“There is no… sound reason for the United States to continue sacrificing precious lives and treasure in a conflict not directly connected to our safety or other vital national interests.”
So said William Ruger about Afghanistan, our longest war.
What makes this statement significant is that President Donald Trump has ordered a drawdown by mid-October of half of the 8,600 troops still in the country. And Ruger was just named U.S. ambassador to Kabul.
The selection of Ruger to oversee the U.S. withdrawal came as Gen. Frank McKenzie of Central Command announced plans to cut the U.S. troop presence in Iraq from 5,200 to 3,000 by the end of September.
Mine the base and evac all the troops out in the dead of night. And may the last check to the Afghan government… bounce.
Casey KlahnSeptember 17, 2020, 6:29 PM
We got what we needed out of Afaga Stan in the first few months there; everything after that was a bit directionless, in spite of everything Gen Petraeus attempted to accomplish, and 3 presidents and the whole shitshow. We lacked the Mass to occupy the ancient shithole that lies between astride Iran. You cannot own what you cannot dominate.
For 41 years, perhaps minus a couple in between, we fought the Seminole in Florida. Don’t get me started on the Frontier Indian Wars. That was almost without end, and yet it did end. So, Afghanistan goes into that history record of America’s very long wars. Vietnam was nothing, but we all bitched anyway about its duration. We’re gay, pretty much, when it comes to making war. The world wars, the civil war, there are notable exceptions where we’ve excelled when necessary. I respect the guys and gals who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan for the balls out effort they made always. It becomes a message to others around the world: just try us and see how it goes for you.
I would’ve like to have seen the MidEastern man rumped until he couldn’t say Mohammed without crying. I guess I’m still mad about 9-11, huh?
Ok, so going forward it’d be nice to have some intelligence services that weren’t criminally corrupt and anti-american psychopathic communist toadies. Is that asking too much?
Trump gets a huge attaboy for not engaging us in new military conflicts. I well remember Hillary promising the opposite, and the knife she held in her hand still dripped with the back-blood of our guys in Benghazi. Of course, we are in a war of very important consequences with China. It isn’t a shooting war. Very good thing that North Korea has calmed down just a bit.
The army wants robots and autonomous AI going into the future. God help us. Ivy League Beltway conman officers with their fingers on the joysticks of our future security.
COL BSeptember 18, 2020, 9:11 AM
About damn time to bring them home. On several occasions before I retired, when I’d have one of my Soldiers bitchin’ about how hard they had it, I’d take them to lunch over at BAMC in the downstairs dining room. I’d make it a point to sit them down facing the entrance so they would see every wounded warrior entering the dining facility. After a bit of time watching the wheel chairs, crutches, and burns coming through the door, our table would get real quiet. A very sobering sight and a valuable lesson learned. I will not allow anyone to denigrate the sacrifices our men and women made. I also do not believe in sacrificing young lives for a politician’s whims. There had better be a damn good reason to ask those young men and women to take those risks.
AnneSeptember 18, 2020, 10:28 AM
Col B
Thank you and our military !
Steve in GreensboroSeptember 19, 2020, 5:13 AM
“…If you want more endless war, vote for Harris/Biden…”
Second to immigration, this is the best argument for a Trump vote there is. The Ruling Class’s philosophy (per Steve Sailer) is “invade the world, invite the world.”
Certainly if Clueless Joe wins in November 2020, America will be engaged in brand new wars in places that don’t matter by the end of 2021. And in any case, America will be engaged in such wars again by the end of 2025. Because that’s what the Ruling Class wants and it controls both parties, but doesn’t control Trump.
A family member is in the Reserves but can retire any time. He’s done his time in the sandbox (hard time outside the wire) and would prefer not to go back. I’ve advised him to retire as soon as possible if the election gets stolen.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
![The Complete "Growl" [Because Now More Than Ever]](https://americandigest.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/brainsinjar-150x150.jpg "The Complete \"Growl\" [Because Now More Than Ever]")
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
Is he one of “our” Rugers?
Mine the base and evac all the troops out in the dead of night. And may the last check to the Afghan government… bounce.
We got what we needed out of Afaga Stan in the first few months there; everything after that was a bit directionless, in spite of everything Gen Petraeus attempted to accomplish, and 3 presidents and the whole shitshow. We lacked the Mass to occupy the ancient shithole that lies between astride Iran. You cannot own what you cannot dominate.
For 41 years, perhaps minus a couple in between, we fought the Seminole in Florida. Don’t get me started on the Frontier Indian Wars. That was almost without end, and yet it did end. So, Afghanistan goes into that history record of America’s very long wars. Vietnam was nothing, but we all bitched anyway about its duration. We’re gay, pretty much, when it comes to making war. The world wars, the civil war, there are notable exceptions where we’ve excelled when necessary. I respect the guys and gals who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan for the balls out effort they made always. It becomes a message to others around the world: just try us and see how it goes for you.
I would’ve like to have seen the MidEastern man rumped until he couldn’t say Mohammed without crying. I guess I’m still mad about 9-11, huh?
Ok, so going forward it’d be nice to have some intelligence services that weren’t criminally corrupt and anti-american psychopathic communist toadies. Is that asking too much?
Trump gets a huge attaboy for not engaging us in new military conflicts. I well remember Hillary promising the opposite, and the knife she held in her hand still dripped with the back-blood of our guys in Benghazi. Of course, we are in a war of very important consequences with China. It isn’t a shooting war. Very good thing that North Korea has calmed down just a bit.
The army wants robots and autonomous AI going into the future. God help us. Ivy League Beltway conman officers with their fingers on the joysticks of our future security.
About damn time to bring them home. On several occasions before I retired, when I’d have one of my Soldiers bitchin’ about how hard they had it, I’d take them to lunch over at BAMC in the downstairs dining room. I’d make it a point to sit them down facing the entrance so they would see every wounded warrior entering the dining facility. After a bit of time watching the wheel chairs, crutches, and burns coming through the door, our table would get real quiet. A very sobering sight and a valuable lesson learned. I will not allow anyone to denigrate the sacrifices our men and women made. I also do not believe in sacrificing young lives for a politician’s whims. There had better be a damn good reason to ask those young men and women to take those risks.
Col B
Thank you and our military !
“…If you want more endless war, vote for Harris/Biden…”
Second to immigration, this is the best argument for a Trump vote there is. The Ruling Class’s philosophy (per Steve Sailer) is “invade the world, invite the world.”
Certainly if Clueless Joe wins in November 2020, America will be engaged in brand new wars in places that don’t matter by the end of 2021. And in any case, America will be engaged in such wars again by the end of 2025. Because that’s what the Ruling Class wants and it controls both parties, but doesn’t control Trump.
A family member is in the Reserves but can retire any time. He’s done his time in the sandbox (hard time outside the wire) and would prefer not to go back. I’ve advised him to retire as soon as possible if the election gets stolen.