�We defeated ourselves�: Trump�s national security adviser says Pompeo signed
�surrender agreement� with Taliban

HR McMaster, one of Donald Trump�s former national security advisers, has
condemned the deal struck with the Taliban during the previous administration
as a �surrender agreement�.

Former Trump administration officials are seeking to distance themselves from
Taliban deal

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-taliban-
peace-deal-us-withdrawal-b1907241.html

Ryan wrote:
> ‘We defeated ourselves’: Trump’s national security adviser says Pompeo signed
> ‘surrender agreement’ with Taliban
>
> HR McMaster, one of Donald Trump’s former national security advisers, has
> condemned the deal struck with the Taliban during the previous administration
> as a “surrender agreement”.
>
> Former Trump administration officials are seeking to distance themselves from
> Taliban deal
>
> https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-taliban-
> peace-deal-us-withdrawal-b1907241.html

https://news.yahoo.com/pompeo-confronted-fox-news-legitimising-204957342.html

Pic of Mike Pompeo meeting with Taliban leader
comes back to haunt him as he critiques Biden
on Afghanistan

Mr Wallace responded, however, by pointing out
that Mr Pompeo himself had pushed to legitimise
the Taliban’s leadership under the Trump
administration, which eventually inked a
ceasefire deal that largely resulted in the
Taliban shifting their military attacks to
target local security forces and the Afghan
National Army.

"Do you regret giving the Taliban that legitimacy?
Do you regret pressing the Afghan government to
release 5,000 prisoners, which they did, some of
whom are now back on the battlefield fighting with
the Taliban?" asked Mr Wallace.

https://apnews.com/article/asia-pacific-islamic-state-group-taliban-politics-afghanistan-01ac38c793ca71a2ec099c226e50e7c8

October 8, 2020

The U.S. military was blindsided Thursday by
President Donald Trump’s assertion that all U.S.
troops will be out of Afghanistan by the end of
the year, with U.S. officials saying they are
not aware of such a plan and have gotten no
actual order to accelerate the more gradual
pullout they’ve been executing.

Trump’s comments, laid out in a confusing
progression of comments and a tweet, alarmed
Pentagon and State officials who fear that
putting a definitive date on troop withdrawal
could undercut negotiations to finalize a peace
deal between the Taliban and the Afghan government.
They also fear a hasty withdrawal could force the
U.S. to leave behind sensitive military equipment.
And they continue to stress that the Taliban has
still not met requirements to reduce violence
against the Afghans, a key element of the U.S.
withdrawal plan.

The Taliban welcomed Trump’s announcements ...

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/09/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-prisoners-peace-talks.html

President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan on Sunday
said his government would release a last batch of
Taliban prisoners, removing the final hurdle in
the way of direct negotiations with the insurgents
to end the country’s long war.

His announcement came after a consultative
assembly where he had been advised by thousands of
representatives from across the country.

The release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners, which the
United States agreed to in a February deal with the
insurgents that also began the phased withdrawal of
American troops, faced opposition from the Afghan
government, which is holding the prisoners. After
prolonged pressure from the Trump administration,
Mr. Ghani released 4,600 prisoners from a list
provided by the Taliban but called for consultations
over 400, who he said were accused or convicted of
major crimes, including murder, that were beyond his
authority to pardon.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-afghanistan-taliba/taliban-step-up-attacks-on-afghan-forces-since-signing-u-s-deal-data-idUSKBN22D5S7
MAY 1, 2020

The Taliban have mounted more than 4,500 attacks
in Afghanistan, marking a sharp escalation in
violence, in the 45 days since signing a deal
with the United States that paves the way for a
U.S. troop drawdown, according to data seen by
Reuters.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/taliban-on-trump-we-hope-he-will-win-the-election-withdraw-us-troops/

President Trump's reelection bid received a vote
of support Friday from an entity most in his party
would reject: the Taliban.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told CBS News
in a phone interview, "We believe that Trump is
going to win the upcoming election because he
has proved himself a politician who accomplished
all the major promises he had made to American
people, although he might have missed some small
things, but did accomplish the bigger promises, so
it is possible that the U.S. people who experienced
deceptions in the past will once again trust
Trump for his decisive actions."

Another senior Taliban leader told CBS News, "We
hope he will win the election and wind up U.S.
military presence in Afghanistan."