1 minute ago, Hanaguma said:

In this and many other similar stories, we are learning something valuable, if difficult.

 

It is nigh impossible to integrate and assimilate people from stone-age cultures into a modern western secular society. This is not just Afghanis, and not just the USA. Even in ideal circumstances, the language barrier and culture shock must be jarring for the would-be asylum seeker.  It is far better and kinder to relocate them to somewhere that is socially, religiously, and culturally similar to their homelands. 

 

For once I actually agrees with you, except the responsibilities you guys had to make sure it was a clean exit. Trump <deleted> it up with a lousy deal leaving the mess for the next office. 

5 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

In this and many other similar stories, we are learning something valuable, if difficult.

 

It is nigh impossible to integrate and assimilate people from stone-age cultures into a modern western secular society. This is not just Afghanis, and not just the USA. Even in ideal circumstances, the language barrier and culture shock must be jarring for the would-be asylum seeker.  It is far better and kinder to relocate them to somewhere that is socially, religiously, and culturally similar to their homelands. 

"Nigh on impossible", eh?

 

There are 77,000 Afghan refugees currently in the US. You now have 1 who committed a heinous crime. That's .0013%.  It seems just a few have assimilated rather well.

 

Last time I visited the US i had dinner in McLean, VA, just across the river from DC. Afghani restaurant. Owner and all staff were immigrants from Afghanistan. Restaurant has a Michelin star. Packed to the gills the night I ate there. Enjoyed a lovely Barolo with my meal. Funny thing....the folks working there were uncomfortable under Taliban rule. They had a hankering for a secular society and certainly had succeeded in the US far more than the average MAGA.

 

I'd say "nigh on impossible" is a bit of hyperbole, but hey, racists gonna be racists.

 

Fortunately for many here, Thailand is kind enough to allow Americans to reside here, despite the regular practice of Americans shooting up schools, churches, post offices, etc. A lot of people might think it's "nigh on impossible" to tame such inherently violent people from stone age cultures like Americans.

10 minutes ago, TedG said:

Why do you feel the need to defend the disastrous pull of your Messiah?    It was a disaster.    

In other words, you have no friggin clue how a withdrawal should have happened.

 

Seems odd that a guy who "ended the Rwandan genocide of 1994", and ended wars between Cambodia and Armenia, and Abajaidiban (sic) and Albania...and who had 4 full years to end the Afghan War, failed to do so.

9 minutes ago, TedG said:

Was that part of the deal?   

 

You do sound like a dumb taking point progressive. 

So tell me why Trump released those 5000 jihadis, some of whom had killed US and Coalition forces, and some of whom now run Afghanistan?

 

Those jihadis were not only battle-hardened killers, many were skilled in explosives. One wonders if it wasn't one of them who set off the airport bomb during the withdrawal. That wouldn't have happened if Trump had carried out the withdrawal? Please explain how.

13 minutes ago, Wingate said:

"Nigh on impossible", eh?

 

There are 77,000 Afghan refugees currently in the US. You now have 1 who committed a heinous crime. That's .0013%.  It seems just a few have assimilated rather well.

 

Last time I visited the US i had dinner in McLean, VA, just across the river from DC. Afghani restaurant. Owner and all staff were immigrants from Afghanistan. Restaurant has a Michelin star. Packed to the gills the night I ate there. Enjoyed a lovely Barolo with my meal. Funny thing....the folks working there were uncomfortable under Taliban rule. They had a hankering for a secular society and certainly had succeeded in the US far more than the average MAGA.

 

I'd say "nigh on impossible" is a bit of hyperbole, but hey, racists gonna be racists.

 

Fortunately for many here, Thailand is kind enough to allow Americans to reside here, despite the regular practice of Americans shooting up schools, churches, post offices, etc. A lot of people might think it's "nigh on impossible" to tame such inherently violent people from stone age cultures like Americans.

Also consider that 45% of Afghan asylum seekers are on government dole, the highest percentage of any group. And of course many can and will assimilate. But the numbers are what they are. Thanks for the accusation of racism though. Appreciate that.  But the point I was making was not about Afghans in particular, but migrants in general. People migrating from non-democratic and non-free places, who are used to having religion dominate their society, are going to have trouble adjusting to first world secularism. 

 

Feel free to insult Americans as you like, I am not from that fine land.  Curious to see how many Americans shoot up churches and the like in Thailand though. Any stats on that? 

1 minute ago, Wingate said:

So tell me why Trump released those 5000 jihadis, some of whom had killed US and Coalition forces, and some of whom now run Afghanistan?

It was part of the peace deal. 

1 hour ago, Wingate said:

Last time I visited the US i had dinner in McLean, VA, just across the river from DC.

BTW... McLean, VA, is not across the river from DC.   Arlington is across the river from DC.

11 hours ago, TedG said:

The fact is, Joe Biden ended the war despite his military advisers telling him not to.   The withdrawal was an unorganized mess under Joe Biden's leadership. 

I agree, however it was more of an unmitigated disaster, causing the death of 13 Americans and 169 Afghans!

 

You folks can go back and forth it was Trump's fault no it was Biden's fault.

 

But maybe they shouldn't been there from WV to WashDC in the first place:

 

Judge rules Trump's National Guard deployment to D.C. is illegal

Updated on: November 20, 2025 / 6:12 PM EST / CBS News

A federal judge ruled Thursday that President Trump's months-long deployment of thousands of National Guard forces to the streets of Washington, D.C., violates federal law.

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-rules-trump-national-guard-dc-deployment-illegal/

 

1 hour ago, Hanaguma said:

In this and many other similar stories, we are learning something valuable, if difficult.

 

It is nigh impossible to integrate and assimilate people from stone-age cultures into a modern western secular society. This is not just Afghanis, and not just the USA. Even in ideal circumstances, the language barrier and culture shock must be jarring for the would-be asylum seeker.  It is far better and kinder to relocate them to somewhere that is socially, religiously, and culturally similar to their homelands. 

Ahhh so Canada and the UK  then.

I removed a number of bickering, flame posts. Tone is down please and agree to have a civil discussion.

3 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

Also consider that 45% of Afghan asylum seekers are on government dole, the highest percentage of any group. And of course many can and will assimilate. But the numbers are what they are. Thanks for the accusation of racism though. Appreciate that.  But the point I was making was not about Afghans in particular, but migrants in general. People migrating from non-democratic and non-free places, who are used to having religion dominate their society, are going to have trouble adjusting to first world secularism. 

 

Feel free to insult Americans as you like, I am not from that fine land.  Curious to see how many Americans shoot up churches and the like in Thailand though. Any stats on that? 

Wow! Exciting news from you. Please share the news of these stone-age cultures with anthropologists. I'm sure there's no way they'll think that this is just the claim of a bigot.

3 hours ago, TedG said:

It was part of the peace deal. 

Right! However, the Taliban, at that time, were not fully honoring their commitments....😊

5 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

It is far better and kinder to relocate them to somewhere that is socially, religiously, and culturally similar to their homelands. 

 

That place would be Pakistan. But Pakistan just not too long ago kicked out all the Afghans too.

16 hours ago, TedG said:

And the Biden withdrawal was not catastrophic?   Did you see what happened?  

yES IT WAS VERY CATASTROPHIC.

Just now, scorecard said:

Yes it was very catastrophic. Total Chaos.

In hindsight (not necessarily alway correct) maybe it would have been better to very quickly put all the US forces / equipment into a very secure location (secured by the US forces) and wait for  another better realistic plan to remove the US troops and probably leave the equipment there but with critical parts removed and damaged so cannot be used again).

 

What would a different plan look like? who knows but perhaps it might have needed combat like action to kill large numbers of Taliban to reduce their ability to engage with the US troops.

 

And develop a clever combat like trategy to get the US troops across a border into another country, perhaps Pakistan (problematic also of course).

 

If the only plan had to include airlifting all the US troops out then maybe somewhere in althey could have surrrounded the airfield with combat ready troops and airlifted perhaps 60% out by large fixed wing military aircraft, and in advance of that bring in large numbers of shinook troop carrying helicopters to take out all the remaining roops in one massive lift to the south and land on an aircraft carrier or similar. 

 

4 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

That place would be Pakistan. But Pakistan just not too long ago kicked out all the Afghans too.

There are a lot more 'stans in the world to try.  

 

But that is interesting. Why would the Pakistanis NOT want to come to the aid of their brothers and co-religionists? It also begs the question- if their closest neighbours don't want them, why do we?

1 minute ago, Hanaguma said:

There are a lot more 'stans in the world to try.  

 

But that is interesting. Why would the Pakistanis NOT want to come to the aid of their brothers and co-religionists? It also begs the question- if their closest neighbours don't want them, why do we?

 

While Pakistan is near the bottom of the barrel, Afghanistan is the bottom of the barrel. What Western nation in their right mind would allow a flood of these people into their cities, towns, and villages?

21 hours ago, TedG said:

Rumor has it that Trump personally interviewed the perp at Marlago and signed the paper himself. 

 

Yep, it's the same nonsense from Trump re Bideen. Each Admin playing their political BS blame game; though Trump is much much more of a blow hard with his hyperbole.

20 hours ago, Wingate said:

Last time I visited the US i had dinner in McLean, VA, just across the river from DC. Afghani restaurant. Owner and all staff were immigrants from Afghanistan. Restaurant has a Michelin star. Packed to the gills the night I ate there. Enjoyed a lovely Barolo with my meal. Funny thing....the folks working there were uncomfortable under Taliban rule. They had a hankering for a secular society and certainly had succeeded in the US far more than the average MAGA.

OIC, Dining at a restaurant owned by Afghans makes you an expert on Afghan culture.  Which means I'm an expert on Muslims since I met a pro-Trump Muslim taxi driver in NYC.   

On 11/28/2025 at 6:41 AM, Hummin said:

Tragic comic 💦 

 

Talking about turning table?

 

A bitter counter-accusation? 

Can I send you a tissue?

3 hours ago, TedG said:

Can I send you a tissue?

 

I got some myself, but thank you for your caring thoughts and also grammar help in the last comment to me. Appreciate it

Just now, Hummin said:

 

I got some myself, but thank you for your caring thoughts and also grammar help in the last comment to me. Appreciate it

I'm pretty bad at grammar from time to time. 

On 11/29/2025 at 7:34 AM, Wingate said:

Funny thing....the folks working there were uncomfortable under Taliban rule. They had a hankering for a secular society and certainly had succeeded in the US far more than the average MAGA.

 

Well there ya go..Afghan refugee waiters are better than Americans. Thats the type of attitude we see in McClean Virginia