Peter Hartcher, Political and international editor for The Sydney Morning Herald & Author of “To The Bitter End”, joins Michael to discuss the actions of the US which suggest a nation doing everything it can to make sure that it could win any potential conflict with China.

 

Mr Hartcher writes, ‘The US decision to pull out of its longest war is an admission of the war’s hopelessness. Announcing the end to 20 years of allied occupation of Afghanistan, Joe Biden said as much himself: “We went to Afghanistan because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago. That cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021.”’

 

‘So why should the US and its allies remain? Not sure, really, the US President suggested: “We delivered justice to bin Laden a decade ago, and we’ve stayed in Afghanistan for a decade since. Since then, our reasons for remaining in Afghanistan are becoming increasingly unclear, even as the terrorist threat that we went to fight evolved.’

 

‘By pulling out of its holding operation in Afghanistan to switch attention to China, we now see signs that top US officials are conceding that even 1½ wars might be too much to fight simultaneously.’

 

‘And that, against a formidable People’s Liberation Army, the US could need to concentrate all its resources on a single major war if it hopes to prevail.’

Peter&nbsp;Hartcher, Political and international editor for The Sydney Morning Herald &amp; Author of &ldquo;To The Bitter End&rdquo;, joins Michael to discuss the&nbsp;actions of the US which suggest a nation doing everything it can to make sure that it could win any potential conflict with China.
&nbsp;
Mr Hartcher writes, &lsquo;The US decision to pull out of its longest war is an admission of the war&rsquo;s hopelessness. Announcing the end to 20 years of allied occupation of Afghanistan, Joe Biden said as much himself: &ldquo;We went to Afghanistan because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago. That cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021.&rdquo;&rsquo;
&nbsp;
&lsquo;So why should the US and its allies remain? Not sure, really, the US President suggested: &ldquo;We delivered justice to bin Laden a decade ago, and we&rsquo;ve stayed in Afghanistan for a decade since. Since then, our reasons for remaining in Afghanistan are becoming increasingly unclear, even as the terrorist threat that we went to fight evolved.&rsquo;
&nbsp;
&lsquo;By pulling out of its holding operation in Afghanistan to switch attention to China, we now see signs that top US officials are conceding that even 1&frac12; wars might be too much to fight simultaneously.&rsquo;
&nbsp;
&lsquo;And that, against a formidable People&rsquo;s Liberation Army, the US could need to concentrate all its resources on a single major war if it hopes to prevail.&rsquo;

Australia Overnight with Mike Jeffreys, 12am – 4am weekdays.

Wake Up Australia, 4am - 9:30am weekdays.

Australia Overnight with Mike Jeffreys, 12am – 4am weekdays.
Wake Up Australia, 4am - 9:30am weekdays.

Advertisement