The Trump plan included retaining control of Bagram Air Base until all Americans were withdrawn from Afghanistan. A large, sprawling site, Bagram has multiple airfields and other facilities that safely can handle significant amounts of traffic and also host a large population.

Handing control of Bagram to Afghanistan set up the sequence of events that saw the Taliban seize the facility, Patel said.

"We would not have ever relinquished control of Bagram Airfield, because that is our command and control node for the entire region," Patel said. "And that's where we would fly in and out securely." 

Bagram also was home to a prison where the U.S. held accused terrorists who were set to be prosecuted. Among them were alleged senior Al Qaeda operatives. The Taliban released thousands of prisoners who were considered to be a high threat to the West. 

The U.S. never planned simply to release those prisoners. 

"We were working with allies and partners to prosecute them either in America or prosecute them in their home countries of origin as we successfully did under President Trump," Patel said. The prosecutions take time, he said. "We had a plan in place and we were doing it. Releasing terrorists is never an option. It was never an option under President Trump," Patel said. 

The overall arrangement under Trump included a robust air presence, with armed and unarmed aircraft and drones to collect intelligence or launch air strikes. That plan, too, appears to have been jettisoned, the former security official said.

In a war zone, the U.S. always is ready to enact pre-established procedures to evacuate Americans, their local allies, and their families. The situation in Kabul, particularly at the airport, where humanitarian crises were on full display, stems from a lack of proper planning, Patel said. 

"The only way you are surprised by this sort of situation is if you don't plan for it, if you don't prepare for it," he said.

"We lost not one American casualty under President Trump's conditions based withdrawal. Look at the chaos and death that is occurring now under Biden's [so-called] plan for Afghanistan."

thenewstalkers

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we need Trump to return to the White House.  Trump 2024!  

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Biden has been a disaster for America 

I agree that Biden has been an unmitigated disaster; but no to Trump. 

The next presidential election cannot be a referendum on Trump; and that is what it is going to turn into. The Democrats and media will make sure of it.

Better to get a younger candidate with a strong backbone and willingness to stay tough and fight under pressure. Make sure the message stays on focus that the Democrats cannot lead at any level; and every one of their crisis during the Biden administration will be brought up repeatedly. 

Republicans need to stay focused on pointing out the numerous Democrat disasters; and how they are going to fix them and improve the country.

A Trump presidential run will never allow that to happen.

glad to see you realize that the most unfit for office person in American history should not run again

Bidenis creating so many disasters that people will be begging for a Trump return.  But if he doesn’t run, De Santis or Noem or Scott (Tim) would be great choices.  But the seed here is about Biden’s failures in Afghanistan because he jettisoned the Trump plan and replaced it with nothing.  

Noem.  The one who recently proclaimed that she hates America.  Following right in Trump's footsteps.  She should be very popular with the Trumpist America-hating crowd.

No, she doesn’t!  The truth will set you free..

"I hate this America..."

Kristi Noem

So do I in the context she mentioned. 

This America totally screwed up the situation in Afghanistan that was stable before It’s leader became President 

America - Love it or leave it!

I love red state, County, and town America very much so I’ll be staying here to resist the America that Noem speaks of from encroaching upon and ruining my life and our way of life.  

The Biden team has failed to prepare for evacuating American citizens and Afghans who helped the U.S. government, Patel said, and has allowed other important issues to founder.
"There's no plan to secure our weaponry or machinery, we're just giving it over to terrorists," Patel said. "And there's no plan to secure a Kabul International Airport so that at least flights can get in and out."
Careful plans, though, already were laid out by the Trump administration, and were offered to Team Biden, Patel said. 
The overarching theme was a conditions-based withdrawal, whereby the U.S. military would leave Afghanistan in increments if the Taliban met clear conditions, according to Patel. Among other things, the Taliban were required to reject and repudiate Al Qaeda, and would have to negotiate in good faith. The U.S. would also maintain a special operations contingent in place, and would retain the capacity to launch air strikes under specific circumstances.
The Trump plan included retaining control of Bagram Air Base until all Americans were withdrawn from Afghanistan. A large, sprawling site, Bagram has multiple airfields and other facilities that safely can handle significant amounts of traffic and also host a large population.
Handing control of Bagram to Afghanistan set up the sequence of events that saw the Taliban seize the facility, Patel said.
"We would not have ever relinquished control of Bagram Airfield, because that is our command and control node for the entire region," Patel said. "And that's where we would fly in and out securely."  

thenewstalkers

…“Why do you continue to trust the Taliban, Mr. President?” a reporter asked. “Why do you continue to trust–”

It is the question that needs to be asked as thousands of Americans are now at the mercy of the Taliban, due to a complete lack of planning. The Biden administration pulled military troops before conducting an evacuation of civilians. It is now relying on the murderous Taliban to provide ‘safe passage.’ There is no way for the Biden administration to sugar-coat it: The Afghan withdrawal is a complete disaster.

It was one of many questions the White House press corps had for the president that would not be addressed. President Biden departed with Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Vice President Kamala Harris for a long weekend.

President Biden’s approach to his press conferences is much the same way he handled the end of the War in Afghanistan: It was a disaster from start to finish, culminating in Biden turning tail and running.

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