New York Times: U.S. Airstrikes in Afghanistan Could Be a Sign of What Comes Next
WASHINGTON — The White House authorization of one more bombing campaign in Afghanistan, just weeks before the U.S. military mission is set to end, has a modest stated goal — to buy time for Afghan security forces to marshal some kind of defense around the major cities that are under siege by a surging Taliban.
But the dozens of airstrikes, which began two weeks ago as the Taliban pushed their front lines deep into urban areas, also laid bare the big question now facing President Biden and the Pentagon as the United States seeks to wind down its longest war.
Will the American air campaign continue after Aug. 31, the date the president has said would be the end of combat involvement in Afghanistan?
The White House and the Pentagon insist these are truly the final days of American combat support, after the withdrawal of most troops this summer after 20 years of war.
Beginning next month, the president has said, the United States will engage militarily in Afghanistan only for counterterrorism reasons, to prevent the country from becoming a launchpad for attacks against the West.
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Update: The Taliban is advancing in Afghanistan. Could Biden change his mind on US withdrawal? (Stephen Collinson, CNN)
WNU Editor: If the Taliban continue their offensive and the Afghan military continues to lose ground, I will not be surprised if the US Air Force gets the green light from the White House to launch airstrikes.
7 comments:
How many decades have we been dropping bombs on that country? Now the Biden administration is going to continue to do so.
If at first you don't succeed.....
Taliban have not changed tactics either except for taxing the drug trade. The Taliban are doing what they always do. Kill men, women and children and run back to hide under Mamma Pakistan's skirt when the going gets tough.
Why, oh, why would we continue bombing? Let Russia and China worry about it for a change.
OK, China, I see your agressive moves into the South China Sea. I'll raise you a hasty exit from Afghanistan. Have fun.
12:21 whatever loser. The US had every right to be in Afghanistan due to 911 and the Taliban response. The US lost due crooked, venal and cowardly politicians unwilling or unable to to take on Pakistan.
You'll being a prick so we'll have fun together the chances of a final radioactive light show are good. Smirk some more asswipe.
airstrikes won't have any effect without a determined and organised ground force
12:36, it's been 20 years, asswipe. T.W.E.N.T.Y. Y.E.A.R.S. That's 5x the total number of years the US spent fighting both Germany and Japan during WWII. Time to cut bait, prick.
I have the reason why the war was not won prickly prick and your kind certainly did your part.
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