Trump's Afghanistan Mistake - Trump Era

CNN - Politics: Reports " US military ordered to begin planning to withdraw about half the troops in Afghanistan "

Lets Get Real:

This is ANOTHER mistake by President Trump, the US is needed in Afghanistan, the Kabul Regime needs the backstop of the US presence in Afghanistan.   Those that have read my blog from the start know that this blog has always opposed going in to Afghanistan and the various increases in troop numbers over the past few Presidencies.  Afghanistan is the graveyard of Empires, the British Empire had problems with Afghanistan, in the end after a few Wars,  we just flew planes from British India over Afghanistan and bombed any threats to Imperial interests.   Then the USSR not having learned the mistakes of the British invaded, this WAR is seen as the Vietnam of the Soviet Union, it was a WAR they could never win, and of course the US supported the Afghan rebels, of course this lead to problems later on, but during the Cold War any negative for the USSR was seen as good for the West.   After the USSR withdrew we saw the development of the Taliban, they supported Al Qaeda and thus 9/11.   The US war in Afghanistan has been going on for nearly 18 years, as the article notes the US and its allies have kept the Taliban out of the major cities but they are still a threat, the fighting these days on the whole is done by Afghan Forces, what happens to the Afghan Government and Forces if the US is seen as cutting and running.   They could fall.   Thus it can be argued that the US and its Allies need to stay in Afghanistan, the costs have gone down, the costs could go up again if Afghanistan becomes a terrorist base again.   One would hope that the ex - Presidents from Bush 43 onwards would oppose the move and lend their voice to the counter view, the US can not afford lose Afghanistan, the US and the West can not afford another 9/11, what if next time it is the use of WMD, Western security needs Allied troops in Afghanistan. 

Mattis Resignation Part 2 - Trump Era

Sky News: Reports on the viewpoint of Secretary Mattis when it comes to threats to the US, " He said that his "core belief" is that the United States needs to maintain strong alliances and show allies respect and that it should be unambiguous with nations like Russia and China.  "

Lets Get Real:

It can be argued that President Trump is keeping to his election promises, he does not see the US as a World Policeman, also he thinks that US allies are taking advantage of the US when it comes to dealing with crisis points.  It can be postulated that the US voter is tired of the Wars on Terror, from Iraq to Syria, in fact it can be stated that President Obama won in 2008 when he stated he was opposed to the War in Iraq, and in 2011 removed US troops from Iraq, this proved a massive mistake, the US had to send troops back it to defend against Daesh.   It can be argued that the US has returned to his mind set just after World War One, when the US voter decided it not want to get itself tangled up with European problems, this was only removed when World War 2 came about in 1941 for the US ( it had started in Europe in 1939 ), then came the Cold War and the threat from the USSR.  One only hopes it does not take a WAR with Putin's Russia to get the US voter to support a tough National Security Agenda. 

US Defense Secretary Mattis - Out - Trump Era

BBC News: Reports " US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis will be retiring "with distinction" at the end of February, President Donald Trump announced on Thursday.  "

Lets Get Real:

As the US Defence Secretary stated in his resignation letter the reason that he was leaving was due to his belief that the Oval should have a Secretary that agrees with the World view of POTUS.    The announced withdrawal from Syria and the rumoured plans to withdraw half of the US forces in Afghanistan shows that President Trump does not understand the threats to the national security of the US.    The Cabinet and the VP if they had any backbone would suspend Trump as POTUS due to the fact that he is not fit for OFFICE.   The Democrats when they take charge in the New Year can use the issue to go after Trump, the only people supporting the Trump move in Syria is Daesh and the Russians, in Afghanistan it will be the Taliban.    The Democrats needs a leader who is a LIBERAL on social issues but trusted on national security, the Democrats have to show that they have moved form a dove PARTY to a tough national security Party, they need another Bill Clinton or President Obama.   Western security is under threat with TRUMP in the White House, let's hope in 2020 the US voter votes him out or he gets impeached before then, of course the Republican Senate would have to go along with it, one doubts that they would go against the base.   These actions by POTUS show that elections have results.