THREAD
I’m grateful for @realDonaldTrump & his administration’s efforts in support of a peace deal in Afghanistan. We’ve been at war there my entire adult life. Americans have been bleeding the ground red for nearly two decades with no end in sight.
This deal was long overdue.
I’m grateful for @realDonaldTrump & his administration’s efforts in support of a peace deal in Afghanistan. We’ve been at war there my entire adult life. Americans have been bleeding the ground red for nearly two decades with no end in sight.
This deal was long overdue.
But I’m uneasy b/c I know the enemy. It’s important to understand that “The Taliban” are not a monolithic force. There are many factions, & our enemy goes by many different names.
While it may not be “The Taliban” who sow discord, & break the peace, other groups & factions will.
While it may not be “The Taliban” who sow discord, & break the peace, other groups & factions will.
It’s not a question of if this happens but when
And when something happens we will turn to the Taliban leadership, & they will say:
“We don’t know who did this, but if we find out, we will tell you.”
Anyone who’s served in Afghanistan has heard this every time they leave the wire
And when something happens we will turn to the Taliban leadership, & they will say:
“We don’t know who did this, but if we find out, we will tell you.”
Anyone who’s served in Afghanistan has heard this every time they leave the wire
I will pray every day for peace. I hope this cease fire holds. I hope we never shed another drop of American blood there again.
But I also know Afghanistan. I know our enemy. We have to be willing to walk away from a bad or broken deal.
But I also know Afghanistan. I know our enemy. We have to be willing to walk away from a bad or broken deal.
We also have to have a plan in place to ensure those who risked their lives with us—Afghan men, women, and children—are protected & not targeted by our enemies. Because they absolutely WILL be targeted.
I’m sure the administration & @SecPompeo have considered this & I have confidence that the Trump administration will get it right.
Beyond all the strategic implications, I’m thinking about the Americans we lost there.
I’m thinking about my men, who fought like hell to destroy our enemies, & protect the Afghan people, and... I’m praying that this peace deal holds because many lives & legacies depend on it.
I’m thinking about my men, who fought like hell to destroy our enemies, & protect the Afghan people, and... I’m praying that this peace deal holds because many lives & legacies depend on it.
