Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Saturday, August 30, 2025

Generals Milley, McKenzie, and other Pentagon officials claimed the Taliban wasn't attacking the U.S. during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, then contended that the Taliban was businesslike and helpful during the chaotic and deadly evacuation that ensued. Neither narrative was true.

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In the weeks after the fall of Kabul, U.S. military brass such as Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would repeatedly testify that the Taliban had broken every provision of the Doha Agreement but one " its vow not to attack U.S. and NATO forces.

In fact, the Taliban had also violated that provision, because the Taliban attacked U.S. and NATO bases in Afghanistan multiple times, both before and after President Joe Biden's "Go-to-Zero" order, including attacks on Bagram Air Base when U.S. troops were still there. The Taliban's official spokespeople would often take credit for the attacks too.

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Generals Milley, McKenzie, and other Pentagon officials claimed the Taliban wasn't attacking the U.S. during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, then contended that the Taliban was businesslike and helpful during the chaotic and deadly evacuation that ensued.

What fascinates me about the US military, it's life or death decisions and working in tech isn't really that important. But make a mistake in tech and you can lose your job. Military, not so much.

#1 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-08-30 11:20 AM | Reply


In fact, the Taliban had also violated that provision, because the Taliban attacked U.S. and NATO bases in Afghanistan multiple times, both before and after President Joe Biden's "Go-to-Zero" order, including attacks on Bagram Air Base when U.S. troops were still there.

This is crazy, US should have dropped bombs for days after this attack.

Why is the US such -------?

#2 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-08-30 11:21 AM | Reply

The decomposing------------------- released 5000 taliban fighters.

www.bbc.com

#3 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-08-30 12:56 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

The founder of the cited site ...

John Solomon (political commentator)
en.wikipedia.org(political_commentator)

... John F. Solomon is an American journalist who was a contributor to Fox News until late 2020.[1][2][3][4] He was formerly an executive and editor-in-chief at The Washington Times.[5]

Although he won a number of awards (including the 2008 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award) for his investigative journalism, in recent years he has been accused of magnifying small scandals, creating fake controversy,[6][7][8] and advancing conspiracy theories.[1][3][9]

During the first Donald Trump presidency, he advanced Trump-friendly stories including questioning reporting that women who had accused Trump of sexual harassment had also sought payments from partisan political donors[10] and questioning the legitimacy of criminal charges against Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort.[11] ...





#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-30 01:42 PM | Reply

Not all the combatants attacking US forces in Afghanistan were Taliban. Groups like the powerful Haqqani Network (HQN) or Al Qaida and ISIS-K terrorists conducted operations against US forces.

Background:

Over 25 years ago, Taliban supremo Mullah Omar had previously warned Osama Bin Laden (OBL) not to conduct external terrorist operations, but OBL defied him. After 9/11 the US invaded Afghanistan, even though no Pashtuns or Afghans participated in those kamikaze attacks on the Pentagon and the WTC. Mullah Omar was stuck between his son-in-law OBL on one side and a vengeance-seeking George "Dubya" Bush on the other. The US became an occupying power for 20 years propping up a corrupt regime.

2,459 US soldiers died in Afghanistan and our NATO allies lost 1,160 personnel while US defense contractors made mammon-sized fortunes for themselves. OBL would eventually be killed in a USN SEAL raid in Pakistan on 2 May 2011.

Endnote: In the 1980s through CIA, President Ronald Reagan had funded, trained, and armed the Afghan mujahadeen-- our proxy allies-- to fight the Soviets. After the Russians finally withdrew in 1989, our proxy fighters eventually became "the Base," or al-Qaida in Arabic.

Sources:

911commission.gov

www.ecoi.net

www.aljazeera.com

#5 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-08-30 01:49 PM | Reply

#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-30 01:42 PM | Reply | Flag:

So you've managed to dig up some things on Wiki...

Care to talk about the findings of the HFAC report? Of course you don't, it would rain on your little parade. I also can't help but see there's three of you running around on this site. Have you checked with the other two Lamplighters who comment on your posts?

#6 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-08-30 02:37 PM | Reply

Just The News " Bias and Credibility
mediabiasfactcheck.com

... Overall, we rate Just the News Questionable and Right Biased based on story selection that mostly favors a conservative perspective.

We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to numerous failed fact checks and the promotion of conspiracy theories and right-wing propaganda. ...



#7 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-30 02:42 PM | Reply

From the HFAC report ( foreignaffairs.house.gov ) ...

... METHODOLOGY

This report presents the findings of the committee majority's investigation into the Biden-
Harris administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. ...


So, another Republican-led House "investigation?"



#8 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-30 03:33 PM | Reply

Jeff seems to be on the verge of a "fugue state". It's too bad he doesn't live in California, where we have ample mental health resources.

#9 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-08-30 03:33 PM | Reply

@#5

Also this link ...

Afghanistan's Taliban, US sign agreement aimed at ending war
www.aljazeera.com

... US officials and Taliban representatives have signed an agreement after months of negotiations in Qatar's capital that is aimed at ending the United States's longest war, fought in Afghanistan since 2001.

Saturday's agreement, signed in Doha in the presence of leaders from Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, India, Indonesia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, will pave the way for the US to gradually withdraw its troops. ...

The talks were launched in 2018 as part of a push by US President Donald Trump's administration to strike a deal with the Taliban, which has been fighting the US-led forces in Afghanistan since it was toppled from power in 2001. ...


#10 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-30 03:50 PM | Reply

Thank you, Lamplighter. The American people have had enough war, despite what the TV tumors, lobbyists, polemicists, or Islamophobes push on us on behalf of Israel or the US military-industrial complex. Here is one AI analysis:

As of mid-2025, the American antiwar movement has seen a significant resurgence, particularly in response to Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip. Over one million Americans have participated in protests related to the Nakba since late 2023, with more than 2,100 events held in support of Palestine. These protests have been widespread, occurring on university campuses, in major cities, and at cultural events, making it one of the largest waves of antiwar activism in the US in the past 20 years. These demonstrations is comparable to, and in some cases larger than, the protests seen during the Iraq War, with some individual marches drawing tens of thousands of participants. While the movement is not as large as the Vietnam War-era protests which involved tens of millions of Americans over several years, the recent activism is notable for its intensity, frequency, and the diversity of its participants, including students, progressives, Arab-Americans, and Muslims. The movement has also influenced cultural and political events, such as the boycott of the SXSW festival and disruptions at high-profile public appearances. In summary, the current American antiwar movement is substantial and highly visible, with participation in the millions and a broad geographic and demographic reach.

#11 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-08-30 04:07 PM | Reply

@#11

Yeah, but in Pres Trump's apparent haste to strike "a deal" did he care more about the short-term transaction and less about the longer-term ramifications of "the deal?"


Are currently seeing similar shortsightedness regarding Ukraine lately.

#12 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-30 04:14 PM | Reply

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