The Big Afghan Lie

 

The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!

 

H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, 1926

 

President Joe Biden is lying to the world regarding his repeated declarations that his hands were tied by the agreement made by President Trump with the Taliban.

One may disagree with President Trump on the specifics of the deal, but it is absolutely clear that Biden could have found the Taliban was not in obeyance and thus tossed the deal. He could then have safely brought out each and every American now trapped in Afghanistan.

 

The official text of the agreement is below. We challenge any citizen to read it and then agree with Biden’s assessment.

 

Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan
between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States
as a state and is known as the Taliban and the United States of America

February 29, 2020
which corresponds to Rajab 5, 1441 on the Hijri Lunar calendar
and Hoot 10, 1398 on the Hijri Solar calendar

A comprehensive peace agreement is made of four parts:

1. Guarantees and enforcement mechanisms that will prevent the use of the soil of Afghanistan by
any group or individual against the security of the United States and its allies.

2. Guarantees, enforcement mechanisms, and announcement of a timeline for the withdrawal of
all foreign forces from Afghanistan.

3. After the announcement of guarantees for a complete withdrawal of foreign forces and timeline
in the presence of international witnesses, and guarantees and the announcement in the presence
of international witnesses that Afghan soil will not be used against the security of the United
States and its allies, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United
States as a state and is known as the Taliban will start intra-Afghan negotiations with Afghan
sides on March 10, 2020, which corresponds to Rajab 15, 1441 on the Hijri Lunar calendar and
Hoot 20, 1398 on the Hijri Solar calendar.

4. A permanent and comprehensive ceasefire will be an item on the agenda of the intra-Afghan
dialogue and negotiations. The participants of intra-Afghan negotiations will discuss the date
and modalities of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, including joint implementation
mechanisms, which will be announced along with the completion and agreement over the future
political roadmap of Afghanistan.

The four parts above are interrelated and each will be implemented in accordance with its own agreed
timeline and agreed terms. Agreement on the first two parts paves the way for the last two parts.

Following is the text of the agreement for the implementation of parts one and two of the above. Both
sides agree that these two parts are interconnected. The obligations of the Islamic Emirate of
Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban in this
agreement apply in areas under their control until the formation of the new post-settlement Afghan
Islamic government as determined by the intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations.

PART ONE

The United States is committed to withdraw from Afghanistan all military forces of the United States,
its allies, and Coalition partners, including all non-diplomatic civilian personnel, private security
contractors, trainers, advisors, and supporting services personnel within fourteen (14) months following
announcement of this agreement, and will take the following measures in this regard:

. II
A. The United States, its allies, and the Coalition will take the following measures in the first one
hundred thirty-five (135) days:

1) They will reduce the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to eight thousand six hundred
(8,600) and proportionally bring reduction in the number of its allies and Coalition
forces.

2) The United States, its allies, and the Coalition will withdraw all their forces from five
(5) military bases.

B. With the commitment and action on the obligations of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which
is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban in Part Two of this
agreement, the United States, its allies, and the Coalition will execute the following:

1) The United States, its allies, and the Coalition will complete withdrawal of all remaining
forces from Afghanistan within the remaining nine and a half (9.5) months.

2) The United States, its allies, and the Coalition will withdraw all their forces from
remaining bases.

C. The United States is committed to start immediately to work with all relevant sides on a plan
to expeditiously release combat and political prisoners as a confidence building measure with
the coordination and approval of all relevant sides. Up to five thousand (5,000) prisoners of
the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and
is known as the Taliban and up to one thousand (1,000) prisoners of the other side will be
released by March 10, 2020, the first day of intra-Afghan negotiations, which corresponds to
Rajab 15, 1441 on the Hijri Lunar calendar and Hoot 20, 1398 on the Hijri Solar calendar.
The relevant sides have the goal of releasing all the remaining prisoners over the course of the
subsequent three months. The United States commits to completing this goal. The Islamic
Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known
as the Taliban commits that its released prisoners will be committed to the responsibilities
mentioned in this agreement so that they will not pose a threat to the security of the United
States and its allies.

D. With the start of intra-Afghan negotiations, the United States will initiate an administrative
review of current U.S. sanctions and the rewards list against members of the Islamic Emirate of
Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban
with the goal of removing these sanctions by August 27, 2020, which corresponds to Muharram
8, 1442 on the Hijri Lunar calendar and Saunbola 6, 1399 on the Hijri Solar calendar.

E. With the start of intra-Afghan negotiations, the United States will start diplomatic engagement
with other members of the United Nations Security Council and Afghanistan to remove
members of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as
a state and is known as the Taliban from the sanctions list with the aim of achieving this
objective by May 29, 2020, which corresponds to Shawwal 6, 1441 on the Hijri Lunar calendar
and Jawza 9, 1399 on the Hijri Solar calendar.

. III

F. The United States and its allies will refrain from the threat or the use of force against the
territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan or intervening in its domestic
affairs.


PART TWO

In conjunction with the announcement of this agreement, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is
not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban will take the following steps
to prevent any group or individual, including al-Qa’ida, from using the soil of Afghanistan to threaten
the security of the United States and its allies:

1. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and
is known as the Taliban will not allow any of its members, other individuals or groups, including
al-Qa’ida, to use the soil of Afghanistan to threaten the security of the United States and its
allies.

2. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and
is known as the Taliban will send a clear message that those who pose a threat to the security
of the United States and its allies have no place in Afghanistan, and will instruct members of
the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and
is known as the Taliban not to cooperate with groups or individuals threatening the security of
the United States and its allies.

3. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and
is known as the Taliban will prevent any group or individual in Afghanistan from threatening
the security of the United States and its allies, and will prevent them from recruiting, training,
and fundraising and will not host them in accordance with the commitments in this agreement.

4. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and
is known as the Taliban is committed to deal with those seeking asylum or residence in
Afghanistan according to international migration law and the commitments of this agreement,
so that such persons do not pose a threat to the security of the United States and its allies.

5. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and
is known as the Taliban will not provide visas, passports, travel permits, or other legal
documents to those who pose a threat to the security of the United States and its allies to enter
Afghanistan.

PART THREE
1. The United States will request the recognition and endorsement of the United Nations Security
Council for this agreement.

. IV
2. The United States and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United
States as a state and is known as the Taliban seek positive relations with each other and expect
that the relations between the United States and the new post-settlement Afghan Islamic
government as determined by the intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations will be positive.

3. The United States will seek economic cooperation for reconstruction with the new post-
settlement Afghan Islamic government as determined by the intra-Afghan dialogue and
negotiations, and will not intervene in its internal affairs.



Signed in Doha, Qatar on February 29, 2020, which corresponds to Rajab 5, 1441 on the Hijri Lunar
calendar and Hoot 10, 1398 on the Hijri Solar calendar, in duplicate, in Pashto, Dari, and English
languages, each text being equally authentic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afghanistan - 8-31-2021 - Not On My Watch

The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!

 

H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, 1926

 

{ed. note: As the lead content writer and editor for The Madison Conservative, I have always opted to hand this platform over to guest commentators when an issue is significant but outside the purpose of this blog. I established The Madison Conservative as a means to keep the United States Constitution at the forefront of all governmental policy discussions.

This time, however, the issue is personal. Given that reality, I will be stepping out as editor and give voice to my own personal opinions. This blog has always relied upon the facts within the Constitution to form the foundation of our arguments. I take great pride in that fact. But today is different. It has to be.}

 

I enlisted in the United States Navy as a direct result of the Iranian hostage crisis. With all the bravado and arrogance of youth at my disposal, my attitude was that nobody was going to harm Americans, and somebody needed to secure their safe release. I decided if somebody was going to wade into harm’s way to get them home, it might as well be me. I’d take a minute when leaving Iran   to stop and teach the Ayatollah a thing or two about messing with Americans.  Of course, I had nothing to do with the hostage’s release, but in many ways the mindset persists.

My naval career instilled many truths to my sense of self, but perhaps the two strongest lessons were these:

1 – Never leave anyone behind. That transfers into pretty much every aspect of daily life. See someone having a hard time, we go help. Someone is lost, even in the mall, you stop and help get them to where they need to be. I understand this attitude is not solely an American philosophy, but we as a people sure have perfected it. We leave no one behind, be it soldier or civilian.

 

Why not? That brings us to number two.

 

2 – “No. Not on my watch”. As Americans, we make sure our neighbor is safe. We will do what is needed to be done. Because we will not stand idly by and just take a look at what has occured. We jump into action, because no harm will come to another human being if we can stop it.

 

Not on our watch.

 

There are more than enough issues to be discussed about the epic cowardice of Joe Biden and his administration. The entire scope of the Afghan War closure is tainted by the politics of the left. No doubt I will return to this platform to give personal voice to them.

 

Right now, there needs to be immediate answers as to exactly why Americans were left in Afghanistan.

 

Why, President Biden?

 

The American mantra is that no one will be left behind, not on our watch.

 

Yet you did exactly that. Your need for political expediency has condemned Americans to live with fear, torture, and potentially death.

 

Why?

 

Under what rationale did you leave citizens behind?

 

Why?

 

Your cowardice demands answers, but none more immediate is why were Americans abandoned to the hands of terrorists.

 

Why?

 

We as a people have always known that America would not desert us. Joe Biden has taken that absolute faith and buried it in a pile of political manure.

 

The fact is that history will judge you as the coward you are, but first you must answer for your actions.

 

Why have none of your administration resigned in disgrace, or at least been fired?

 

There is an inherent social contract between the governing and the governed. You have disgraced yourself and your office.

 

Allow me to make the point as often as I can.

 

America does not leave anyone behind.

 

Not on our watch.

 

America – Land of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave.

 

You, Mr. President, do not deserve the honor of the presidency.

 

You are a liar and a coward.

 

And here’s something else I learned during my Navy hitch. Once you are branded a coward, that bell will never be un-rung.

 

Not on my watch.

 

 

Afghanistan - August 16th, 2021 - A Guest Commentary

 

The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!

 

H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, 1926

 

 

Afghanistan has fallen to the Taliban, and the horrors of that fact have yet to begin. The loss of Afghanistan will have long ranging ripple effects for the world, and for decades to come.

The entry into the 20 year war was a direct result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. There were voices at the time who encouraged President Bush to, as the saying went, bomb them back into the stone age, wish them a good day,  and then leave. The sentiment of we broke it, we own it, won out.

History will judge the decisions made, but at this moment in time there is so much false and fraudulent information spewing forth from the stenographic media that it is necessary to mark these events with facts.

In no real particular order:

 

President Biden and his administration are directly responsible for the current state of events. President’s of both political parties share ownership of this cataclysm. Biden announced his intention to withdraw troops on a date certain with absolutely no need to do so, and with no coherent plan to do so. Administration flacks have already attempted to lay blame at the feet of President Donald Trump. This is idiotic on the face of it. President Trump did indeed make the decision to end our longest war. What the spokespeople seem to forget is that Trump had an actual plan. To do it a great injustice in summing it up this way, but in short Trump told the Taliban leaders if they did not honor their agreements, they would have a very bad day. Trump had already taken out al-Qaida leadership, so they knew not to cross him. Biden made no such statements. Rather, he was quoted as saying that the Taliban would not overtake the country. That was a month ago.

Whoops.

There seems to be a wild case of amnesia by the pundits, as they keep making comparisons to Vietnam and the fall of Saigon.

This is a very minority opinion, but the military did not lose the Vietnam War.

The politicians of the time did, by injecting their ignorance into the situation. They cut funding, and made the entire exit a political game. Again, the military did not lose the Vietnam War.

 

In much the same way, our military did not lose Afghanistan. Biden and the political left did. That is not partisan, that is fact.

To quote what is attributed to Casey Stengel – “you could look it up”.

 

In the same way Vietnam has been erroneously labelled as a ‘loss’, so it is with Afghanistan. Americans gave their lives, spent hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars and the overriding theme of the political class is that this is another loss for the American military.

There must be questions asked and answered for what has happened in Afghanistan, but the focus must not be on the military rank and file. It may be shown that leadership made avoidable errors, but let them stand on their own.

When the question of what was it all for is asked, the answer is simple.

For the first time in recorded history, the Afghan people knew what it was to experience freedom. Women and girls were educated. Many became successful pursuing their dreams.

That is something special, unique, and to be honored.

 

To quote another American of note: "The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of good government.” – Thomas Jefferson, 1809.

 

The men and women of the American armed forces were doing the work of a free people. That fact must not, cannot, be lost in a haze of political acrimony.

There is one direction to follow in pursuit of culpability for the Afghanistan disaster. That direction ends at President Joe Biden.

 

There will be dark days ahead, as terror organizations will find safe haven in the rubble of Afghanistan. There are processes to follow as we search for answers, but as Americans, we must stand solidly together as a people, in support of the Afghanis, people terrorized by their governments around the world, to be the hallmark of democracy.

To show the world that a government of the people, for the people, and by the people will never perish from the face of the earth.

We are Americans.

That fact carries with it great pride and great responsibility.

Never forget that.