# The Trump Administration: A Clusterfuck in the Making **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 7, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070 "2016-12-07T00:25:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 169
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3361 "2017-04-14T15:21:47Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > But what was the military objective in dropping the bomb? Did the generals sit around and decide that killing 3 dozen low level cannon fodder foot soldiers would be a major step in defeating ISIS and then take expensive steps to achieve that goal? Somehow I don’t think so. > > Or did they want to destroy the extensive tunnel complex? Now, that might be a worthwhile goal. But did they? Or did they fail and redefine the mission as a success based on the results? There’s a “Best When Used By:” date on the damn things. Use 'em or lose 'em. Also, it’s the [Earth-shattering KABOOM!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec-8A5k16Ak) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3362 "2017-04-14T15:39:58Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > But what was the military objective in dropping the bomb? Did the generals sit around and decide that killing 3 dozen low level cannon fodder foot soldiers would be a major step in defeating ISIS and then take expensive steps to achieve that goal? Somehow I don’t think so. > > Or did they want to destroy the extensive tunnel complex? Now, that might be a worthwhile goal. But did they? Or did they fail and redefine the mission as a success based on the results? There’s no military objective. The objective is to give Trump and his people hard-ons. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3363 "2017-04-14T16:02:25Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > There’s no military objective. The objective is to give Trump and his people hard-ons. Do…not…need…imagery! Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3364 "2017-04-14T16:18:39Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > There’s no military objective. The objective is to give Trump and his people hard-ons. Its called [“Urban Renewal”](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/gbu-43b-mother-of-all-bombs-massive-ordnance-air-blast-afghanistan-isis-a7682996.html), Republican style. With a blast radius of one mile, it is impressive indeedy! ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3365 "2017-04-14T16:37:45Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > At $16 mill a pop, killing one ISIS soldier costs $444k. > > This does not seem sustainable. Yeah, but it still makes more economic sense than not fucking up the water supply of a small city of mostly black people. Right? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3366 "2017-04-14T16:55:06Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Or did they want to destroy the extensive tunnel complex? Now, that might be a worthwhile goal. But did they? Or did they fail and redefine the mission as a success based on the results? I read that this particular bomb is great at killing lots of soldiers on the surface of the ground and for knocking stuff down, but is not meant to penetrate the earth to any great extent. Wrong tool for the job, just like Trump. I can’t give a cite because I read this yesterday after I had been, ah, drinking. I know it’s an SDMB cardinal sin, but it’s the Pit, so fuck it. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3367 "2017-04-14T17:05:59Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > At $16 mill a pop, killing one ISIS soldier costs $444k. > > This does not seem sustainable. In Afghanistan the U.S. spent _many_ millions of dollars per enemy killed. In Iraq, to get the $-per-death under $3 million you have to include the million-plus deaths of innocent civilians indirectly attributed to the U.S. invasion. ---
**Author:** ![SingleMalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/singlemalt/32/3961_2.png) [@SingleMalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleMalt)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3368 "2017-04-14T17:10:48Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > I read that this particular bomb is great at killing lots of soldiers on the surface of the ground and for knocking stuff down, but is not meant to penetrate the earth to any great extent. Wrong tool for the job, just like Trump. > > I can’t give a cite because I read this yesterday after I had been, ah, drinking. I know it’s an SDMB cardinal sin, but it’s the Pit, so fuck it. The name “Massive Ordnance **Air Blast** ” kind of gives it away. Wide spread, but not deep. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3369 "2017-04-14T17:14:32Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > In Afghanistan the U.S. spent _many_ millions of dollars per enemy killed. > > In Iraq, to get the $-per-death under $3 million you have to include the million-plus deaths of innocent civilians indirectly attributed to the U.S. invasion. That’s insane. This is crass - but is that typical for war? I know war is expensive, but that seems absurdly high. Is that a typical number for modern (past 20 years or so) warfare? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3370 "2017-04-14T17:19:13Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > In Afghanistan the U.S. spent _many_ millions of dollars per enemy killed. > > In Iraq, to get the $-per-death under $3 million you have to include the million-plus deaths of innocent civilians indirectly attributed to the U.S. invasion. And those wars aren’t really sustainable either. ---
**Author:** ![SaneBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SaneBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaneBill)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3371 "2017-04-14T17:38:13Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > In Afghanistan the U.S. spent _many_ millions of dollars per enemy killed. Afghanistan has 33 million people, average income is 600 dollars/year = 19 800 000 000 dollars. > [@](#): > > In Iraq, to get the $-per-death under $3 million you have to include the million-plus deaths of innocent civilians indirectly attributed to the U.S. invasion. With Iraq it would make about 175 000 000 000. Combined 195 000 000 000. I have no idea how much US and others spend there, but here’s some perspective to taxpayers… Heck, use half of that to digging wells, irrigation systems and stuff, and the folks will be much less angry to you. Always think WWJD, espcially when it saves money, right, righties? And it’s one-time expense, unlike this what you’re having last 16 years… ( Who knew beating terrorism would be this easy :smack: ) ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3372 "2017-04-14T18:16:51Z")
> [@SaneBill](#): > > … I have no idea how much US and others spend there, but here’s some perspective to taxpayers… > > Heck, use half of that to digging wells, irrigation systems and stuff, and the folks will be much less angry to you. Always think WWJD, espcially when it saves money, right, righties? And it’s one-time expense, unlike this what you’re having last 16 years… > > ( Who knew beating terrorism would be this easy :smack: ) Yes. If there were some way to arrange bribes to a broad population, and a grateful flush-with-cash people therefore laid down their arms and started befriending each other, U.S. interventions would have been less expensive and yielded much better outcomes. Of course, exactly such opportunities were passed up. Saddam under increasing pressure was soon to accept a sweet exile as a billionaire (U.S. pledging no assassination) — that’s one reason the Cheney-Roveists had to hurry the start of Desert Storm. Similarly, training the Iraqi Army while maintaining their wages would have been a cheap-enough bribe compared with the alternative. If Bremer wasn’t a deliberate fomenter of the ensuing anti-America Iraq rebellion, he did a good imitation of such. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3373 "2017-04-14T18:52:27Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > I read that this particular bomb is great at killing lots of soldiers on the surface of the ground and for knocking stuff down, but is not meant to penetrate the earth to any great extent. Wrong tool for the job, just like Trump. The Afghan official on CNN today explained that the network of tunnels and caves that was used by ISIS in the area was heavily mined with the IEDs. The MOAB was used to create the concussive pressure inside the tunnels to explode the IEDs. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3374 "2017-04-14T19:00:59Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > The Afghan official on CNN today explained that the network of tunnels and caves that was used by ISIS in the area was heavily mined with the IEDs. > > The MOAB was used to create the concussive pressure inside the tunnels to explode the IEDs. In an area with over 700 terrorists, AND loaded with IEDs, we killed three dozen? I like a dead terrorist (actual terrorist, not just brown people) as much as the next guy, but shit, could we look any more incompetent for this one? What a waste of a beautiful boom. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3375 "2017-04-14T19:01:10Z")
This may seem like a stupid question, but why would ISIS heavily mine their own tunnels and caves? ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3376 "2017-04-14T19:03:31Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > This may seem like a stupid question, but why would ISIS heavily mine their own tunnels and caves? To prevent Afghan troops from going in? I posted a link to the video explaining it. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3377 "2017-04-14T19:03:49Z")
> [@SaneBill](#): > > Afghanistan has 33 million people, average income is 600 dollars/year = 19 800 000 000 dollars. > > With Iraq it would make about 175 000 000 000. > > Combined 195 000 000 000. > > I have no idea how much US and others spend there, but here’s some perspective to taxpayers… > > Heck, use half of that to digging wells, irrigation systems and stuff, and the folks will be much less angry to you. Always think WWJD, espcially when it saves money, right, righties? And it’s one-time expense, unlike this what you’re having last 16 years… > > ( Who knew beating terrorism would be this easy :smack: ) From the very beginning, I’ve argued that the best course for afghanistan was infrastructure building. (not here, obviously, as i’ve only been on the board a few years.) People are hard to recruit as suicide bombers when they are fat and lazy. Those with nothing to lose, however, are very dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3378 "2017-04-14T19:06:09Z")
> **[Trump Is The White Marion Barry](https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisladd/2017/01/27/trump-is-the-white-marion-barry/#1818f5834bd2)** > > Ask voters why they back figures who loot their neighborhoods and destroy public institutions and you’ll hear about a need to “stick together.” A community that perceives itself under assault will choose a strong leader over a good leader, regardless... > [@](#): > > Donald Trump is Marion Barry for white people; corrupt, incompetent, disastrous, and wildly popular among his core demographic. The only thing Trump could do to lose the support of his white base is to apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3379 "2017-04-14T19:10:24Z")
Our Vacation President today: [CNN: “As North Korea brews, Trump again in Mar-a-Lago”](http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/14/politics/donald-trump-north-korea-mar-a-lago/index.html). This nugget from the article: _“I will say this, I think China has really been working very hard and I have really gotten to like and respect, as you know, President Xi. He’s a terrific person,” Trump said. “We spent a lot of time together in Florida and he’s a very special man so we’ll see how it goes.”_ He sounds like he’s had a couple of dates with the President of China and is now thinking of bringing him home to meet Melania. I guess we’ll see if he can get to second base with Xi, and maybe get a threesome going with Putin as well. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3380 "2017-04-14T19:16:45Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I guess we’ll see if he can get to second base with Xi, and maybe get a threesome going with Putin as well. > > Stranger In Russia, you do not have threesome with Putin, threesome has Putin with YOU! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=168) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=170)