Promises promises...

He recently stated many of those still there are dual citizens who have family connections in Afghanistan. I had wondered that myself considering:
1. what American would just casually travel to Afghanistan....?
2. I saw a list of their names

If that is correct, seems pretty safe to assume they might not want to leave their family with the Taliban back in control... Or maybe they want to try and exit after getting documents for asylum or refugee status or green cards or something for their family.

So.. idk if it's irresponsible or not.... should we force them to come back? With or without their family?

Undoubtedly there are people that want to stay but I have heard over and over from Psaki, Biden, Kirby, Gen. McKenzie that there are 100 to 200 U.S. citizens that want to come home.

Obviously "irresponsible" is a play on that Psaki said it was irresponsible to say Americans are stranded prior to final withdrawal. Now all military is out. You could say it is irresponsible for Biden to say that they won't leave if there are still Americans that want to come home. But he still left.

Now we will see what "diplomatic missions" looks like to get the rest out that want out.

I honestly haven't watch many press conferences from Psaki so the "irresponsible" reference went over my head.

I imagine there was a bit of political, military, and possibly financial calculus behind the decision. We see the end result of pulling out but we don't really see what went into deciding that....nor can we see what could've happened had any other decision been made. The best possible outcome in that scenario would've been every single American/dual citizen leaving Afghanistan before Aug 31.. because 1. they would be out of harms way and 2. Politically Biden would be Able to say zero Americans "were left behind".... But war is messy and look at what had happened already.

The US had nearly 6,000 American soldiers at the airport in Kabul who were involved in airlifting more than 100,000 people out of Afghanistan........ I mean 6,000 troops there.... trying to protect the airport and 13 of them still ended up getting killed by an IED (which I hear also killed over 100 Afghanis). So idk.. I can't exactly say I don't blame em for deciding to not blow the deadline and have nearly 6,000 troops stick around for who knows how much longer for who knows how much more money for a (comparatively) handful of people who for whatever reason had not already exited Afghanistan.... I mean look at the public reaction so far..... 13 servicemen died as it was and people here are now literally saying Biden murdered them!! And who knows how many more troops could've been killed waiting for these people who might technically "want to leave" (but not yet)... or might "want to leave" but not without their non-citizen cousin.... etc.

So idk. I think Biden was screwed either way. He would be screwed if he stayed longer, blew the deadline, spent more money, and more troops ended up getting killed....and he will be screwed if whoever's left there ends up getting their heads chopped off.

But ya as you said I guess we'll see what happens.

You gotta watch the press conferences when you can. You get real tired of the spins and unanswered questions from Psaki.
Yes no matter which way Biden went was an opportunity to be screwed.

Two things. The leaked call with Biden and Ghani is interesting. Particularly the parts about pushing for a perception that the Afghan army has it under control. Definitely look into that. Also, found this good article outlining a timeline of events. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/16/taliban-timeline/
Putting those two things together paints an interesting picture.

I like how you're like... You get real tired of the spin and unanswered questions from Psaki.... but you think I should watch it...
;P usually people here accuse me of watching the fake news and tell me to watch LESS.... Seems like you're kind of recommending I watch more.

Ya going back to what I was saying about political and military calculus, having a stronger perception would've been beneficial to both the US politically and Afghanistan militarily. What's somewhat crazy to me is that faking the funk under the circumstances would've even been necessary in the first place. I mean assuming that call was accurate, the Afghan army outnumbered the Taliban nearly 4 to 1....... Plus they had access to however many US military aircraft, vehicles, guns etc we left there for them as well as people with nearly 2 decades of US combat training......... How were they not winning ?????

I read something about the Afghan army taking bribes from the Taliban... Would make sense considering the part on that phone call complaining about them not getting a raise $$$. Also would make sense about many Afghans immediately surrendering despite outnumbering them nearly 4 to 1.... If you're fighting someone trying to take over your government merely because it's your job and you don't even think you're getting enough $$, you're most likely not going to risk getting shot in the head for that job. Kind of a shame but it is what it is.

Yeah you gotta watch all the news and crap in my opinion.

Afghanistan has been propped up for a long time. Yes with their size they should have had no trouble fighting and defeating the Taliban but there were a lot of core issues sounds like.

Looks like President Biden isn't the only one trying to strategically push perception over there..............

As far as watching the news, if it's something big enough I'll hear about it elsewhere. Then maybe read up on it... or not.. depending on what it is and what I got going on.