Why should anyone be surprised that the United States left Afghanistan the way it did? The U.S. has a distinguished record of quitting.

But it is worse than that. A clumsy withdrawal for the optics of peace. No regard for anything but political posturing. And they got that wrong too.

I remember Vietnam. I remember the images of April 1975 as the United States government abandoned our friends and allies of South Vietnam.

I remember the images of Vietnamese citizens begging to be taken out of the country as the American military and civilian personal were airlifted off the embassy roof in Saigon.

The image of helicopters and equipment, no longer needed, being pushed off of ships is vivid in my memory.

The United States government proved to the world we were not to be trusted. Politicians did as they always do. They see how the wind is blowing. 

I Know It’s More Complicated 

From nearly every view, Vietnam was a mistake. Why we were there was likely a giant hoax dreamed up by politicians to get us into a hot war. The reason, as it nearly always is, would be money.

Wars mean big government contracts. Government contractors are benevolent folks.

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What are the politicians going to do when the cyber symposium proves China hacked the November 3rd election?

I just returned from a meeting with a member of Senator Marco Rubio’s staff. (Florida)

I found it underwhelming. I was almost amused when the young man, who likely played football, took a physical stance that, perhaps unwittingly, suggested conflict.

He stood up, spread his legs a little, and folded his large arms across his chest. The signal was obvious to me.

Okay, give me your best shot.

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