Taliban enter Kabul as Afghan government on brink of collapse • Hacker News Board

Re: Taliban enter Kabul as Afghan government on brink of collapse

#11

Post by pjmlp » Sun, Aug 15, 2021, 9:09 AM UTC

I remember having seen a similar scene in a couple of times by now.

I guess we will be getting an Hollywood version of the facts in 10 years timeframe.

My heart goes to those that died for nothing, and those that will now face the revenge of Talibans.

Re: Taliban enter Kabul as Afghan government on brink of collapse

#12

Post by godelmachine » Sun, Aug 15, 2021, 9:10 AM UTC

xbmcuser wrote: post #9

godelmachine wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They just have strong level of petro-dollar support from the Gulf.

petro-dollar support from the gulf if actually exists was peanuts compared to 100s of billions from the US, Nato and India.

What makes you think they don’t get the same amount from the Gulf?

Only US and NATO provided military assistance. Others like India invested billions in constructive projects like Salma dam.

Re: Taliban enter Kabul as Afghan government on brink of collapse

#13

Post by rvense » Sun, Aug 15, 2021, 9:10 AM UTC

leereeves wrote: post #6

Clewza313 wrote: post #3

Fall of Saigon v2. Although I have to say the speed at which the Taliban took over once the US pulled out is pretty astonishing: it's clear they have a strong level of popular support.

Just over a month ago [July 8] the President was actually arguing that the Afghan army would win: Q Is a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan now inevitable? THE PRESIDENT: No, it is not. Q Why? THE PRESIDENT: Because you — the Afghan troops have 300,000 well-equipped — as well-equipped as any army in the world — and an air force against something like 75,000 Taliban. It is not inevitable. ... I trust the capacity of the…

It's almost as though the American leadership doesn't really understand Afghanistan.

Re: Taliban enter Kabul as Afghan government on brink of collapse

#14

Post by pomian » Sun, Aug 15, 2021, 9:10 AM UTC

leereeves wrote: post #6

Clewza313 wrote: post #3

Fall of Saigon v2. Although I have to say the speed at which the Taliban took over once the US pulled out is pretty astonishing: it's clear they have a strong level of popular support.

Just over a month ago [July 8] the President was actually arguing that the Afghan army would win: Q Is a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan now inevitable? THE PRESIDENT: No, it is not. Q Why? THE PRESIDENT: Because you — the Afghan troops have 300,000 well-equipped — as well-equipped as any army in the world — and an air force against something like 75,000 Taliban. It is not inevitable. ... I trust the capacity of the…

Now, who's equipped? History repeats itself...

Re: Taliban enter Kabul as Afghan government on brink of collapse

#15

Post by godelmachine » Sun, Aug 15, 2021, 9:11 AM UTC

clydethefrog wrote: post #8

godelmachine wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They just have strong level of petro-dollar support from the Gulf.

And America has "just" the biggest invested army world wide. I guess you need more than money to win the fight sometimes.

US pulled out only because the general American public was bored of being in Afghanistan. Americans would had stayed there forever if they wanted to, and kept the Taliban at bay.

Re: Taliban enter Kabul as Afghan government on brink of collapse

#16

Post by swang » Sun, Aug 15, 2021, 9:11 AM UTC

Clewza313 wrote: post #3

Fall of Saigon v2. Although I have to say the speed at which the Taliban took over once the US pulled out is pretty astonishing: it's clear they have a strong level of popular support.

More like Fall of Phnom Penh v3

Re: Taliban enter Kabul as Afghan government on brink of collapse

#17

Post by Clewza313 » Sun, Aug 15, 2021, 9:13 AM UTC

godelmachine wrote: post #5

Clewza313 wrote: post #3

Fall of Saigon v2. Although I have to say the speed at which the Taliban took over once the US pulled out is pretty astonishing: it's clear they have a strong level of popular support.

They just have strong level of petro-dollar support from the Gulf.

Not really. Most Gulf states are petrified of militant Islam, and the Taliban subscribe to a creed (Deobandi) that's not particularly popular among Arabs.

Re: Taliban enter Kabul as Afghan government on brink of collapse

#18

Post by Rerarom » Sun, Aug 15, 2021, 9:14 AM UTC

godelmachine wrote: post #5

Clewza313 wrote: post #3

Fall of Saigon v2. Although I have to say the speed at which the Taliban took over once the US pulled out is pretty astonishing: it's clear they have a strong level of popular support.

They just have strong level of petro-dollar support from the Gulf.

https://www.lynalden.com/fraying-petrodollar-system/

Re: Taliban enter Kabul as Afghan government on brink of collapse

#19

Post by implements » Sun, Aug 15, 2021, 9:14 AM UTC

Clewza313 wrote: post #3

Fall of Saigon v2. Although I have to say the speed at which the Taliban took over once the US pulled out is pretty astonishing: it's clear they have a strong level of popular support.

The locals keeping their heads down in the face of an insurgency the Afghan state is clearly unable to defeat probably shouldn’t be presented as “strong popular support” (the true level of which is supposed to be about 10%).

Re: Taliban enter Kabul as Afghan government on brink of collapse

#20

Post by EdwardDiego » Sun, Aug 15, 2021, 9:14 AM UTC

swang wrote: post #16

Clewza313 wrote: post #3

Fall of Saigon v2. Although I have to say the speed at which the Taliban took over once the US pulled out is pretty astonishing: it's clear they have a strong level of popular support.

More like Fall of Phnom Penh v3

...assuming you're referring to indiscriminate shelling of civilians and then mass reprisal killings... what was v2?