{"id":16187,"date":"2017-09-28T22:44:17","date_gmt":"2017-09-28T22:44:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/09\/28\/new-taliban-propaganda-video-features-trump-calling-afghanistan-a-complete-disaster\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:03:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:03:19","slug":"new-taliban-propaganda-video-features-trump-calling-afghanistan-a-complete-disaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2017\/09\/28\/new-taliban-propaganda-video-features-trump-calling-afghanistan-a-complete-disaster\/","title":{"rendered":"New Taliban propaganda video features Trump calling Afghanistan a \u2018complete disaster\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 A recent Taliban propaganda video features current U.S. leaders discussing failed strategies and polices in the war in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The video was uploaded to known Taliban accounts on Twitter and was titled \u201cReal Men 2.\u201d It is predominantly in Pashto and Dari, indicating its target audience is locals in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one scene, a smoke-filled background and flames can be seen surrounding President Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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President Trump is pictured in a Taliban propaganda where is heard discussing Afghanistan as a disaster. (Screenshot of Taliban propaganda)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfghanistan is a total and complete disaster. What are we doing? \u2026 Get out of Afghanistan,\u201d Trump can be heard saying in the clip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The video then switches to Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, again with smoke and fire in the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want a strategy, and I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a hell of a lot to ask,\u201d McCain can be heard saying in the video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The quote from McCain was made in mid-June when Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee for a hearing on Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur Afghan partners have been sustaining significant losses, and I am not sure that is sustainable,\u201d McCain says later in the video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The video also features Mattis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are not winning in Afghanistan right now,\u201d Mattis says in the short clip, taken from his testimony before lawmakers in June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Secretary of Defense James Mattis is featured in a Taliban propaganda video where he can be seen discussing U.S. policy in Afghanistan before U.S. Senators. (Screenshot of Taliban propaganda video)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also footage of Army Gen. John Nicholson, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, talking to senators in February about his plan for Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of the scenes featuring U.S. policy makers are the same, with smoke and fire around the U.S. leaders, and the video plays on the dismay and skepticism of U.S. officials about the war in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Taliban\u2019s elite unit also makes an appearance in the video. The fighters can be seen conducting marksmanship training, shooting drills, grenade tosses, and vehicle interdictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One Taliban commander states that Afghanistan doesn\u2019t need democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The video is the latest attempt by the Taliban to highlight the U.S. as tired and weary of the war in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It follows a surprise visit to the region this week by Mattis.<\/p>\n\n\n\t