing the military exit by the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that first drew the United States into its longest war," the Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, Biden is expected to announce his decision on Wednesday.

"This is the immediate, practical reality that our policy review discovered," the person familiar with the deliberations said. "If we break the May 1st deadline negotiated by the previous administration with no clear plan to exit, we will be back at war with the Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
, and that was not something President Biden believed was in the national interest."

In early March, Blinken made a diplomatic effort to bring the Taliban and the Afghan government together to end the war with an interim power-sharing arrangement. He warned Ghani in a letter that time was growing short and said that the May 1 option was still on the table. However,
if you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning...
since taking office, Biden has repeatedly mentioned the logistical difficulty of meeting the May 1 deadline for logistical reasons, and his administration has said the Trump-brokered agreement was under review.

Under the US-Taliban peace agreement signed on February 2020, all US forces stationed in Afghanistan must leave the country by May 1. But sources close to the Taliban have said that the Biden administration has asked the Taliban to agree on the presence of the US forces for another three or six months.

This comes as an UN-led conference on Afghanistan is expected to be held in The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire...
on April 24.
Khaama Press adds:
There are 2,500 U.S troops stationed in Afghanistan, the statistical figure of the residing troops is not exact, but there are additional 7,000 Coalition and NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A collection of multinational and multilingual and multicultural armed forces, all of differing capabilities, working toward a common goal by pulling in different directions...
troops in the country.

US Army Chief: 'Multiple Contingencies' for Afghanistan Policy

[ToloNews] US Army Chief of Staff General McConville, in response to questions from the Washington Post about the US involvement in Afghanistan, said: "I know there’s a lot of interest in what is happening in Afghanistan. And you know, the administration is leading with policy. They’re going to shape it with diplomacy, and then the military will execute those orders. They’re in the process right now. There’s multiple contingencies. And once those decisions are made at the highest level, we’ll be ready to execute."

Asked about the practical ability of the US military to rapidly withdraw troops, Gen. McConville said it all comes down to "physics," in terms of moving troops and equipment, adding that "the commanders in the field have those type of contingency plans" to advise big shots in the administration. He said "those plans were available right now."

In response to a question about whether US General Scott Miller, commander of US and NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A collection of multinational and multilingual and multicultural armed forces, all of differing capabilities, working toward a common goal by pulling in different directions...
forces in Afghanistan, and other leaders were preparing for the possibility that they could come under significant attack over the next weeks and months, Gen. McConville praised General Miller—"I don’t think there’s any finer combat leader in the United States Army"--and said "we’re all going to make sure that our troops are taken care of and have the proper defense mechanisms in place..."

Asked about the meaning of the war in Afghanistan and the service of US soldiers, Gen. McConville framed it as having successfully prevented further terrorism in the US from Al Qaeda: "They’ve basically prevented al-Qaeda from attacking our country again. But there’s much, much more work that’s going to be needed to be done in Afghanistan, and we’ve given the Afghan a start in doing that. And it’s going to end with some type of political agreement."

General McConville added: "When we take a look at it, our country was attacked on 9/11, and we knew who did it. We knew where they were. And by going to Afghanistan, we had--we were able to hold those who did it accountable. We were also able to prevent al-Qaeda from being operational from that sanctuary over the last 20 years. And that’s the contribution (US troops) made to world security by going and volunteering to serve. And I’m very, very proud of this generation, of how they continue to raise their right hands and say send me. So, I’m extremely proud of the young men and women today.

Speaking in broader terms, the general said "when we take a look at what’s going around the world, many of these conflicts are going to continue until we get the appropriate political solution. And you know, one of the big takeaways is just how important security provided by the country, it is."
Posted by: trailing wife 2021-04-14
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=599457