ep 61: Afghanistan. Let’s Talk About It.

Episode 61: Cover Art

Episode 61: Cover ArtWhere were you 20-years ago when the U.S. war in Afghanistan began? It was September 11, 2001 and al Qaeda terrorists hijacked and crashed two American Airlines passenger jets into the Twin Towers, another into the Pentagon, and a fourth, a United Airlines jet bound for the Capitol Building or the White House, was crashed into a field in Shanksville, PA. That day, 2,997 Americans were murdered by Muslim extremists and three days later, standing at Ground Zero in New York City, President George W. Bush reassured the American people that “I can hear you, the rest of the world can hear you, and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.” Thus, with a promise of revenge for our fallen, the wheels were set in motion and a few days later Congress authorized what was to become the Global War on Terror. A war that would consume four presidential administrations and extract a monumental toll in blood and treasure. Now, we’ve left Afghanistan, and in many ways, we’ve left the country in much worse shape than we found it. It’s certainly a more dangerous place now than it was two decades ago. Many veterans who served during this time, especially those who served in-country, are angrily scratching their heads and asking themselves, was it worth it? what was it all for? Let’s talk about it.

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Christof Ambrosch
Christof Ambrosch

Once again, friend-of-the-show Christof Ambroch takes the co-pilot seat in this episode. Regular listeners of this podcast know Christof; he is the producer and host of Tales of Honor, a podcast with a mission to tell the story of every recipient of the Medal of Honor, as well as the Professional American podcast, where he covers it all, from business ownership, to family life, to car stuff, and more!

NOTES:

Regrouping the military ‘a top priority’, Afghan president says
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/14/afghan-president-ghani-vows-to-fight-taliban-offensive

Costs of the Afghanistan war, in lives and dollars
https://apnews.com/43d8f53b35e80ec18c130cd683e1a38f

The Collapse of Afghanistan: Blame the Suits, Not the Boots | SOFREP
https://sofrep.com/news/why-did-the-afghan-government-army-collapse-so-quickly/

Thanks to Joe Biden the Taliban Now Controls 11 Former US Bases, Approximately 174 Humvees, 10,000 High Explosive Rockets and 6 Light Attack Aircraft
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/08/thanks-joe-biden-taliban-now-controls-11-former-us-bases-approxmately-174-humvees-10000-high-explosive-rockets-6-light-attack-aircraft/

General Scottie Miller Who Recommended Closing Bagram Air Force Base left Afghanistan in July and Is Expected to Retire Soon
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/08/general-scottie-miller-recommended-closing-bagram-air-force-base-left-afghanistan-july-expected-retire-soon/

The Forever War Isn’t Over
https://freebeacon.com/columns/the-forever-war-isnt-over/

US general tells British special forces: Stop rescuing people in Kabul, you’re making us look bad
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/us-general-tells-british-special-forces-stop-rescuing-people-in-kabul-youre-making-us-look-bad

Former Officials Say Trump Planned to Keep Special Forces in Afghanistan to Prevent a Collapse
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/08/20/former-officials-say-trump-planned-to-keep-special-forces-in-afghanistan-to-prevent-a-collapse/

Exclusive — Pompeo Slams Biden’s ‘Tragic’ Afghan Disaster
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/08/20/exclusive-pompeo-on-bidens-tragic-afghan-disaster-it-didnt-have-to-be-this-way/

I ran Team Trump’s Afghan withdrawal — Biden’s attempt to blame us is just sad
https://nypost.com/2021/08/19/i-ran-trumps-afghan-withdrawal-bidens-attempt-to-blame-us-is-sad/

Until the Clock Runs Out: US Civilians Must Find Their Own Way to Kabul Airport | SOFREP
https://sofrep.com/news/until-the-clock-runs-out-us-civilians-must-find-their-own-way-to-kabul-airport/

Afghanistan — Was It Worth It? A Veteran’s Perspective | National Review
https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/08/afghanistan-was-it-worth-it-a-veterans-perspective/

Biden’s Legacy Is Reducing The United States to Groveling
https://legalinsurrection.com/2021/08/bidens-legacy-is-reducing-the-united-states-to-groveling/

US soldiers engage in deadly dawn gunfight at Kabul airport
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9918337/US-soldiers-engage-deadly-dawn-gunfight-Kabul-airport-gunmen-attack-allied-forces.html

Save the Military By Starting with a Woke Purge
https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2021/08/23/save-the-military-by-starting-with-a-woke-purge-n2594516

It’s official: The US has no boots on the ground in Afghanistan
https://www.militarytimes.com/newsletters/breaking-news-alert/2021/08/30/its-official-the-us-has-no-boots-on-the-ground-in-afghanistan/

State Department vows to evacuate Americans, allies from Afghanistan after military exit
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2021/08/30/state-department-vows-to-evacuate-americans-allies-from-afghanistan-after-military-exit/

Fewer than 200 Americans remain in Afghanistan after US withdrawal
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/570066-fewer-200-americans-remain-in-afghanistan-after-us-withdrawal

White House Announces Afghanistan Withdrawal Completion – Brags About Greatest Foreign Policy Disaster in US History
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/08/breaking-white-house-announces-afghanistan-withdrawal-evacuation-122000-people-ended-americas-longest-war/

US Contract Working Dogs Abandoned at Kabul Airport After Last Plane Left
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/08/us-contract-working-dogs-abandoned-kabul-airport-last-plane-left/

Retired US Soldiers Attempted to Save Americans in Afghanistan But the US State Department Stopped Them
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/08/retired-us-soldiers-attempted-save-americans-afghanistan-us-state-department-stopped/

90 Retired Flag Officers Call on Gens. Mark Milley, Lloyd Austin to Resign
https://www.breitbart.com/asia/2021/08/30/90-retired-flag-officers-gens-mark-milley-lloyd-austin-resign-afghanistan/

How Many Stranded Americans?
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/08/how-many-stranded-americans.php

Biden Administration Erased Afghan Weapons Reports From Federal Websites
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2021/08/31/biden-administration-erased-afghan-weapons-reports-from-federal-websites/

Exclusive: In secret texts, U.S. military officials lamented leaving Americans behind in Kabul
https://justthenews.com/government/security/were-americans-people-screaming-outside-gates-kabul-airport-turned-away

As veterans process end of Afghanistan war, Pentagon to sort through lessons learned
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2021/09/01/as-veterans-process-end-of-afghanistan-war-pentagon-to-sort-through-lessons-learned/

Here are the problems with Biden’s defense of America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/biden-wrong-us-withdrawal-afghanistan/

US troops gave the Taliban and ISIS the middle finger in messages left at Kabul airport
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-corps-messages-taliban-isis-afghanistan/

VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: There’s A Problem In The Upper Reaches Of Our Military
https://dailycaller.com/2021/09/02/victor-davis-hanson-theres-a-problem-in-the-upper-reaches-of-our-military/

Taliban Announces China Will Be Their Main Partner
https://humanevents.com/2021/09/02/taliban-announces-china-will-be-their-main-partner/

Mark Levin on Afghanistan: ‘This Is a Humiliation for Our Country — It Is Part of Our History that Could Never Be Wiped Away’
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2021/09/02/mark-levin-on-afghanistan-this-is-a-humiliation-for-our-country-it-is-part-of-our-history-that-could-never-be-wiped-away/

Important: Department of State blocking us from taking Americans
https://michaelyon.locals.com/post/1024769/important-department-of-state-blocking-us-from-taking-americans

USA Today Corrects ‘Fact Check’ Defending Biden for Looking at Watch
https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2021/09/02/usa-today-fact-checks-claim-biden-watch-transfer-ceremony/

Veterans groups, evacuees plead for action: ‘We are in some kind of jail’
https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/afghanistan/2021/09/07/veterans-groups-evacuees-plead-for-action-we-are-in-some-kind-of-jail/

Afghanistan Was A Bipartisan Disaster, And We Must React Accordingly
https://thefederalist.com/2021/09/07/afghanistan-was-a-bipartisan-disaster-and-we-must-react-accordingly/

White House approves partnership with vets evacuating U.S. citizens, Afghan allies
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/09/white-house-afghanistan-evacuation-partnership-510815

Army Chief Calls for Afghanistan Review: ‘Let the Cards Fall Where They Fall’
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/09/army-chief-calls-afghanistan-review-let-cards-fall-where-they-fall/185249/

Trump Drops the Mother of All Bombs on Afghanistan
https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/trump-drops-the-mother-of-all-bombs-on-afghanistan

Chris and Jody are Air Force vets who enjoy military history and folklore. They have a podcast. They tell stories. They digress. A lot.

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