[July 19, 2021] Operation Frequent Wind was the final evacuation of the U.S. from South Vietnam before the fall of Saigon. Before the Communist takeover of the country, people were wise to leave in any way they could. Many enduring photographs captured our hurried inglorious departure.
President Joe Biden recently ordered the immediate departure of the U.S. military from Afghanistan. Instead of an orderly departure, taking our equipment and those who want to go with us, we have a wholesale free for all. We just walked away and hastily. Taliban are now driving around in American tanks and HUMMVVs. Is this Afghanistan’s Operation Frequent Wind?
There is little doubt that the withdrawal is sure to hasten a swift Taliban takeover and, like Vietnam, a bloodbath. The Taliban are a resolute lot; they play the long game, which works great against the U.S. We don’t like long wars.
Afghanistan is an ancient land, and the rules of war are as ancient as humankind has been around. Our long-running strategy was to occupy the country, providing a façade of stability so the various tribes and factions would eventually come to the table and give up their arms. This dream was never going to happen, and our military figured this out more than a decade ago. Our political leaders, however, objected.
The only strategy to win in this third-world country is an ancient one. Kill the Taliban along with their allied tribespeople in huge numbers. We call this today genocide. So, we will not do so, not even consider it. That made the alternative to occupy and hope our losing strategy.
Our Secretary of Defense is making sure that we get out and get out quickly. SECDEF Lloyd Austin, not the right man for the job, is more interested in integrating LGBTQ rights into our military than training for war. His priority has nothing to do with Afghanistan or any place that might actually involve preparing for war with enemies of America.
Staying in Afghanistan forever is a crazy idea. Yet, many believe we should, like former President George W. Bush and the editors at the disgraced New York Times. Some believe we should stay to “spread progressive values.” Now that is a truly crazy idea.
“Staying in Afghanistan forever is a crazy idea. ” I disagree. Being there has nothing to do with “winning” but everything to do with preventing the Taliban and other Islamic terror organizations from getting a safe place to operate from. When they take over, they will use Afghanistan as a platform to project their terrorism.
Army Vet, good to hear from you … big fan of yours. I agree and something that is missed by every politician I ever met.
Is there some stupid disease that Joe Biden got? If we get out, at least do so honorably instead of making us look like fools.
Yes, so sad. 👍
Operation Frequent Wind was the final phase in the evacuation of American civilians and “at-risk” Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, before the takeover of the city by the North Vietnamese People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) in the Fall of Saigon. It was carried out on 29–30 April 1975, during the last days of the Vietnam War. More than 7,000 people were evacuated by helicopter from various points in Saigon.
Stupid is as stupid does. Hey I said that.
Don’t be too surprised when the Taliban and others in the underground international war machinery use these weapons against our troops.
Excellent summary of events. Thank you Gen. Satterfield.
We don’t study grand strategy any more and the US military doesn’t study military strategy anymore under Pres. Joe Biden. Now we are only interested in giving “rights” to LBGTQIII+ , BLM and Antifa terrorists. We are in a freefall into the pits of hell and yet we can’t see it coming. When the ass wuppin comes, don’t be too surprised.
old warrior, you make me laugh.
What is it about Democrat politicians who just don’t get it. You can do what you want, just don’t push people to do the impossible and then blame them for failure. This is what Joe Biden, slow Joe for those like me, should not do. But hey, he doesn’t listen to the little people like us living in flyover country.
Eva, pow, a blow between the eyes of all politicians. They are sometimes just too stupid to make the right decision. Someone once said that it would be better if just randomly picked people from the phone book rather than electing a specific person to run the country. I’m on board with that.
Do we actually know what we are doing?
Well said. 👍
Another politician, Joe Biden this time, stabbing the US military in the back.