safely retrograding our personnel

[GoodTaste]

The situation on the ground continues to be extremely dangerous, and the threat of terrorist attacks on the airport remains high. Our commanders informed me that an attack is highly likely in the next 24-36 hours. I directed them to take every possible measure to prioritize force protection, and ensured that they have all the authorities, resources and plans to protect our men and women on the ground. They assured me that they did, and that they could take these measures while completing the mission and safely retrograding our personnel.

Source: Joe Biden

Does "safely retrograding our personnel" mean "safely proceeding moving our personnel ( back to the US)"?

 

[SoothingDave]

Moving them back. Out of Afghanistan. It doesn't mean back to the US.

 

[GoodTaste]

Moving them back. Out of Afghanistan. It doesn't mean back to the US.

Sorry I don't understand you. Moving them back to where? The personnel were moved from the US into Afghanistan - Now they were brought out of Afghanistan, yes, but if they were moved back, then they were moved back to the US. Yet you said "It doesn't mean back to the US."

 

[tedmc]

They could be deployed to other US military bases in the region, where they are needed more than back in their home country.

 

[Tarheel]

I'm not convinced that the phrase in bold means anything. (It's not something a normal person would say.)

 

[Rover_KE]

He should have said 'redeploying'.

 

[emsr2d2]

A retrograde operation is a term used in military operations. I found this online:

There are three types of retrograde operations:

1. Delay, where the unit gives up space to gain time.
2. Withdrawal, where all or part of a deployed force voluntarily disengages from the enemy to free itself for a new mission.
3. Retirement, where a force not in contact with the enemy conducts movement to the rear.

Source: https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/100-15/Ch7.htm

It appears the speaker decided to use "retrograde" as a verb. That might be common in military parlance but it's not generally used that way in standard speech. I would take the original simply to mean that the troops are being pulled out of Afghanistan. They're not necessarily going back to the US. Some could be moved to neighbouring countries, some could be going back to the US and some could be redeployed to places thousands of miles from Afghanistan.

 

[Tarheel]

A retrograde operation is a term used in military operations.

Exactly! It requires way too much of an explanation.

 

[tedmc]

A retrograde operation is a term used in military operations.

Exactly! It requires way too much of an explanation.

It is not difficult to guess from the prefix, "retro" (from the past), of the word though.

 

[5jj]

It is not difficult to guess from the prefix, "retro" (from the past), of the word though.

retro (Latin) - backwards (English)

 

[emsr2d2]

Exactly! It requires way too much of an explanation.

Well, it certainly requires an explanation and that's exactly why it's so important to add links to useful information on other websites.

 

[Tarheel]

If you are speaking in a public forum (for example, the White House press room) you shouldn't expect people to run to a website to figure out what you're saying.

 

[Tdol]

It's not a good use of jargon as no one outside the military is likely to understand it.

 

[SoothingDave]

Sorry I don't understand you. Moving them back to where? The personnel were moved from the US into Afghanistan - Now they were brought out of Afghanistan, yes, but if they were moved back, then they were moved back to the US. Yet you said "It doesn't mean back to the US."

When you are fighting a war, you are engaged in a "front." When you retreat you move "back." That's all. It doesn't mean you return to your homeland.

 

[GoodTaste]

retro (Latin) - backwards (English)

I figured it out at the very beginning. The problem was/is that if so it sounds nagative and Biden, as commander-in-chief, should always inspire or boost mirale rather than damping it down.

 

[emsr2d2]

I figured it out at the very beginning. The problem was/is that if so it sounds negative and Biden, as commander-in-chief, should always inspire or boost morale rather than damping it down.

Note my corrections above. Does your first sentence mean that you worked it out for yourself almost as soon as you posted the question? Why do you think "retrograde" sounds negative?

 

[GoodTaste]

Note my corrections above. Does your first sentence mean that you worked it out for yourself almost as soon as you posted the question? Why do you think "retrograde" sounds negative?

Yes. "retro = backwards" meant negative (to) me. Redeployment means "we have better work to do", not something backwards.

 

[Rover_KE]

At all costs, he needed to avoid implying 'retreated'.

 

[Tarheel]

Yes. "retro = backwards" means negative to me. Redeployment means "we have better work to do", not something backwards.

OK.

 

[Tdol]

At all costs, he needed to avoid implying 'retreated'.

It might also shift responsibility a bit as it is so clearly a military term.