Why is the MAGA movement so susceptible to crazy conspiracy theories?

[rooster59]

Foreign troops to quit Afghanistan in 18 months under draft deal - Taliban sources

By Abdul Qadir Sediqi, Jibran Ahmad and Rupam Jain

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. troops walk from a Chinook helicopter in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan July 7, 2017. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani/File Photo

 

KABUL/PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Taliban officials said U.S. negotiators on Saturday agreed a draft peace deal setting out the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan within 18 months, potentially ending the United States' longest war.

 

The details of the draft were given to Reuters by Taliban sources at the end of six days of talks with U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Qatar aimed at ending the war, more than 17 years since American-led forces invaded Afghanistan.

 

It stipulates that troops would leave within 18 months of the agreement being signed.

 

While no joint statement was issued, Khalilzad tweeted later that the talks had made "significant progress" and would resume shortly, adding that he planned to travel to Afghanistan to meet government officials.

 

"Meetings here (in Qatar) were more productive than they have been in the past. We have made significant progress on vital issues," he wrote, adding that numerous issues still needed work.

 

"Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed and everything must include an intra-Afghan dialogue and comprehensive ceasefire," he said in the tweets.

 

A U.S. State Department spokesperson declined further comment.

 

A Taliban statement issued later also noted progress on troop withdrawal and other issues but said more negotiations and internal consultations were required.

 

"The policy of the Islamic Emirate during talks was very clear -- until the issue of withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan is agreed upon, progress in other issues is impossible," said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, using another name the group calls itself.

 

It was not clear if the draft described by the Taliban sources was acceptable to both sides or when it could be completed and signed.

 

MAIN ENEMY

 

According to the sources, the hardline Islamic group gave assurances that Afghanistan will not be allowed to be used by al-Qaeda and Islamic State militants to attack the United States and its allies -- a key early demand of Washington.

 

They said the deal included a ceasefire provision but they had yet to confirm a timeline and would only open talks with Afghan representatives once a truce was implemented.

 

Up until now, the Taliban has repeatedly rejected the Afghan government's offer of holding talks, preferring instead to talk directly to the U.S. side, which it regards as its main enemy.

 

"In 18 months, if the foreign forces are withdrawn and ceasefire is implemented then other aspects of the peace process can be put into action," a Taliban source said, quoting from a portion of the draft.

 

More talks on the draft are expected in February, again in the Qatari capital Doha, the Taliban sources said.

 

They expect their side to be led by new political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the movement's co-founder and a former military commander who was released from prison in Pakistan last year.

 

While they said his appointment had boosted momentum for a deal, it was unclear if he joined the talks.

 

NEAR-DAILY ATTACKS

 

News of progress on a deal comes as the Taliban continues to stage near-daily attacks against the Western-backed Afghan government and its security forces.

 

Despite the presence of U.S.-led foreign forces training, advising and assisting their Afghan counterparts 17 years after the U.S.-led an invasion to drive them from power, the Taliban controls nearly half of Afghanistan.

 

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said last week that 45,000 members of the country's security forces had been killed since he took office in 2014.

 

The United States has some 14,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led mission, known as Resolute Support, as well as a U.S. counter-terrorism mission directed at groups such as Islamic State and al-Qaeda.

 

Despite reports in December last year that the United States was considering pulling out almost half of its forces, a White House spokesman said that U.S. President Donald Trump had not issued orders to withdraw the troops. However, the administration has not denied the reports, which have prompted fears of a fresh refugee crisis.

 

The Taliban sources said other clauses in the draft include an agreement over the exchange and release of prisoners, the removal of an international travel ban on several Taliban leaders by Washington and the prospect of an interim Afghan government after the ceasefire is struck.

 

The suggestion to appoint an interim government in Afghanistan comes as top politicians including Ghani have filed their nominations for the presidential polls in July this year. Ghani has repeatedly rejected the offer to agree to the formation of an interim government.

 

The Taliban sources also confirmed provisions in the draft that have broader implications for Afghanistan's ties with its neighbours, particularly Pakistan, India and China.

 

They said the deal included provisions that separatist militants from Balochistan, a resource-rich southwestern Pakistani province, will not be allowed to use Afghan soil to target Pakistan.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-01-27

 

[Lungstib]

Looks like a re-run of the Vietnam fiasco. A country torn apart, thousands of Afghans dead, millions displaced and a failure of the corrupt, inept and unwanted leaders that the US backed. Finally a withdrawal after massive expenditure and loss of military personnel, leaving the very people in charge who were there before it all kicked off. I suppose what follows with be the denials of defeat and the angry charges that we should have been allowed to bomb and shoot at a higher intensity.

[HLover]

20 minutes ago, Lungstib said:

Looks like a re-run of the Vietnam fiasco. A country torn apart, thousands of Afghans dead, millions displaced and a failure of the corrupt, inept and unwanted leaders that the US backed. Finally a withdrawal after massive expenditure and loss of military personnel, leaving the very people in charge who were there before it all kicked off. I suppose what follows with be the denials of defeat and the angry charges that we should have been allowed to bomb and shoot at a higher intensity.

and Korea, Somalia, ECT ECT ECT...

[sanemax]

Another success by Trump .

Getting U.S. forces back home and stopping interfering with other Countries Politics .

Having the courage to accept that its an unwinnable war and withdrawing .

Let them fight it out among themselves 

[alanrchase]

Another success by Trump .
Getting U.S. forces back home and stopping interfering with other Countries Politics .
Having the courage to accept that its an unwinnable war and withdrawing .
Let them fight it out among themselves 

But I thought Trump said the US would start winning wars if he was in charge?

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[sanemax]

10 minutes ago, alanrchase said:

But I thought Trump said the US would start winning wars if he was in charge?

Sent from my SM-A500F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Well , what he said was "We need to fight to win, or not fight at all "

[alanrchase]

Well , what he said was "We need to fight to win, or not fight at all "

He says a lot of things.

Sent from my SM-A500F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[sanemax]

7 minutes ago, alanrchase said:

He says a lot of things.
 

 

Sent from my SM-A500F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

Nicely edited video, cuts off just before he said "We either have to win, or not fight at all"

 

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/02/27/donald-trump-addresses-governors-win-war.cnn 

[sungod]

1 hour ago, sanemax said:

Another success by Trump .

Getting U.S. forces back home and stopping interfering with other Countries Politics .

 

Venezuela?

[Grouse]

Oh good! Did we win?

 

What was it about again?

[ballpoint]

Just now, Grouse said:

Oh good! Did we win?

 

What was it about again?

The touring side left without a result, but will be back to fight for the ashes when they install a new coach and captain.

[farcanell]

4 hours ago, Lungstib said:

Looks like a re-run of the Vietnam fiasco. A country torn apart, thousands of Afghans dead, millions displaced and a failure of the corrupt, inept and unwanted leaders that the US backed. Finally a withdrawal after massive expenditure and loss of military personnel, leaving the very people in charge who were there before it all kicked off. I suppose what follows with be the denials of defeat and the angry charges that we should have been allowed to bomb and shoot at a higher intensity.

 

3 hours ago, HLover said:

and Korea, Somalia, ECT ECT ECT...

And Now.... onto Venezuela.

winning!

Edited January 27, 2019 by farcanell

[farcanell]

3 hours ago, alanrchase said:

But I thought Trump said the US would start winning wars if he was in charge?

Sent from my SM-A500F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

8000 plus lies.... surely your not still listening.... if so, you need crunchier popcorn.

Edited January 27, 2019 by farcanell

[Krataiboy]

4 hours ago, sanemax said:

Well , what he said was "We need to fight to win, or not fight at all "

He was talking through his toupe. The US needs wars to justify having bases in more than 130 countries and to feed its monstrous military industrial war machine and the jobs and arms sales it generates.

Edited January 27, 2019 by Krataiboy

[Redline]

37 minutes ago, farcanell said:

8000 plus lies.... surely your not still listening.... if so, you need crunchier popcorn.

Should be closer to 9000 by now.  He seems a bit more quiet since Nancy became the authoritative babysitter 

[Srikcir]

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

a key early demand of Washington

 

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

the hardline Islamic group gave assurances that Afghanistan will not be allowed to be used by al-Qaeda and Islamic State militants to attack the United States and its allies

Trump uses promises as foreign policy.

Kim Jong-Un promised to denuclearize.

Trump promises that Mexico will pay for the US-Mexico wall.

[simple1]

8 hours ago, sanemax said:

Another success by Trump .

Getting U.S. forces back home and stopping interfering with other Countries Politics .

Having the courage to accept that its an unwinnable war and withdrawing .

Let them fight it out among themselves 

Isn't it trump who heavily criticised Obama for previously announcing withdrawal timelines? One can assume the tempo of killing by the Taliban, as well as IS, will increase as they maneuver for more territory during negations. Be interesting to observe how a hardline Islamist group can reconcile and implement meaningful peace with the Afghan government

[Pilotman]

So that worked out well then ! Thousands of troops dead and the Taliban win in the end, echo of Vietnam.  Yet again, the idiot politicians get the Military to pay the price.  It's sad beyond belief. 

[Grouse]

1 hour ago, Pilotman said:

So that worked out well then ! Thousands of troops dead and the Taliban win in the end, echo of Vietnam.  Yet again, the idiot politicians get the Military to pay the price.  It's sad beyond belief. 

Serious question, is the US military conscripted or all volunteer. Is the average foot soldier a volunteer; is it a lifestyle choice. Take the king's shilling and take a risk?

[Hanaguma]

The sooner that misbegotten conflict is over with, the better. Let the locals fight it out over who controls the biggest dust pile. No strategic value or resources worth fighting over at all.  The two previous presidents need to hang their heads in shame for letting the conflict linger for so long.

[Pilotman]

1 hour ago, Grouse said:

Serious question, is the US military conscripted or all volunteer. Is the average foot soldier a volunteer; is it a lifestyle choice. Take the king's shilling and take a risk?

I'm a Brit but the same applies.  Yes to all that, but the politicians also have a duty of care to the Military, termed the Military Covenant in the UK, and a clear  duty to think long and hard about the people who will pay the price for their ego trips and foreign adventures.  Selling out the Military when nothing has been achieved, save lots of dead bodies, is a criminal outrage. 

[Grouse]

37 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

I'm a Brit but the same applies.  Yes to all that, but the politicians also have a duty of care to the Military, termed the Military Covenant in the UK, and a clear  duty to think long and hard about the people who will pay the price for their ego trips and foreign adventures.  Selling out the Military when nothing has been achieved, save lots of dead bodies, is a criminal outrage. 

 

39 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

I'm a Brit but the same applies.  Yes to all that, but the politicians also have a duty of care to the Military, termed the Military Covenant in the UK, and a clear  duty to think long and hard about the people who will pay the price for their ego trips and foreign adventures.  Selling out the Military when nothing has been achieved, save lots of dead bodies, is a criminal outrage. 

Thanks!

[SpokaneAl]

Serious question, is the US military conscripted or all volunteer. Is the average foot soldier a volunteer; is it a lifestyle choice. Take the king's shilling and take a risk?

The US military is 100 percent volunteer.


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[HLover]

14 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

The two previous presidents need to hang their heads in shame for letting the conflict linger for so long.

Add to the head hanging party: the leadership of all other nations cuckolded into sacrificing their youth into the meat grinder.