The Fall Of Kabul To The Taliban

[CrimeAway]

PBS YouTube link to military briefing

 

[dotr]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/afghanistan-kabul-airport-terrorist-attacks-1.6153844

''Multiple victims were taken to hospital in Kabul after at least two explosions near the airport. People had been urged to avoid the area earlier in the day due to bombing threats as the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan continues. 1:12
One of the bombers struck people standing knee-deep in a waste-water canal under the sweltering sun, hurling bodies into the fetid water. Those who moments earlier had hoped to get on flights out could be seen carrying the wounded to ambulances in a daze, their own clothes darkened with blood.''

 

[Dontknow?]

AFP News Agency
@AFP
·
3m

#BREAKING US determined to retaliate against Islamic State for Kabul airport bombing: Pentagon general

 

[Simply Southern]

My son has three friends at the airport. He does not know their status. He says so far 13 dead Marines 20 injured 10 seriously

I'm so sorry. I'm praying for our troops. My heart hurts for every mother, father, sister, brother, wife and child of our military troops.

Moo

 

[Dontknow?]

Live

The reporter just said ISIS has claimed that they did the bombings.

 

[Simply Southern]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on the Attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport

On behalf of the men and women of the Department of Defense, I express my deepest condolences to the loved ones and teammates of all those killed and wounded in Kabul today.

Terrorists took their lives at the very moment these troops were trying to save the lives of others.

We mourn their loss. We will treat their wounds. And we will support their families in what will most assuredly be devastating grief.

But we will not be dissuaded from the task at hand.

To do anything less -- especially now -- would dishonor the purpose and sacrifice these men and women have rendered our country and the people of Afghanistan.

Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on the Attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport > U.S. Department of Defense > Release

No promise of military assistance. How are they to carry out the "task"? Clearly everyone at the Kabul airport is a sitting duck, the wall is breached.

I pray our troops are not abandoned. Please, not another Saigon.

My heart breaks.
MOO....

 

[Skigh]

Sky News reporter accuses UK military of covering up Kabul chaos as he is ejected on 'MoD orders' | Daily Mail Online

Sky News' Stuart Ramsay has recounted how his team was 'ejected' from Kabul, claiming the move was made 'on MoD or Whitehall orders' to prevent filming of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The outlet's chief correspondent had been reporting on the desperate attempts of thousands to flee the country after the Taliban took control of the capital on August 15.

In an article for Sky News, written before the evacuation area was hit by two explosions on Thursday, Ramsay recalled being 'kicked out' of a British evacuation base.

'The operational commanders wanted us to stay to the very end and leave with them, but the orders to remove us came from the MoD or from Whitehall, or both,' Ramsay wrote.

'We had fought to stay for days but ultimately we found ourselves on a military base and we were being ejected - there is nothing you can do.

'It was all conducted in a cordial manner, but we WERE kicked out.

 

[shotgun09]

I noticed that in this last Pentagon press briefing that they too are now going with pre-screened questions. The reporters were called on first by name, and then they read their questions . Is that on purpose, i wonder? Is there something they are uncomfortable with being asked?

 

[ringbearer]

Very weird that Biden hasn't spoken yet, no? It's been several hours.

 

[PrairieWind]

No promise of military assistance. How are they to carry out the "task"? Clearly everyone at the Kabul airport is a sitting duck, the wall is breached.

I pray our troops are not abandoned. Please, not another Saigon.

My heart breaks.
MOO....

This is already so much worse than Saigon it is pathetic.

 

[Simply Southern]

I noticed that in this last Pentagon press briefing that they too are now going with pre-screened questions. The reporters were called on first by name, and then they read their questions . Is that on purpose, i wonder? Is there something they are uncomfortable with being asked?

Control the message. Moo...

This is an extremely volatile situation. I am certainly not an authority in military warfare, but it seems to me, there are two only choices. Stay and defend to the end or pack up and get out.

If we stay, support must come quickly. If we go, it must be swift.

Moo....

 

[ringbearer]

Mona Salama
@MonaSalama_
·
33s

Update WH press briefing President Biden will deliver remarks on the #KabulAirport terror attack at 5pm WH Press Briefing to follow after at 5:45pm

 

[Rosegold68]

what would happen if a dog rumbled a suicide bomber though? surely he would just ignite then and there...thus having the same result of murdered civilians and troops....as well as the talented dog

 

[Gardenista]

U.S. officials provided Taliban with names of Americans, Afghan allies to evacuate

“Basically, they just put all those Afghans on a kill list,” said one defense official, who like others spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. “It’s just appalling and shocking and makes you feel unclean.”

 

[shotgun09]

Per Lucas Tomlinson, Fox News:

"U.S. general says since Aug. 14 the U.S. military has been sharing “information with the Taliban,” to prevent attacks."

https://twitter.com/LucasFoxNews/status/1430972389370761219

I heard the same thing, and wasn't sure I heard it correctly! What in the World?
What exactly were they sharing?

 

[Trident]

This WHOLE thing smells bad, from sneaking out of Bagram, leaving billions in weaponry, corralling everyone at the airport, trusting the Taliban with our security.

I don't like the way my thoughts are going.

 

[Simply Southern]

US vows evacuation flights WILL continue after ISIS attack in Kabul | Daily Mail Online

The US is vowing to continue its Afghanistan evacuation mission despite ISIS suicide bombers killing 12 troops on Thursday, and despite there being 'active' threats of further attacks.

Two suicide attacks at Kabul airport on Thursday killed 11 Marines and one Navy medic. The first bomber was wearing a vest and was being searched by troops when he detonated. The second was a car bomb attack.

snipped...
He said the dangerous evacuation effort would continue despite the growing threat from ISIS.

'We expect these attacks to continue,' General McKenzie said, claiming troops would either tell Americans to stay at home or get to the airport if it is safe.

 

[CrimeAway]

Update from Nowzad's Pen Farthing on his experience of being at the airport perimeter in the aftermath of the blast.
He was away from the actual blast site, but he describes the chaos afterwards.

'I've had an AK poked in my face'

 

[ringbearer]

U.S. officials provided Taliban with names of Americans, Afghan allies to evacuate

“Basically, they just put all those Afghans on a kill list,” said one defense official, who like others spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. “It’s just appalling and shocking and makes you feel unclean.”

The caption under the picture at the link, from the AP

"The decision to provide specific names to the Taliban, which has a history of brutally murdering Afghans who collaborated with the U.S. and other coalition forces during the conflict, has angered lawmakers and military officials. | Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen/U.S. Air Force via AP"

 

[CrimeAway]

Per Lucas Tomlinson, Fox News:

"U.S. general says since Aug. 14 the U.S. military has been sharing “information with the Taliban,” to prevent attacks."

https://twitter.com/LucasFoxNews/status/1430972389370761219

I heard the same thing, and wasn't sure I heard it correctly! What in the World?
What exactly were they sharing?

My understanding from the press briefing, was that the US was sharing BOLO type information with the Taliban who were manning the outer perimeter. Obviously, the further back threats are stopped, the better.

War makes for strange bedfellows. JMO.