When considering how our country should approach its conflicts, some might say it’s worth listening to the advice of our enemies—like the Taliban. Well, maybe not. But that was essentially the angle taken today by *Morning Joe*.
During a segment discussing the controversy surrounding the September 2nd drone strike on drug smugglers, MS NOW’s Senior National Security Reporter David Rohde remarked:
> “I’ll be honest, in Afghanistan, the Taliban saw drone strikes as cowardly — that American forces weren’t willing to come fight them face to face on the ground.”
The irony here is striking. Just moments earlier, co-host Jonathan Lemire highlighted another controversy from the same day:
> “The Signalgate Inspector General’s report was made public. Pete Hegseth looks bad there as well, in terms of, as it was put, that he was putting American military personnel at risk by sharing these war plans on Signal.”
We agree — putting American service members at unnecessary risk is unacceptable. However, it seems Rohde and *Morning Joe*’s perspective might suggest that putting military personnel at risk is somehow the “right” way to fight. They appear to be advocating for America to take the Taliban’s advice: come out and fight “like a man,” rather than relying on those “cowardly” drone strikes.
We say otherwise. When confronting a determined foe, don’t engage strictly on their terms. Instead, use the most advanced technology and weaponry available — much like Indiana Jones, who never shied away from using intellect and tools rather than brute force alone.
It’s worth noting that David Rohde’s viewpoint carries added complexity. While researching a book, he was kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan in November 2008 and held captive for over seven months before escaping with a colleague. Yet, here he was today echoing the Taliban’s critique of American military tactics. Did Rohde perhaps develop a form of Stockholm Syndrome, identifying too closely with his captors?
Below is an excerpt from the *MS NOW* *Morning Joe* broadcast on December 5, 2025, at 6:18 AM ET:
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**JONATHAN LEMIRE:**
We have heard Republicans, including some on our air, like Congressman Turner yesterday from the House Armed Services Committee, suggesting that Congress has not signed off on these attacks. There would be real reluctance if the president were to escalate them on land. Yet, there hasn’t been much of a mechanism for Congress to step in and, beyond what we saw yesterday, really get to the bottom of this.
And the timing of this shouldn’t be lost. The close scrutiny of the September 2nd strike coincides with the release of the Signalgate Inspector General’s report. Pete Hegseth looks bad there as well, as it was put, for putting American military personnel at risk by sharing these war plans on Signal, inadvertently, with a journalist. Yet, we saw him on social media yesterday doing a performative victory lap — strutting about like, “Look, I’m under this pressure, but we’re just going to push the button and hit another boat.”
**DAVID ROHDE:**
And I’ll be honest, in Afghanistan, the Taliban saw drone strikes as cowardly — that American forces weren’t willing to come fight them face-to-face on the ground.
**JONATHAN LEMIRE:**
Yes.
**DAVID ROHDE:**
And not that, you know, it’s going to make the drug traffickers angry, but it’s just this idea that our technology, and just wiping out people, are all going to roll over and give up.
—
In the end, the debate continues: Should America heed the Taliban’s taunts and forgo advanced military technology in favor of risking troops on the ground? Or should it continue leveraging its technological superiority to minimize American casualties while effectively combating threats?
Our stance is clear — fight smart, not just tough.
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/mark-finkelstein/2025/12/07/morning-joes-promotes-talibans-argument-against-drone-strikes