State Department on #Iran hosting Afghan-#Taliban talks: "#Afghanistan’s neighbors and countries in the region, they too have a stake in Afghanistan’s future...Every party has an interest in a settlement being durable."
No. No, they do not.
I really do not know what planet the State Department is living on.
"What Iran is in the process of doing by hosting this meeting may well be constructive...Afghanistan’s neighbors need to be responsible stakeholders."
K, but they won't be, so...
This answer on #Pakistan's role perfectly encapsulates the farce of US Foreign Policy: "We have shared interests...when it comes to peace and stability in Afghanistan...Pakistan has been helpful...when it comes to this shared interest...broader counterterrorism interests as well"
Full answer:
The messaging nonsense comes from the top:
Biden talking about the "peace process", says "countries in the region [Iran, Russia, Pakistan, China] have a role to play in support a peaceful settlement. We'll work with them, and they should... step up their efforts, as well."
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State Department: "The fact that the Taliban continues to engage...in intra-Afghan dialogue, is...most likely a reflection of the fact that the Taliban too understands that only through diplomacy can they garner any sort of legitimacy."
Listen to the full answer. Pure insanity.
Jesus Christ, these answers!
State Department blames US-Taliban deal for withdrawal decision, says "intra-Afghan negotiations" are totally happening, and then good god, listen to the end.
State Department: "I am not out here to offer false hope when it comes to what the Taliban may seek," as they lie about a peace process that doesn't exist.
Japan will step up joint military training and regional infrastructure projects with Australia and other regional countries to provide "a counterweight against such a dominant power [CCP]". theaustralian.com.au/nation/politic…
Erdogan: "We clearly expressed on all occasions that the good terrorist-bad terrorist distinction, which we saw some NATO members made, reflected a wrong, dangerous and crooked understanding."
🤣🤣🤣
Erdogan: "We reminded everyone that only Turkey truly and effectively fought against DAESH...We brought to our counterparts’ attention the initiatives we took to ensure that peace and stability prevailed in... North Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Caucasus"
🤣🤣🤣
Erdogan: "We believe we have ushered in a new era with the U.S. on a positive and constructive basis."
Thread: Pentagon reiterates that their sole concern is withdrawal from #Afghanistan by early September.
Zero plans on contractual support, airport guards, "over-the-horizon" capabilities, or anything else. Notably, they no longer even mention the "peace process."
Asked about whether the US wants to prevent the collapse of the Afghan security forces and Kabul given lightening Taliban advances recently, Pentagon says it doesn't give a shit and is just trying to withdraw.
Pentagon: "We will complete the withdrawal of all US forces...with the exception of those...left to protect the diplomatic presence (LOL not happening)...and...it will be done before early September, as per [Biden's] orders. Those two things are constant and won't change."
An appropriate time to watch this documentary by Jeff B. Harmon, who embedded with the Soviet army as it withdrew from #Afghanistan in 1989 (h/t @fab_hinz).
This quote from a wounded Soviet soldier struck me:
"There is nothing good I can say about Afghanistan. There is nothing good I can say. I have served for two years, and I still don't understand a thing. You can't understand who are the civilians and who are the enemies."
This quote also struck me:
"This is their country. They have many parties. They can sort themselves out, figure out how to live their own lives. They can choose the government they want. Our presence here can be considered a mistake."