Rep. Mike Gallagher on Afghanistan

“The whole thing is a mess, and there are very few options we have right now.”

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Rep. Mike Gallagher joins Sarah and Steve on the podcast and tries (with no luck) to understand the logic behind the Biden administration’s withdrawal plan in Afghanistan. Gallagher puts it quite bluntly, “The whole thing is a mess, and there are very few options we have right now.” The Marine Corps veteran explains what he’d like to see from the Biden administration going forward and how the GOP should handle national security issues going forward. Plus, find out what brutal book the congressman just finished reading (hint: it’s about Sarah’s home state).

Show Notes:

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Comments (39)
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  1. Avatar photo
    Mulecanter

    I always enjoy listening to Mike Gallagher and this podcast was no exception. Because Mike didn't cleanse himself of the Trump stench when he had the chance (a few key votes) I always feel a little disappointed in him and suspect of his motives. I think he is a closet anti-Trump conservative but is trying to survive Wisconsin politics.

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    Bill Dyer (aka Beldar)

    Ditto Rep. Gallagher's recommendation of S.C. Gwynne's "Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History." The sole factual dispute I have with Gwynne is that after noting a dispute in the underlying evidence, he locates Quanah Parker's birthplace in Oklahoma instead of the Comanche's favorite watering hole at Cedar Lake, Texas, in the southern panhandle at the edge of the Caprock. As a Texan reared about 15 miles from there, who hunted those cliffs and draws for Comanche arrowheads as a Boy Scout decades ago, I must insist, for admittedly sentimental reasons, that Cedar Lake has the better claim. But the book is indeed exceptional, and in particular it documents how thoroughly the Comanches terrorized not only the white settlers but their competing Native American tribes; they were the equivalent of the Spartans among the ancient Greeks. It's gritty and vivid reading.

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  3. Randall Briggs

    It doesn't matter what reasonable foreign policy platform that Gallagher wants the GOP to adopt. The platform will be suspect because it will have received the approval of Donald J. Trump's narcissistic gut.

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    David Burke

    Ahahahahahahaha

    As current Texas Admin goes, choo Betcha!!!


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    David Burke

    Is Gallagher out of his self important head? The poor settling Texans and the brutal Comanche?

    How hard would you fight for your family and land while facing genocide from an invading horde you bloviating hypocrite

    Give me a fckn break.

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      Bill Dyer (aka Beldar)

      I think you misunderstood him. I do recommend the book, for reasons stated in another comment on this post.

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      Dave T

      The fact that Texas and the settlers were in the wrong doesn't mean that they weren't admirable for their bravery, in the same sense that the Vikings or the Mongols were pretty impressive dudes, despite being bloodthirsty conquerers.

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        David Burke

        dude...

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          Dave T

          You don't think that comparing Texan settlers to rapacious Vikings and Mongols is appropriate?

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            David Burke

            Perhaps the current congressional and executive administration, whole heatedly- yes.

            The most disgusting practice of civic government I have ever experienced

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    Hrodland

    RE: The Comanche aspect of this, might note that their ultimate end came after the Civil War, when Sherman and Sheridan decided to kill off all the buffalo. Then the Plains Tribes simply starved.

    To defeat small groups often requires extreme measures. An ancestor of mine found that out. He staked claim along the Red in 1856, got driven out twice, and died there in 1871. The end for the Comanches came only later, and after they were decimated.

    In a sense, taking our country was one big "Forever War."

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      Hrodland

      Or more properly, taking THEIR country.

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  7. DJ

    This was good. I think it's interesting, though, that a former marine frames policy in terms of honor culture and kinetic operations. He talked of the "humiliating" withdrawal, and the strategic asset of Bagram, but ignores the diplomacy necessary to keep Bagram open. Notably, the only way to supply Bagram is through Pakistan, and Pakistan's interest is to support the Taliban.

    Re: China - I just don't feel like Afghanistan is that great a strategic asset. China has an interest in keeping terrorism from Afghanistan bleeding over into Afghanistan, so of course they have a threat to deal with there. And we have air bases on the eastern side of China, not to mention missiles.

    I honestly think that conflict with China will not be military. It will be economic and cyber. We have more leverage by offering amnesty for Hong Kongers and maybe Uighurs than in flexing military muscle.

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    Mike B

    Wow, if that's Mike Gallagher on only one cup of coffee, what's he like after two? I could barely keep up as it is. He seems to be able to speak in complete (albeit occasionally run-on) sentences with little to no hemming or hawing, stumbles or long pauses. I think his analysis is spot on.

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      Pastorfbt

      I have yet to hear a pol interviewed here who does not give speeches instead of answers. Frustrating.

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        David Burke

        Can concur. I wish the podcast measured up to the “newsletters”. Lotta echo with guests along the lines of Gallagher, Roy…

        Subscriber since the first month, with TMD and the printed “newsletters”, this Irish Catholic Bleeding Heart from a Northeast Urban Center, learns and have at sometimes been convinced by their opinions.

        Podcast- I just yell at Steve and Sarah and most of the times - their guests.

        They would do well to bring on thoughtful representation from the center left/left from both media and politics.

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          Steve Hayes

          I guess I'm glad I can't hear you yelling?! But feel free to let us have it here (in a civil, Dispatchian way, pls!) See below on your final suggestion.

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            David Burke

            I yell in a nice way.

            You are doing fantastic work.

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          Seth B

          Hmmm... I really enjoy the Steve and Sarah tag-team duo, but I second your suggestion for them to speak with some people on the center left. I'd love to get to know a few of the moderate Dems in congress.
          In the most recent Remnant, AB Stoddard discusses the progressive/moderate rupture within the Democratic party. I am intrigued to learn more about some of these moderates - and I suspect some of them have more in common with such sensible center-right folks as Sarah and Steve than they do with many in the progressive wing of their own party. (Some of my favorite Remnants, incidentally, have been ones in which Jonah has spoken with people on the center left. Will Saletan and Jonathan Rauch are two fairly recent ones that come to mind.)
          I'd even be happy to hear from the odd progressive on The Dispatch Podcast if they can find a reasonable one. ;-) Perhaps Ritchie Torres from NY might fit that bill; he did an interview a while back with Bari Weiss. He struck me as a very thoughtful guy.

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            Steve Hayes

            We agree with you on having more Dems/center-left folks. We've had Joe Trippi, Mo Elleithee, et al, and invited Dem members of Congress including, most recently, Seth Moulton. Please feel free to make recommendations here or at members@thedispatch.com. Thanks!

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            Dave T

            Agree, I'd love this as well.

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        Mike B

        Didn't feel like a speech to me, as in written in advance. I think he has all that stuff in his head and is prepared with a detailed, reasoned answer when asked about his views. What questions did he fail to answer, "giving a speech" instead?

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    Peter A

    Thank you for this. Proud of my rep! Even if I violate the state constitution by cheering for the Lions.

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    1. Laurie

      Our UP family cheers for the Packers which has made some of our Thanksgiving Days awkward. It never turns out well for us Lions fans.

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        Peter A

        I'm married to a Yooper Packer fan. We get along fine. However, my Dad can get riled up about the Packers which can get awkward.

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  10. Tom Coffman

    Really enjoyed. I was excited to hear this. Love the podcasts and really find great value in subscribing. Most of the time I enjoy the banter and humor, but when talking about some of these serious issues, is it some kind of contractual requirement with Gallagher that we joke about some 90s move, beer, and the Packers?

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      Dave T

      Elected officials, amirite?

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