Quote:
Originally Posted by OldDutch
I have been highly critical of how Trudeau and Biden handled this, but I really think anyone who lived there and knew how quickly it would have fell apart would have bought a plane ticket months ago to leave.
I think it honestly surprised even some locals. I know a month ago some were telling the news that their family sold everything and bought a house in Kabul to stay safe.
Make no mistake Trudeau dithering on a plan until 11th hour and only due to pressure is all on him. Its also on Biden as well. Just a complete mess up on an exit plan, with too many assumptions things will just work.
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I have a friend who fought with the Danes in Helmand province for three (maybe two?) tours - ending back in 2009. Even back then, he said that the ANA and Afghan police had zero chance of holding off the Taliban without NATO support.
He basically said that anytime the ANA was involved in an operation, it was primarily a political stunt. ANA has always had low combat effectiveness, high corruption, and very little support among the populace.
Afghanistan is what happens when you try to force a modern nation state into a region that has really functioned as a loose confederation of tribes for 2000 years.
We always knew this was a war we couldn't really win.