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Taliban enter Kabul as Afghan government on brink of collapse

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

#151

Post by BasDirks »

selfmodruntime wrote: post #119
BasDirks wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US played a pivotal role in saving our asses over in Europe, and we are eternally grateful, but ever since, the US has been bad at war. It's not the firepower, it's not the soldiers, and it's not the organization. These are top notch. It's the **ing politicians dragging young men and women into wars not worth fighting.

This is a very ironic comment considering that the soviets, not the US liberated Europe from Germany. They fought the hardest battles, lost the most soldiers, fought for the longer time and were first in Berlin. The public just believes otherwise because of 70 years of US propaganda [1]. The only thing US soldiers left us europeans with are a massive influx of refugees of which we have to take care of and for which w…

Without the soviets, the war would not have been won, but how about we celebrate and honor this without shitting on America?

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

#152

Post by BasDirks »

koonsolo wrote: post #116
BasDirks wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US played a pivotal role in saving our asses over in Europe, and we are eternally grateful, but ever since, the US has been bad at war. It's not the firepower, it's not the soldiers, and it's not the organization. These are top notch. It's the **ing politicians dragging young men and women into wars not worth fighting.

The Taliban is absolute horrible. US tried to do a good thing here. For me this is a failure of the Afghan people who are not willing to fight for their rights, especially the rights of their wives, sisters and daughters. At least US tried to make a difference. EU is very passive in that sense (I'm from EU).

A failure of the Afghan people! Hahaha, OK. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. And ah, okay, the war in Afghanistan was to liberate women? Meanwhile the US is in bed with the Saudi's.

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

#153

Post by rightbyte »

jacksonkmarley wrote: post #90

Seems like the Taliban are holding back to allow foreign personnel to evacuate. I wonder if that is part of an explicit agreement, or just them not wanting to create problems for themselves when they've already clearly won.

Giving safe passage for a defeated enemy is an ageold courtesy. Having an airborne brigade fighting with their backs against the wall is probably not what a militia wants.

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

#154

Post by smhost »

chewz wrote: post #150
smhost wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

U.S. could have not cynically installed the most pliant pro-American corrupt thugs to be in charge and told the people to obey, after having destroyed their homeland and treated them like idiot children for an entire generation.

There are 6 million people in Kabul plus some elite Afgan Army. That is enough to make a no passaran moment to Taliban. Theoretically. But it seems like all Western-minded urban Afgans want to get evacuated to US, Europe, Canada rather then put up a good fight. So why the West shall fight for their freedoms?

How many more dead bodies do you want to add to your tally for your Hollywood movie moment? They don't want a civil war. How is that not obvious to you?

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

#155

Post by THINkttwICE »

a0-prw wrote: post #121
yalogin wrote: post #32

What a failure of the US armed forces here. 20 damn years staying in the country with the only 2 goal - to help Afghans build an army and help defend themselves and to eradicate the Taliban. They failed miserably in both. Trillions spent and many lost lives. Why would we ever pour money into such a terrible, incompetent system? Of course, the cycle keeps repeating itself and we keep growing the military.

Ask yourself why US taxpayers keep pouring money into such a terrible, incompetent system.

I did. So many times for so many years. As an Afghan I grew up with this question. I kept hearing this from our elders in their conversations. All of us keep thinking if we can see choosing bedfellows like Mujahedin in 80's and the later to be rebranded Taliban in 90's is akin to nourishing a viper in one's bosom. We the simpletons could see and predict any effort of nation building, establishing freedom, democracy and modern human rights is doomed to fail if your partners are the most corrupt murderous warlords Afghanistan had to offer. How could Pentagon, CIA and all the think tanks with their thousands of smart annalists and experts keep missing this? Year after year. For almost half a decade. So brother you're asking the right question, the only question that matters IMO.

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

#156

Post by natmaka »

NonContro wrote: post #98
yalogin wrote: post #32

What a failure of the US armed forces here. 20 damn years staying in the country with the only 2 goal - to help Afghans build an army and help defend themselves and to eradicate the Taliban. They failed miserably in both. Trillions spent and many lost lives. Why would we ever pour money into such a terrible, incompetent system? Of course, the cycle keeps repeating itself and we keep growing the military.

US forces abandoned the country 'overnight' - leaving behind all of the military equipment the Taliban would need for their reconquest: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210814-weapon-seizur... Why wasn't all this equipment repatriated or destroyed? Why were the bases just abandoned without proper transition to Afghan Control, so that in some cases they were even looted by civilians? Possible explanations: 1. E…

> 3. The US Military-Industrial Complex was happy for all this stuff to be lost, so it could be reordered

... and if some group (Talibans?) fetches it then become a foe, he will be a serious one, and therefore the Complex will sell more stuff.

4. Profit!

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

#157

Post by cnlevy »

chewz wrote: post #109
NonContro wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US forces abandoned the country 'overnight' - leaving behind all of the military equipment the Taliban would need for their reconquest: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210814-weapon-seizur... Why wasn't all this equipment repatriated or destroyed? Why were the bases just abandoned without proper transition to Afghan Control, so that in some cases they were even looted by civilians? Possible explanations: 1. E…

You are too hard on US. Afgan Army had 300 thousand soldiers trained and well equiped. If Afgans do not want to fight Taliban themselves what US can do?

No idea why they dont want to fight ? Have a look at

https://observers.france24.com/en/20200218-afghanistan-corru...

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

#158

Post by chewz »

smhost wrote: post #154
chewz wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are 6 million people in Kabul plus some elite Afgan Army. That is enough to make a no passaran moment to Taliban. Theoretically. But it seems like all Western-minded urban Afgans want to get evacuated to US, Europe, Canada rather then put up a good fight. So why the West shall fight for their freedoms?

How many more dead bodies do you want to add to your tally for your Hollywood movie moment? They don't want a civil war. How is that not obvious to you?

They do not want to fight for their freedoms so why shall we Westerners feel obliged to do the fighting for them? They can go back to Middle Ages.

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

#159

Post by MichaelZuo »

chewz wrote: post #115
croes wrote: post #74

So will the Taliban stop the opium production again?

On the contrary. Taliban increased poppy fields by 50 percent in 2020 and they are also pushing meth through their channels. Taliban budget estimated at 2 bilion dollars is supported chiefly by opium trade... https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/07/19/taliban-expanding-drug-...

Questionable story, drugs are a huge taboo for devout muslims. Hard to square with the Taliban rank and file showing strong support for their leaders.

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

#160

Post by kingofpandora »

chewz wrote: post #109
NonContro wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US forces abandoned the country 'overnight' - leaving behind all of the military equipment the Taliban would need for their reconquest: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210814-weapon-seizur... Why wasn't all this equipment repatriated or destroyed? Why were the bases just abandoned without proper transition to Afghan Control, so that in some cases they were even looted by civilians? Possible explanations: 1. E…

You are too hard on US. Afgan Army had 300 thousand soldiers trained and well equiped. If Afgans do not want to fight Taliban themselves what US can do?

They do not have 300,000 troops. It's a fiction.
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