The Fall Of Kabul To The Taliban

[PrairieWind]

The

'Suicide bombers' are nothing new, but it's something I will never be able to get my head around.

They aren't all volunteers.

 

[KALI]

This poor man was forced out of the airport back to his animal shelter with the 200 animals he's been trying to evacuate. He's back to being stuck in Kabul.
I hope and pray that he's going to somehow complete his mission.

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]

'Suicide bombers' are nothing new, but it's something I will never be able to get my head around.

They welcome martyr-death because their religious beliefs are so strong, imo. Also, imo, Americans have a very hard time understanding that.

 

[MajorHoople]

So listening to this general speak, I have to question why we're doing dangerous pat down searches of Afghan nationals with the acknowledged threat that they could be blown to bits in that process, as likely happened today.

If a suicide bomber gets his bomb aboard a refugee aircraft hundreds of our citizens would die.

 

[ringbearer]

If a suicide bomber gets his bomb aboard a refugee aircraft hundreds of our citizens would die.

I understand. I'm suggesting they get the Americans out instead. The way this withdrawal has been botched, sadly, imo, there's no good solution that protects our own citizens AND Afghan nationals.

 

[MajorHoople]

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?

And the Taliban has probably been sharing that same information with ISIS.

 

[JustReading01]

This is today, from 7 am:

"Multiple sources, including on the ground in Kabul, confirmed to Military Times that troops are welding shut the airport gates in response to the attacks."

Link here.

 

[shotgun09]

On August 18th, POTUS Joe Biden went on TV, in an interview with ABC's George Stephanopolous for GMA, and literally knocked on wood, claiming " No one's being killed right now", while discussing the situation in Afghanistan. Our troops lives, and American citizens lives are in his hands.....and he knocked on wood.
We now have learned that Biden's Military leaders were giving Intel to the taliban..
There isn't much he can read from a teleprompter today, that will convince me that we are safe.

 

[CrimeAway]

Live updates from Sky News (website and YouTube link)

Afghanistan bombing live updates: 60 Afghans and 12 US troops killed - as ISIS says it carried out attack

 

[ringbearer]

When it starts out "tough day" -- sorry, Joe, I can't even listen to the rest.

eta: to be clear, I'm talking about the press briefing going on right now. grrr

 

[MajorHoople]

I just saw the terrible news. I am so sad. I am so angry. And I need to come back later. I don't want to say something I shouldn't say. Have to calm down. RIP Heroes! You will never be forgotten!

I understand how you feel. Because I launched this thread I felt the obligation to keep partisan politics out of my own comments.

 

[CrimeAway]

 

[jennieohhh]

@PaulSzoldra

Source tells me explosions now happening at HKIA are controlled demolitions. They are destroying equipment

Wow. A little late.

 

[dotr]

 

[ringbearer]

Bret Baier
@BretBaier
·
1h

According to DOD data— today is THE deadliest (hostile) day for US troops since an August 5, 2011 helicopter attack — making this day THE deadliest attack in more than a decade.

 

[jennieohhh]

This is a crisis of EPIC proportions.
Pre-approved questions being asked

 

[PrairieWind]

This is a crisis of EPIC proportions.
Pre-approved questions being asked

I am speechless about this. How is it even possible that journalists are playing along with this anymore.

 

[SuziQ]

Watching Biden now and can't believe he said that the US will reciprocate at a time and place of our choosing; that's almost word for word what George W. Bush said right after 9/11. We need a new plan, a real plan, not just soaring rhetoric.
I do feel for Biden that he lost a wife, a daughter and a son (the good one). But other Americans have lost their children today when they were on the doorstep to the exit. Never should this have been so f*****d up.

And he can't get it through his head that it is not that he pulled out. It is how he did it. Notice when he has no answer to a question he goes back to that. Or brings up Beau. Another way to deflect and change the subject.

 

[sds71]

The Times reached out to those whose details were left at the embassy. Some had been evacuated to the UK, others had been left behind. Details were handed over to Foreign Office staff and rescues co-ordinated. But fate of at least two job applicants remains unknown..
Speed of capture of Kabul meant evacuation protocols for shredding and destruction of data that "could compromise local Afghan staff" and families "appears to have broken down."

British embassy left details of Afghan staff for Taliban to find | News | The Times

 

[Arkay]

For someone who has been in politics for 40 years, I think Biden should be more aware of the optics. When he felt frustrated with a reporter he put his head down on the lectern for long enough that 1000 pictures were probably snapped. It was a very defeatist looking posture and will play well with our enemies.