Another 4,000 Americans to be sent into the Afghanistan meat grinder!

Submitted by thanatokephaloides on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 4:14pm

Numerous news outlets are now reporting that President Trump has authorized Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to send 4,000 more American soldiers to Afghanistan, admitting that many of these will serve in direct combat roles.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's coverage (admittedly potentially biased) can be found here.

Russia Today (RT)'s coverage can be found here.

Please allow me to make a very simple statement: I AM PISSED OFF ABOUT THIS! The Afghan War will never end unless and until all foreign forces, all foreign governments, leave that war-torn country and allow its people to work out how they will live, and by what rules, by themselves.

I am shocked, saddened, and profoundly disappointed and disillusioned. And depressed about this.

When will we ever learn?

Tags:

War

forever war

afghanistan

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Comments

Submitted by thanatokephaloides on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 4:16pm

Here we go again.

How effing stupid can we be??

—

"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

Submitted by Tall Bald and Ugly on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 10:13pm

Pretty fucking stupid

@thanatokephaloides apparently.
And the poppies are a side benny of this shit! The real reason this is happening is your typing and reading on it! Some kind of fucked up un- obtainium that goes in all our 'devices' that locks us in to our 'vices' of communication. Without it, our toys don't work!
But the heroin Does compete with Big Pharma, so I don't understand this. But then, I'm not Supposed to understand it.
Chaos Rules!

peace

—

Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

Submitted by edg on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 12:06pm

CIA competes with Big Pharma.

@Tall Bald and Ugly

They did it in Central America with cocaine. They're doing it in Afghanistan with opium. The CIA uses drug money to fund its clandestine operations. They don't care about stepping on Big Pharma's toes.

Submitted by Bollox Ref on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 4:32pm

Where's Field Marshal Lord Roberts when you need him...

—

Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

Submitted by Big Al on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 4:37pm

I remember a British General saying, this was around 2006,

that the whole "process" would take about 30-40 years when he was asked how long they'd be in Afghanistan and Iraq, and waging the fake war OF terror.
They will not and cannot leave Afghanistan until the "process" plays itself out. The process is the quest for the New World Order.

Submitted by thanatokephaloides on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 5:01pm

process

@Big Al

I remember a British General saying, this was around 2006,
that the whole "process" would take about 30-40 years when he was asked how long they'd be in Afghanistan and Iraq, and waging the fake war OF terror.
They will not and cannot leave Afghanistan until the "process" plays itself out. The process is the quest for the New World Order.

I trust I do not need to tell you what I think they can do with their "process".

It belongs in a process pool!

—

"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

Submitted by CB on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 8:07pm

It's all changed since China instigated the OBOR initiative

@Big Al
http://www.merics.org/en/merics-analysis/china-mapping/china-mapping/

This project will destroy the American Empire.

http://oborwatch.org/china-to-set-up-military-bases-in-pakistan-pentagon...

Beijing’s global military ambitions are growing, the annual report says, as the nation seeks to counter American primacy.

Submitted by Big Al on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 9:49pm

"defending China’s interest abroad"

@CB Sounds exactly like U.S. imperialism. That's global capitalism, i.e., the "highest form of capitalism is imperialism".
I don't know about the end of the American empire but it spells big trouble.

Submitted by CB on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 1:53am

It's closer than we realize

@Big Al
The US is going to try and throw a monkey wrench into the Russia/Chinese backed OBOR initiative.

The West Can't Smell What Eurasia is Cooking

A tectonic geopolitical shift happened in Astana, Kazakhstan, only a few days ago, and yet barely a ripple registered in Atlanticist circles.

At the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), founded in 2001, both India and Pakistan were admitted as full members, alongside Russia, China and four Central Asian “stans” (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan).

So now the SCO not only qualifies as the largest political organization – by area and population – in the world; it also unites four nuclear powers. The G-7 is irrelevant, as the latest summit in Taormina made it clear. The real action now, apart from the G-20, also lays in this alternative G-8.
...
Now the SCO is actively warning about the security “deterioration” in Afghanistan and calling for all members to support the “peace and reconciliation” process. That’s code for the SCO from now on directly engaged in finding an “all-Asian” Afghan solution – with both India and Pakistan on board – that should transcend the failed Pentagon “remedy”; more troops.

NATO, by the way, miserably lost its war in Afghanistan. The Taliban control at least 60% of the country – and counting. And adding supreme insult to predictable injury, the Islamic State Khorasan (ISK) – Daesh’s branch in Afghanistan – has just captured Tora Bora, where way back in late 2001 the Pentagon’s B-52s were bombing already-escaped Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Make no mistake; there will be SCO action in Afghanistan. And that will include bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table. China has taken over the rotating presidency of the SCO and will be keen to show practical results in the next summit in June 2018.

Step on the gas, pay in yuan
...
The Caliphate in the “Syraq” desert is now dead – especially if Russia confirms the Caliph himself has gone to meet his maker. Too bad – because a totally destabilized Syria would be perfect to destabilize Russia from the Caucasus to Central Asia; Russian intelligence has always been focused on those 900 km from Aleppo to Grozny.

Like Terminator, the US deep state will be back. An expanded wet dream remains to create the conditions for the destabilization of a vast stretch from the Levant to South Asia — with possible future terror waves expanding north to Russia and east to China. The target: the interpenetration of BRI, EEU and the SCO.

To compound it, the Pentagon will refuse to abandon Afghanistan – a bridgehead to wreaking havoc in Central Asia. What could possibly go wrong? After all, Daesh is now virtually positioned in Central Asia, not far from Xinjiang and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – a key node of BRI.
...

Submitted by Big Al on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 9:40am

This is deep CB.

@CB I'm going to try to write something on this if you don't mind. This is big. Just read another article by Engdahl about it.
If I was a western imperialist warmonger, I would be thinking a major war, military and economic, is the only way to try to maintain the Empire. All other signs are pointing to the U.S. empire becoming second rate fast.
I see problems for China and the others however, and huge vulnerabilities, the populations of China and India for one. Some nasty games are going to be played.

#3.2.1 The US is going to try and throw a monkey wrench into the Russia/Chinese backed OBOR initiative. The West Can't Smell What Eurasia is Cooking A tectonic geopolitical shift happened in Astana, Kazakhstan, only a few days ago, and yet barely a ripple registered in Atlanticist circles. At the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), founded in 2001, both India and Pakistan were admitted as full members, alongside Russia, China and four Central Asian “stans” (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan). So now the SCO not only qualifies as the largest political organization – by area and population – in the world; it also unites four nuclear powers. The G-7 is irrelevant, as the latest summit in Taormina made it clear. The real action now, apart from the G-20, also lays in this alternative G-8. ... Now the SCO is actively warning about the security “deterioration” in Afghanistan and calling for all members to support the “peace and reconciliation” process. That’s code for the SCO from now on directly engaged in finding an “all-Asian” Afghan solution – with both India and Pakistan on board – that should transcend the failed Pentagon “remedy”; more troops. NATO, by the way, miserably lost its war in Afghanistan. The Taliban control at least 60% of the country – and counting. And adding supreme insult to predictable injury, the Islamic State Khorasan (ISK) – Daesh’s branch in Afghanistan – has just captured Tora Bora, where way back in late 2001 the Pentagon’s B-52s were bombing already-escaped Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. Make no mistake; there will be SCO action in Afghanistan. And that will include bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table. China has taken over the rotating presidency of the SCO and will be keen to show practical results in the next summit in June 2018. Step on the gas, pay in yuan ... The Caliphate in the “Syraq” desert is now dead – especially if Russia confirms the Caliph himself has gone to meet his maker. Too bad – because a totally destabilized Syria would be perfect to destabilize Russia from the Caucasus to Central Asia; Russian intelligence has always been focused on those 900 km from Aleppo to Grozny. Like Terminator, the US deep state will be back. An expanded wet dream remains to create the conditions for the destabilization of a vast stretch from the Levant to South Asia — with possible future terror waves expanding north to Russia and east to China. The target: the interpenetration of BRI, EEU and the SCO. To compound it, the Pentagon will refuse to abandon Afghanistan – a bridgehead to wreaking havoc in Central Asia. What could possibly go wrong? After all, Daesh is now virtually positioned in Central Asia, not far from Xinjiang and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – a key node of BRI. ...

Submitted by CB on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 11:04am

I used to follow events in Central Asia very closely

@Big Al
In fact, it was due to this that I took my nom de plume in DKos, Claudius Bombarnac. I posted hundreds of articles about US involvement in the region, especially Afghanistan and how the situation there had a long and very complex history with all the great powers and that the US's involvement was much, much deeper than just "getting Bin Laden".

I was thinking about doing something here, but I don't have the time to do it justice. If you want to give it a try, I could add some information. Mike Whitney does a lot of in depth reporting in the region. Here's a starting point.

The Broken Chessboard: Brzezinski Gives Up on Empire
...
The strategic objectives are identical, the only difference is that Brzezinski has made a course correction based on changing circumstances and the growing resistance to US bullying, domination and sanctions. We have not yet reached the tipping point for US primacy, but that day is fast approaching and Brzezinski knows it.

In contrast, Clinton is still fully-committed to expanding US hegemony across Asia. She doesn’t understand the risks this poses for the country or the world. She’s going to persist with the interventions until the US war-making juggernaut is stopped dead-in-its-tracks which, judging by her hyperbolic rhetoric, will probably happen some time in her first term.

Brzezinski presents a rational but self-serving plan to climb-down, minimize future conflicts, avoid a nuclear conflagration and preserve the global order. (aka–The “dollar system”) But will bloodthirsty Hillary follow his advice?

Not a chance.

In the near future, most of American foreign policy will revolve around countering the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The US will have a much superior adversary in their attempts to counter the two leaders of Russia and China, Putin and Xi. These men are masters at playing the long game and using an adversary's strength against itself - a combination of a Judoka master and Sun Tzu, if you will.

I will look forward to your diary.

Submitted by dervish on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 12:02pm

This seems to be an epidemic

@CB in beltway circles:

...doesn’t understand the risks this poses for the country or the world.

Whatever happened to cold-eyed, sober assessments and analysis? Groupthink and sycophancy have apparently replaced them, at all levels. We still apparently haven't recovered from the damage done prior to the Iraq War.

These men are masters at playing the long game and using an adversary's strength against itself - a combination of a Judoka master and Sun Tzu, if you will.

This may actually be a blessing, I just hope that the resulting contraction of US power is a relatively peaceful transition.

#3.2.1.1.1 In fact, it was due to this that I took my nom de plume in DKos, Claudius Bombarnac. I posted hundreds of articles about US involvement in the region, especially Afghanistan and how the situation there had a long and very complex history with all the great powers and that the US's involvement was much, much deeper than just "getting Bin Laden". I was thinking about doing something here, but I don't have the time to do it justice. If you want to give it a try, I could add some information. Mike Whitney does a lot of in depth reporting in the region. Here's a starting point. The Broken Chessboard: Brzezinski Gives Up on Empire ... The strategic objectives are identical, the only difference is that Brzezinski has made a course correction based on changing circumstances and the growing resistance to US bullying, domination and sanctions. We have not yet reached the tipping point for US primacy, but that day is fast approaching and Brzezinski knows it. In contrast, Clinton is still fully-committed to expanding US hegemony across Asia. She doesn’t understand the risks this poses for the country or the world. She’s going to persist with the interventions until the US war-making juggernaut is stopped dead-in-its-tracks which, judging by her hyperbolic rhetoric, will probably happen some time in her first term. Brzezinski presents a rational but self-serving plan to climb-down, minimize future conflicts, avoid a nuclear conflagration and preserve the global order. (aka–The “dollar system”) But will bloodthirsty Hillary follow his advice? Not a chance. In the near future, most of American foreign policy will revolve around countering the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The US will have a much superior adversary in their attempts to counter the two leaders of Russia and China, Putin and Xi. These men are masters at playing the long game and using an adversary's strength against itself - a combination of a Judoka master and Sun Tzu, if you will. I will look forward to your diary.

—

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by edg on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 12:13pm

Few empires die peacefully. n/t

@dervish

Submitted by native on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 5:23pm

For the SCO is to succeed in

@CB
controlling the tribal warlords of Afghanistan, they'd need a much better plan than any number of previous ones. USA would be wise to bow out gracefully, and let them have at it.

#3.2.1 The US is going to try and throw a monkey wrench into the Russia/Chinese backed OBOR initiative. The West Can't Smell What Eurasia is Cooking A tectonic geopolitical shift happened in Astana, Kazakhstan, only a few days ago, and yet barely a ripple registered in Atlanticist circles. At the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), founded in 2001, both India and Pakistan were admitted as full members, alongside Russia, China and four Central Asian “stans” (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan). So now the SCO not only qualifies as the largest political organization – by area and population – in the world; it also unites four nuclear powers. The G-7 is irrelevant, as the latest summit in Taormina made it clear. The real action now, apart from the G-20, also lays in this alternative G-8. ... Now the SCO is actively warning about the security “deterioration” in Afghanistan and calling for all members to support the “peace and reconciliation” process. That’s code for the SCO from now on directly engaged in finding an “all-Asian” Afghan solution – with both India and Pakistan on board – that should transcend the failed Pentagon “remedy”; more troops. NATO, by the way, miserably lost its war in Afghanistan. The Taliban control at least 60% of the country – and counting. And adding supreme insult to predictable injury, the Islamic State Khorasan (ISK) – Daesh’s branch in Afghanistan – has just captured Tora Bora, where way back in late 2001 the Pentagon’s B-52s were bombing already-escaped Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. Make no mistake; there will be SCO action in Afghanistan. And that will include bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table. China has taken over the rotating presidency of the SCO and will be keen to show practical results in the next summit in June 2018. Step on the gas, pay in yuan ... The Caliphate in the “Syraq” desert is now dead – especially if Russia confirms the Caliph himself has gone to meet his maker. Too bad – because a totally destabilized Syria would be perfect to destabilize Russia from the Caucasus to Central Asia; Russian intelligence has always been focused on those 900 km from Aleppo to Grozny. Like Terminator, the US deep state will be back. An expanded wet dream remains to create the conditions for the destabilization of a vast stretch from the Levant to South Asia — with possible future terror waves expanding north to Russia and east to China. The target: the interpenetration of BRI, EEU and the SCO. To compound it, the Pentagon will refuse to abandon Afghanistan – a bridgehead to wreaking havoc in Central Asia. What could possibly go wrong? After all, Daesh is now virtually positioned in Central Asia, not far from Xinjiang and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – a key node of BRI. ...

—

native

Submitted by dervish on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 5:59pm

The US plan

@native has revolved around paying them not to attack us.

I imagine that the SCO plan would be a win/win scenario including trade and self-determination. That's much better right out of the chute.

—

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by CB on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 6:40pm

The US is already attempting to destroy any and all

@native
rapprochement between the Taliban and the SCO. Whenever there has been a peace process put in place in Afghanistan, the US has done whatever it could to destroy it. I figure the US will insert well over 4,000 troops, most likely closer to 10,000, to ensure the conflict in Afghanistan continues.

NATO Challenges SCO and CSTO in Afghanistan

The killing of a Taliban Chief on Pakistani soil signaled that America is not sincere with the peace process in Afghanistan. Washington’s acts to sabotage efforts of talks clearly highlighted that NATO is interested in a further stay, with the aim of achieving geopolitical objectives in the region. That’s why every time when talks with the Taliban reach the edge of success, the USA unexpectedly takes such steps that spoil the whole peace process.
...
The US has not only adopted a destructive approach to contain multipolar regional and global integration through fueling ethnical, regional, political and religious conflicts, but now Washington is also working to constitute a consolidated bloc of unipolar well-wisher states to encircle/isolate Russia and China economically, politically, and military. For this purpose, under the US command of NATO, countries have not only imposed economic sanctions on Russia but their forces have already reached the borders of Russia while on other side, the US has introduced an Asian NATO-like project to counter China through meddling with the South China Sea island geopolitics and fueling the border disputes of China with its other neighboring states.

In this emerging scenario where the US is pushing the world to total war, (World War III) the NATO presence in Afghanistan has become more alarming and dangerous for the whole region. This essay aims to cover NATO’s containment policy in Afghanistan against China’s Silk Road and Eurasian regional integration through highlighting the challenges for the regional security blocs Shanghai cooperation organization (SCO) and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
...
Concluding Thoughts

The Taliban’s new chief Haibatullah Akhunzada has refused talks and declared war on foreign forces because his former chief was killed by the US at a time when peace talks were underway. The new Taliban Chief was among them who opposed talks so now a new wave of fight against foreign forces would be observed soon. The Taliban will focus on uniting split groups and then they will launch offensive attacks so that they can show that they are still powerful and united.

The Taliban have two enemies: one is foreign forces and the other is ISIS, which is supported by NATO. Meanwhile the Taliban’s ideology also shows that they refused to own regional militants groups that are involved in militancy in Chinese Xinjiang, Tajikistan, and Pakistan. So it shows that Taliban is fighting only for Afghanistan against NATO and its proxies. The enemy of an enemy is a friend comes true with the Taliban and Regional countries’ expected alliance.

In this region NATO-sponsored ISIS is a common enemy of the Taliban and regional countries of SCO and CSTO. So this is a time for SCO and CSTO to constitute an anti-terrorist mechanism for Afghanistan by seeking new ways to negotiate with the Taliban so that US/NATO’s ambitions to contain regional development will be defeated.

Submitted by dervish on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 7:08pm

Have you seen

@CB "War Machine" on Netflix, by chance? It's hilarious, and about Afghanistan.

#3.2.1.1.2 rapprochement between the Taliban and the SCO. Whenever there has been a peace process put in place in Afghanistan, the US has done whatever it could to destroy it. I figure the US will insert well over 4,000 troops, most likely closer to 10,000, to ensure the conflict in Afghanistan continues. NATO Challenges SCO and CSTO in Afghanistan The killing of a Taliban Chief on Pakistani soil signaled that America is not sincere with the peace process in Afghanistan. Washington’s acts to sabotage efforts of talks clearly highlighted that NATO is interested in a further stay, with the aim of achieving geopolitical objectives in the region. That’s why every time when talks with the Taliban reach the edge of success, the USA unexpectedly takes such steps that spoil the whole peace process. ... The US has not only adopted a destructive approach to contain multipolar regional and global integration through fueling ethnical, regional, political and religious conflicts, but now Washington is also working to constitute a consolidated bloc of unipolar well-wisher states to encircle/isolate Russia and China economically, politically, and military. For this purpose, under the US command of NATO, countries have not only imposed economic sanctions on Russia but their forces have already reached the borders of Russia while on other side, the US has introduced an Asian NATO-like project to counter China through meddling with the South China Sea island geopolitics and fueling the border disputes of China with its other neighboring states. In this emerging scenario where the US is pushing the world to total war, (World War III) the NATO presence in Afghanistan has become more alarming and dangerous for the whole region. This essay aims to cover NATO’s containment policy in Afghanistan against China’s Silk Road and Eurasian regional integration through highlighting the challenges for the regional security blocs Shanghai cooperation organization (SCO) and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). ... Concluding Thoughts The Taliban’s new chief Haibatullah Akhunzada has refused talks and declared war on foreign forces because his former chief was killed by the US at a time when peace talks were underway. The new Taliban Chief was among them who opposed talks so now a new wave of fight against foreign forces would be observed soon. The Taliban will focus on uniting split groups and then they will launch offensive attacks so that they can show that they are still powerful and united. The Taliban have two enemies: one is foreign forces and the other is ISIS, which is supported by NATO. Meanwhile the Taliban’s ideology also shows that they refused to own regional militants groups that are involved in militancy in Chinese Xinjiang, Tajikistan, and Pakistan. So it shows that Taliban is fighting only for Afghanistan against NATO and its proxies. The enemy of an enemy is a friend comes true with the Taliban and Regional countries’ expected alliance. In this region NATO-sponsored ISIS is a common enemy of the Taliban and regional countries of SCO and CSTO. So this is a time for SCO and CSTO to constitute an anti-terrorist mechanism for Afghanistan by seeking new ways to negotiate with the Taliban so that US/NATO’s ambitions to contain regional development will be defeated.

—

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by CB on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 7:43pm

No. But I looked up the trailer.

@dervish
Looks like it's right on.

I'll trade you a "War, Inc."

Submitted by dervish on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 9:01pm

Thanks! I haven't seen that one

@CB I'll watch it.

War Machine is a must see. It's darkly hilarious.

—

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by dervish on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 5:57pm

I love Pepe Escobar.

@CB Good stuff.

#3.2.1 The US is going to try and throw a monkey wrench into the Russia/Chinese backed OBOR initiative. The West Can't Smell What Eurasia is Cooking A tectonic geopolitical shift happened in Astana, Kazakhstan, only a few days ago, and yet barely a ripple registered in Atlanticist circles. At the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), founded in 2001, both India and Pakistan were admitted as full members, alongside Russia, China and four Central Asian “stans” (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan). So now the SCO not only qualifies as the largest political organization – by area and population – in the world; it also unites four nuclear powers. The G-7 is irrelevant, as the latest summit in Taormina made it clear. The real action now, apart from the G-20, also lays in this alternative G-8. ... Now the SCO is actively warning about the security “deterioration” in Afghanistan and calling for all members to support the “peace and reconciliation” process. That’s code for the SCO from now on directly engaged in finding an “all-Asian” Afghan solution – with both India and Pakistan on board – that should transcend the failed Pentagon “remedy”; more troops. NATO, by the way, miserably lost its war in Afghanistan. The Taliban control at least 60% of the country – and counting. And adding supreme insult to predictable injury, the Islamic State Khorasan (ISK) – Daesh’s branch in Afghanistan – has just captured Tora Bora, where way back in late 2001 the Pentagon’s B-52s were bombing already-escaped Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. Make no mistake; there will be SCO action in Afghanistan. And that will include bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table. China has taken over the rotating presidency of the SCO and will be keen to show practical results in the next summit in June 2018. Step on the gas, pay in yuan ... The Caliphate in the “Syraq” desert is now dead – especially if Russia confirms the Caliph himself has gone to meet his maker. Too bad – because a totally destabilized Syria would be perfect to destabilize Russia from the Caucasus to Central Asia; Russian intelligence has always been focused on those 900 km from Aleppo to Grozny. Like Terminator, the US deep state will be back. An expanded wet dream remains to create the conditions for the destabilization of a vast stretch from the Levant to South Asia — with possible future terror waves expanding north to Russia and east to China. The target: the interpenetration of BRI, EEU and the SCO. To compound it, the Pentagon will refuse to abandon Afghanistan – a bridgehead to wreaking havoc in Central Asia. What could possibly go wrong? After all, Daesh is now virtually positioned in Central Asia, not far from Xinjiang and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – a key node of BRI. ...

—

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by CB on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 2:27am

Just picked this up

@Big Al
The dragon is flexing its muscles.

China-Iran Joint Naval War Games Kick Off in Strait of Hormuz Amid Gulf Row

The joint drills of the Chinese Navy and the Iranian Fleet are kicking off on Sunday, Mehr news agency reported.

The Chinese Navy Fleet set to participate in the war games comprises the Chang Chun guided-missile destroyer, the Chao Hu replenishment ship, the Jin Zhou frigate and a helicopter.

The Chinese ships arrived at a Iranian port on Thursday.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 4:40pm

This is bad.

Our government has gone off the rails.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by thanatokephaloides on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 4:55pm

And straight into the ditch!

@on the cusp

This is bad. Our government has gone off the rails.

—

"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

Submitted by dervish on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 5:14pm

What the Hell are they trying to accomplish?

What's the mission?

Continuing this is madness.

—

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by thanatokephaloides on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 6:27pm

mission? We don't need no steenkin' mission!

@dervish

What the Hell are they trying to accomplish?

Obviously, forever war!

Note well what kind of "answers" we get when that kind of question is asked. We're drowned in rivers of bullshit about "nation building" etc., yet nary a substantive word about exactly why we're there in the first place!

What's the mission?

Mission? We don't need no steenkin' mission!

And any continuation is madness!

—

"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

Submitted by dervish on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 6:43pm

Why don't we just fight ourselves?

@thanatokephaloides We can still go through plenty of equipment and supplies, but we can do it without the heavy transportation costs, AND it would produce local jobs, especially in the (re-)construction sector.

We alluded to that a little bit when we had CIA backed militias fighting DOD backed militias in Syria awhile back.

—

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by GreyWolf on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 7:05pm

AND it would produce local jobs

@dervish @dervish Oh my god, that's genius!

This could be like the playoffs, with NY v MA and TX v OK ... AND it would produce local jobs!

Submitted by thanatokephaloides on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 7:40pm

How about.....

@GreyWolf

This could be like the playoffs, with NY v MA and TX v OK ... AND it would produce local jobs!

I've got a better idea! NY, MA, OH et al. vs. TX, VA, NC, SC, AL, FL, GA, TN, etc!

Wait a minute! We tried that one already (1861-1865). It wasn't so hot for this country, if I recall correctly......

—

"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

Submitted by GreyWolf on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 7:52pm

Sorry, I guess I forgot my own /s tag ;-)

@thanatokephaloides Cheers

Submitted by Ellen North on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 10:00pm

@dervish

@dervish @dervish

Ummmmm, actually, if you look at such well-known examples as the (untracked, but high) number of American citizens beaten/searched/terrorized/falsely arrested/murdered by militarized police and other public officials, (think TitsSnatchAss-gropers,) the fact that the entire American population is spied upon and propagandized by their own government, which passed unconstitutional 'laws' to 'legalize' the illegal when they wish - and a whole lot of everything, of which you'll know more about than I, I think it can be safely assumed that 'we are fighting us' and the police have the tanks and grenade launchers to prove it.

In America, MIC profits come from everywhere. (In Russia, they wonder with pity how you stand it.)

Rdited to add the 'en' in grenade' - the MIC doesn't make them like they used to, either.

—

Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Submitted by dervish on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 8:50am

Yep! Unfortunately you're absolutely right. n/t

@Ellen North

—

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by Alligator Ed on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 7:04pm

What's the mission?

@dervish Afghanistan ain't got no oil. Afghanistan is one of the world's premier poppy-growing areas--more valuable than oil and doesn't need gigantic metal pipelines.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-WUo4sFGgA]

Submitted by dervish on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 5:24pm

This is a bit macabre,

but these events are likely going to inspire a new round of Afghani war rugs.

Sigh.

—

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by CB on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 5:59pm

Were the poppy fields in danger?

The US has spent $8.5 billion fighting narcotics trafficking in Afghanistan. Net result, Afghan heroin production increased 43% in 2016 and the country now produces 90% of world supply.

Submitted by thanatokephaloides on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 6:33pm

heroin

@CB

Were the poppy fields in danger?

The US has spent $8.5 billion fighting narcotics trafficking in Afghanistan. Net result, Afghan heroin production increased 43% in 2016 and the country now produces 90% of world supply.

And with the waste of our talents and treasure that Forever Wars produce, there will be plenty of demand for all that heroin in the US, too.

Of course, nothing would make Markos Moulitsas happier......

—

"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

Submitted by dervish on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 6:39pm

That's the enduring legacy

@thanatokephaloides of America's "experiment" in Afghanistan, cheaper heroin.

Seriously, it's the only tangible outcome of our efforts.

—

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by The Voice In th... on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 7:38pm

Grown by the CIA

@dervish To fund their "off the books" adventures.

The Russians stopped the drug trade, so the Russians had to go.

—

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 9:43pm

Our soldiers are guarding the poppy fields

@CB
never forget, this is how the CIA finances its black ops

—

There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?

Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.

Submitted by Pluto's Republic on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 3:19am

They were in danger, but they got there just in time.

@CB

—

IMAGINE if you woke up the day after a US Presidential Election and headlines around the the world blared, "The Majority of Americans Refused to Vote in US Presidential Election! What Does this Mean?"

Submitted by irishking on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 6:07am

there you go again

@Pluto's Republic

with those f***ing facts.

Submitted by CB on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 7:25pm

Three young US soldiers killed in Afghanistan

http://abcnews.go.com/International/us-soldiers-killed-insider-attack-af...

Sgt. Eric M. Houck, 25, of Baltimore; Sgt. William M. Bays, 29, of Barstow, California; and Cpl. Dillon C. Baldridge, 22, of Youngsville, North Carolina, were all from the Army's 101st Airborne Division, headquartered at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

What a waste. Killed in America's longest and most meaningless war. Until we invaded and killed 10's of thousands of them and their families, the Taliban had no bone to pick with the US. The soldiers got off easy. Their wives and kiddies are still safe at home, not laying in a charred heap on the ground.

Submitted by The Voice In th... on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 7:33pm

Could have stopped at:

"The Afghan war will never end."

—

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Submitted by The Voice In th... on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 7:35pm

If you should fall on the Afghan plain...

Roll on your rifle and blow out your brain. -Rudyard Kipling

—

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 8:48pm

@The Voice In the Wilderness A poet got the drift.

@The Voice In the Wilderness A poet got the drift. What is it out government does not understand out this never ending conflict?

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by dervish on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 6:01pm

Our government doesn't give a damn

@on the cusp about any blown-out brains, neither ours nor theirs.

—

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by Ellen North on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 10:05pm

@dervish

@dervish

They clearly have no brains to worry about and are content to wander mindlessly around, eating those of others - without ever gaining any cognitive benefit.

—

Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Submitted by detroitmechworks on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 8:27pm

Another 10th legion...

Will the scholars talk about the lost American legions, sent to fight and never returning?

Or will the history be more like the British retreat from Afghanistan, where the only survivor was a doctor who abandoned everybody else and ran?

All I hope now is that there will be history told and that the idiots dont burn things to the point where we can't recover.

—

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Submitted by irishking on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 6:44am

just so there is no confusion.

@detroitmechworks

@detroitmechworks
Or will the history be more like the British retreat from Afghanistan, where the only survivor was a doctor who abandoned everybody else and ran?

not this doctor.

In A Study in Scarlet, Watson, as the narrator, establishes having received his medical degree from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, the University of London in 1878, and subsequently being trained at Netley as an assistant surgeon in the British Army. (In a non-canonical story, "The Field Bazaar", Watson is described as having received his Bachelor of Medicine from Doyle's alma mater, Edinburgh University; this would likely have been in 1874.)[6] He joined British forces in India with the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers before being attached to the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot, saw service in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, was wounded at the Battle of Maiwand (July 1880) by a jezail bullet,[Note 1] suffered enteric fever and was sent back to England on the troopship HMS Orontes following his recovery.[7] With his health ruined, he was then given a daily pension of 11 shillings and 9 pence for nine months.[8]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Maiwand#/media/File:Victory_day_...

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 06/17/2017 - 9:51pm

This story ran on my local news website

most of the people who commented on it were in favor of sending more troops.
One person wrote,"if anyone could win this war, it would be Mad Dawg Mattis.

I replied to him and asked "if the US couldn't win the war with 100 thousand troops, why do you think that they can win it with just 4,000 more?"

People are saying that the military should make Afghanistan, Syria and any other place where terrorists live into smoking glass. This is the mindset of people who think that the terrorists just want to kill us for no reason.

I'm dumbfounded with people who think like that.

—

There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?

Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.

Submitted by thanatokephaloides on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 12:47pm

you're not the only one!

@snoopydawg

People are saying that the military should make Afghanistan, Syria and any other place where terrorists live into smoking glass. This is the mindset of people who think that the terrorists just want to kill us for no reason.

I'm dumbfounded with people who think like that.

You're not the only one!

My patience with the more bloodthirsty elements in our society is wearing thin.

I'm sick and tired of forever war and all its consequences.

—

"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

Submitted by dervish on Sun, 06/18/2017 - 1:24pm

It's why we can't have nice things...

@thanatokephaloides Like health insurance, good infrastructure, a better standard of living, social and economic justice, fairness, and so much more.

—

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by Ellen North on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 10:10pm

@snoopydawg

@snoopydawg

Ignoring, for the moment, all the rest of everything, somebody should ask them whether, they themselves having been exposed to terrorists in their country, they themselves should then be converted to 'smoking glass'? How many countries would not be, I wonder, under this brilliant notion?

—

Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.