How was Biden's speech an explanation on Afghanistan?

[MrWonka]

What I bolded is what was missing.

The rest is, as I already pointed out, not under dispute by most.

But he did in fact say that in his speech.

 

[Higgins86]

What’s interesting for me is that everything hes said is exactly what the American right have been saying for years now. You’d think they would be over the moon.

 

[Rogue Valley]

I guess in this day and age "pro-forma" equates to "mediocre".

If, that is, one wants to be kind.

Yes. Exactly. Oratory is not Biden's strong suit.

As expected, he dwelled on his [correct] decision to withdraw, while ignoring the shoddy implementation of that decision.

 

[Logophile]

Rate Biden's speech on Afghanistan

Nixon was more eloquent about his withdrawal. I don't think he stooped to humiliating the South Vietnamese army. Thanks!!

 

[EMNofSeattle]

I’m shocked he didn’t dump on Trump.

but it was largely stuff that was no problem. The real scandal is not the decision to withdraw, it’s the total crud show along with the announcement we’re going to bring back a bunch of collaborators to live in America without a referendum on whether or not to do that

 

[Wry Catcher]

Meh. He’s not wrong exactly but my instinct is that the exit could have been handled better to help ensure that all the critical people who helped us got out safe and did not have to resort to clinging to moving airplanes.

If the exit/transition had happened smoothly this would be a different conversation.

The speech was about the rationale for leaving, which I agree with, but the issue is how we left.

Monday morning QB ^^^

 

[MrWonka]

It was a good speech but I don't agree with his conclusion. Upholding democracy in Afghanistan was and is worth American lives. Millions of women were counting on it.

For how long? There are countries all over the world that treat women poorly. Many would argue we should treat them better here in America. Should we invade every country that's not treating women perfectly and just stay there forever?

 

[Abbazorkzog]

I can't imagine what it is like to live in the reality where that wasn't a good speech, I was going to double down on what I thought was wrong with it but I honestly can't even remember what that was now.

 

[iguanaman]

It was callous.

He said the Afghan people lost the will to fight for their country and gave up.

Such a cruel statement. Really pathetic.

The lost the will to fight didn't they? Biden tells it like it is.

 

[Cardinal]

Nixon was more eloquent about his withdrawal. I don't he stooped to humiliating the South Vietnamese army. Thanks!!

The Afghan soldiers didn't fight the Taliban. It's impossible to explain the fall of the country to the Taliban by omitting that part. It would be like summarizing World War II without mentioning Germany.

 

[Wry Catcher]

It was callous.

He said the Afghan people lost the will to fight for their country and gave up.

Such a cruel statement. Really pathetic.

The Truth hurts, huh?

 

[Cardinal]

I can't imagine what it is like to live in the reality where that wasn't a good speech, I was going to double down on what I thought was wrong with it but I honestly can't even remember what that was now.

Basically, if you thought that wasn't a good speech then you either hate him reflexively or you wanted to be told sweet lies.

 

[Logophile]

It was a very good speech. It was a sobering message that spared niceties and respected the intelligence of the listener. It put the Afghanistan conflict squarely within a historical context that laid out the original mission and the continuation of our presence as a comparison to Viet Nam. He took full responsibility for his decision. I wish more speeches were like this.

Oh he did not take responsibility. You don't blame the Afghanistan resistance and call that taking responsibility. Thanks!!

 

[ecofarm]

I can't imagine what it is like to live in the reality where that wasn't a good speech, I was going to double down on what I thought was wrong with it but I honestly can't even remember what that was now.

I disagree with his conclusion and the philosophical foundation of his position. Those being that US military presence was unwarranted and nation building is untenable.

It was a good speech and addressed some fundamental concerns, "Human rights must be the center of US foreign policy and not the periphery." That's something the enemies of America like to forget.

 

[Loulit01]

I’m shocked he didn’t dump on Trump.

but it was largely stuff that was no problem. The real scandal is not the decision to withdraw, it’s the total crud show along with the announcement we’re going to bring back a bunch of collaborators to live in America without a referendum on whether or not to do that

When was the last time we had a national referendum on anything?
/s

 

[Cardinal]

Oh he did not take responsibility. You don't blame the Afghanistan resistance and call that taking responsibility. Thanks!!

Did the Afghan army fight the Taliban? Yes or no.

 

[MrWonka]

What’s interesting for me is that everything hes said is exactly what the American right have been saying for years now. You’d think they would be over the moon.

There was literally no one on the right saying this ever. It was left saying it. It was Bernie saying it.

This war was started by the right. It's George W. Bush's baby.

 

[iguanaman]

It was a good speech but I don't agree with his conclusion. Upholding democracy in Afghanistan was and is worth American lives. Millions of women were counting on it.

There was never a real democracy there. It was all a very pricey charade. There is really no one but a vicious tyrannical group that can ever rule over the divided people of Afghanistan. They are a country of villages and no village trusts any of the others.

 

[Atomic Kid]

Yes. Exactly. Oratory is not Biden's strong suit.

Compared to Trump he’s practically Shakespearean.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

It was callous.

He said the Afghan people lost the will to fight for their country and gave up.

Such a cruel statement. Really pathetic.

Are you saying that they didn't?

 

[Cameron]

I’m shocked he didn’t dump on Trump.

but it was largely stuff that was no problem. The real scandal is not the decision to withdraw, it’s the total crud show along with the announcement we’re going to bring back a bunch of collaborators to live in America without a referendum on whether or not to do that

That’s an interesting point but why would you expect a public referendum? Do we even have national referendums?

 

[ecofarm]

There was never a real democracy there. It was all a very pricey charade. There is really no one but a vicious tyrannical group that can ever rule over the divided people of Afghanistan. They are a country of villages and no village trusts any of the others.

The charade (dozens of women elected to provincial offices) was worth the price.

 

[Cardinal]

It was a good speech but I don't agree with his conclusion. Upholding democracy in Afghanistan was and is worth American lives. Millions of women were counting on it.

It was never going to happen. Certainly not in our lifetimes.

Opinion | Why Afghan Forces So Quickly Laid Down Their Arms

Opposing Afghan factions have long negotiated arrangements to stop fighting — something the U.S. either failed to understand or chose to ignore.

www.politico.com

 

[noonereal]

I missed it because those who like Biden would say it was a great speech and those who don't would call him a senile old man.

SO will stay off of Fox and CNN so I don't have to get a partisan evaluation.

People should stop equating Fox with Cnn.

This is very misleading and only helps to legitimize Fox.

 

[iguanaman]

There was literally no one on the right saying this ever. It was left saying it. It was Bernie saying it.

This war was started by the right. It's George W. Bush's baby.

That was true before the one term mistake. He was the anti-Bush.