Seven Days in Kabul

[zamler]

That Biden presser was frightening.

[CaptainCrunch]

Its sad that he's that much better then Trump and still awful.


You look at North American politics and how big of a leadership gulf there is.

[FlamesAddiction]

He is just way past his prime. People voted for him because they actually wanted Obama back... and he wasn't Trump of course.

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm still a cynic in that I believe a deal was cut with Harris and her advisors that Joe will step down for health reasons after the mid term elections and Harris will step in as President.

[Ducay]

24 hours since I last posted here and jesus f'in christ this bungle has gone from terrible to beyond horrific. So many lives lost due to a "rush at the gates" that was unnecessary had the withdrawal been been planned/timed at all coherently.

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I'm still a cynic in that I believe a deal was cut with Harris and her advisors that Joe will step down for health reasons after the mid term elections and Harris will step in as President.

I think a lot have that view given the odd timing of her withdrawing prior to any primaries actually being held.

[FlameOn]

I am not sure how Biden plans to hunt down those responsible for the bombing with no troops on the ground.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

I am not sure how Biden plans to hunt down those responsible for the bombing with no troops on the ground.

Drones

[Nyah]

Not to mention without the $85 billion in weapons, supplies, aircraft, etc. left behind for the Taliban to help themselves to.

[HockeyIlliterate]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I'm still a cynic in that I believe a deal was cut with Harris and her advisors that Joe will step down for health reasons after the mid term elections and Harris will step in as President.

God I hope not.

I cannot stand Harris and can barely tolerate Biden.

As I posted before, I voted against Trump. But Biden was the best of the worst choices available, although he continues to fail to meet my exceptionally low expectations of him.

Harris would be a downgrade, and that is really saying something.

[Macman]

Originally Posted by Nyah

Not to mention without the $85 billion in weapons, supplies, aircraft, etc. left behind for the Taliban to help themselves to.

I'd be curious about how much or any of that equipment, aircraft, etc would still be somewhat classified info and that the Taliban could sell off to whoever wants to buy it.

How will they be able to maintain aircraft for example with the Americans withdrawing?

It's a mess for sure, 20 year war will do that I suppose.

[Baron von Kriterium]

Originally Posted by Macman

I'd be curious about how much or any of that equipment, aircraft, etc would still be somewhat classified info and that the Taliban could sell off to whoever wants to buy it.

Very little of it is classified. Most of the gear given to the ANA was surplus. That's not to say it's not valuable, but neighboring regional powers aren't interested in it to the point of paying for it I don't think. Small arms, however, are turning up for sale in local markets.

Originally Posted by Macman

How will they be able to maintain aircraft for example with the Americans withdrawing?

The Afghan Air Force managed to fly most of their aircraft out of Afghanistan. What remains mostly isn't air worthy. The Taliban could receive parts for the Russian gear from Pakistan. I'm not sure how many pilots the Taliban have, though.

From published photos, the Taliban have at least the following in their inventory:

Fixed wing
- 1 x A-29
- 1 x Cessna 208

Helos
- 11 x Mi-17
- 1 x Mi-35
- 4 x UH-60
- 8 x MD530

UAV
- 7 x Boeing ScanEagle

[81MC]

Showing my ignorance, but how likely is it that,
A) ISIS and the Taliban work together, under a veil of ‘moderation’?
B) ISIS takes control over the territory the Taliban has already taken back, and the entire nation is more of a horror show than it with the Taliban in power?
C) The Taliban battle each other for control for the foreseeable future?

I feel like a dummy saying this, but it seems like the Taliban would be preferable to ISIS? I believe they’re not allied, but against a common enemy?

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by 81MC

Showing my ignorance, but how likely is it that,
A) ISIS and the Taliban work together, under a veil of ‘moderation’?
B) ISIS takes control over the territory the Taliban has already taken back, and the entire nation is more of a horror show than it with the Taliban in power?
C) The Taliban battle each other for control for the foreseeable future?

I feel like a dummy saying this, but it seems like the Taliban would be preferable to ISIS? I believe they’re not allied, but against a common enemy?

The Taliban has been only interested in Afghanistan traditionally, they are not global jihadists out to bring down the west, they are just the Pashtun tribes military political arm, they will slaughter ISIS quicker than we will typically, there hasnt been any love between them and ISIS makes trouble for the Taliban with no appreciable gain.

For all the press they get the Taliban are little different from the House of Saud really, they both use soccer stadiums for public beheadings

[Ducay]

(luckily) Afghanistan isn't Syria or Iraq, much more tribal and less radical branches of Islam are popular there (not to say it won't/can't happen). People currently conflate ISIS/ISIS-K/AlQaeda and Taliban given they see them all as Terrorists, but really, Taliban are more interested in running the country and having territory than simply killing people. Sure they do that too and use terrorist tactics (hence are terrorists) but people forget we originally went to war with them when they were governing the bulk of Afghanistan - not because the Taliban were the global terrorists themselves (at the time, pre-invasion) or for behind 9/11, but for allowing Al-Qaeda to have bases/training there.

Taliban probably rate one level below Iran's regime in the dinkhead power rankings.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

if you can put a dog in the cargo hold you can put a person in there, those planes should be at max weight and over the head count flying out

I'm with you on that. Leave the animals behind. If the towns and cities come under siege, or there are snipers on the street, those animals quickly become a source of nutrients for people starving.

I personally know people who survived the Siege of Sarajevo by eating family pets, and then later moved on to luring stray dogs and cats. It's sounds gross to us, but when you are trapped in your apartment for months at a time, a lot of friendly critters become dinner. They did other things like snare birds on their window sills, but when you are starving, a cat or dog is a jackpot.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Ducay

(luckily) Afghanistan isn't Syria or Iraq, much more tribal and less radical branches of Islam are popular there (not to say it won't/can't happen). People currently conflate ISIS/ISIS-K/AlQaeda and Taliban given they see them all as Terrorists, but really, Taliban are more interested in running the country and having territory than simply killing people. Sure they do that too and use terrorist tactics (hence are terrorists) but people forget we originally went to war with them when they were governing the bulk of Afghanistan - not because the Taliban were the global terrorists themselves (at the time, pre-invasion) or for behind 9/11, but for allowing Al-Qaeda to have bases/training there.

Taliban probably rate one level below Iran's regime in the dinkhead power rankings.

Yet Syria is one of the countries currently taking Afghan refugees.

[Reggie28]

I’m in utter disbelief. 5000 American troops and the contractors who keep the Afghan Air Force flying is all it would take.
When the US pulled out, they also pulled out the aircraft mechanics, effectively grounding the Air Force.
I think the Afghans would have fought if they had air power, whether American or Afghan.

Biden,early in a presidency, could have easily extended this mission.

[Reggie28]

Before the withdrawal, the Americans did not lose a member in 18 months. The Afghan national army was suffering great losses fighting the Taliban.

[Reggie28]

Andrew Coyne, formerly of Maclean’s and his partner, “made efforts to get people out of Afghanistan and were successful.”

How much would you give up to save a family?

I think on my deathbed I would rather say I spent money saving a family, rather than anything else.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Its sad that he's that much better then Trump and still awful.


You look at North American politics and how big of a leadership gulf there is.

Can you hold the UK’s beer?


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