Sunday, December 29, 2019

Will Trump end the Afghanistan War?

In his blog, Don Surber speculates,
Having fixed the economy, won a trade war battle with Red China, appointed 1/4th of the appellate judges, rolled back regulations, and cut taxes, what is next for President Donald John Trump?

My guess is he will end the Afghanistan War next.

Business Insider reported, "Months after taking office in 2017 and hoping to get a better understanding of America’s longest war, President Donald Trump began taking meetings with enlisted US service members who deployed to Afghanistan.

"'I want to sit down with some enlisted guys that have been there,' Trump told advisers, according to the national security journalist Peter Bergen’s latest book, Trump and His Generals: The Cost of Chaos.

"'I don’t want any generals in here. I don’t want any officers,' Trump added, according to Bergen’s book, which was sourced from dozens of interviews with current and former White House officials and military officers. 'I just want enlisted guys.'

"The meetings were intended for candid discussions about the war in Afghanistan, which was nearing its 16th year at the time, with US troops who served on the front lines."

It's Sun Tzu.

He said 2,500 years ago, "Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley."

It also is Washington. In eulogizing him, Henry Lighthorse Lee said, "First in war — first in peace — and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in the humble and endearing scenes of private life; pious, just, humane, temperate and sincere; uniform, dignified and commanding, his example was as edifying to all around him, as were the effects of that example lasting.

"To his equals he was condescending, to his inferiors kind, and to the dear object of his affections exemplary tender: correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence, and virtue always felt his fostering hand; the purity of his private character gave effulgence to his public virtues."

...After continuing his analysis, Surber concludes with caution, Afghanistan is halfway around the world. We went there based on deep state lies. It cost us thousands of our best men and women, as well as trillions of public treasure.

I had hoped 2019 would end North Korea's nuclear program. Negotiations continue -- and they continue in Afghanistan. Patience is a large part of the Art of the Deal.

As well as the Art of War.
Read more here.

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