The Fall Of Kabul To The Taliban

[NoSI]

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.

I am with you 100% @Trident! Honestly, I cannot comprehend what is happening... It has to be a nightmare... but it isn't, because we are all here tonight on this WS thread discussing it. You put it perfectly. I was thinking the same, but couldn't figure out how to put it in words. This is all too unbelievable, but truth is stranger than fiction tonight.

 

[mickey2942]

I think that we need to be vigilant in the next few weeks, especially 9/11. Worried about this...

 

[CocoChanel]

MOD NOTE

This thread is for the purpose of discussing the situation in Kabul.
It is not intended to be a forum for political commentary, which is a violation of TOS. This is admittedly a delicate tightrope to walk, and it has been determined to allow this thread only if the politicizing is kept out. The same approach was taken in the CoVid threads. Websleuths is not the place to debate political philosophies or beliefs. Neither the CoVid threads nor THIS one regarding the fall of Kabul is in the realm of true crime. Those topics would typically out of the scope of our mission. However, Websleuths wants to provide a place to come for members to find the latest information about the subject on the title of this thread. Political news, opinions, arguments, and debates should NOT be brought here because there is no way we could ever hope to resolve those differences on this site.

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Faithfully,
CocoChannel

 

[CrimeAway]

What a windfall, I bet the Taliban can't believe the US gave them an entire full equipment air force base with runways, uniforms, Black Hawks, weapons.... A turn key military base.

We gave them a list of US citizens and Afghans attempting to evacuate, now at high risk for death or hostage situation.

Pretty nice set up for a terrorist. Bet they are laughing their a$$ off at the US right now.

Sad, what has happened and this will cost the US dearly. I am physically ill for what has happen to our troops.

JMHO...

What to do though?

If the US/NATO removed or destroyed everything, where would that have left the Afghan army? Even more unable to defend against the Taliban? As it was, that may seem like a mute point.

Apparently, the ANA, were suffering a multitude of issues, including corruption, lack of cohesion, loss of morale, pay and food shortages, from top to bottom (JMO).

Should the US have stayed until the ANA was ready and able to take control?

It's a mess, and I feel for all the Afghans who just want a decent life, and for all those US and coalition troops, who have just tried to do their jobs, and make a positive difference in the world.

 

[SuziQ]

Would that be a Camp Lejeune?

Jacksonville remembering Marines, corpsman killed in Kabul

Jacksonville is reacting to the deaths of a dozen Marines and a Navy corpsman this morning at the airport in Kabul.

City officials late this afternoon are placing a wreath at the Freedom Fountain in downtown Jacksonville in honor of their memory.

“Even though we are not sure yet if these marines that were involved were from our base in Camp Lejeune, we are still saddened and this is the least we can do at this time to honor their passing and memorialize their duty to their country.”

Mayor Sammy Phillips, Jacksonville
The Pentagon has not said what military units those killed and injured are assigned to, but elements of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit have been assisting with the evacuation at the airport. That MEU is made up of 2100 Marines and Sailors fro

Would that be a Camp Lejeune?

Jacksonville remembering Marines, corpsman killed in Kabul

Jacksonville is reacting to the deaths of a dozen Marines and a Navy corpsman this morning at the airport in Kabul.

City officials late this afternoon are placing a wreath at the Freedom Fountain in downtown Jacksonville in honor of their memory.

“Even though we are not sure yet if these marines that were involved were from our base in Camp Lejeune, we are still saddened and this is the least we can do at this time to honor their passing and memorialize their duty to their country.”

Mayor Sammy Phillips, Jacksonville
The Pentagon has not said what military units those killed and injured are assigned to, but elements of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit have been assisting with the evacuation at the airport. That MEU is made up of 2100 Marines and Sailors from Camp Lejeune, New River, and Cherry Point.

m Camp Lejeune, New River, and Cherry Point.

Different unit. And Corpmen are Navy assigned to all different USMC platoons.

 

[SuziQ]

BTW. Marines love their Corpmen. And so do Marine families. Corpmen save our sons lives.

Rest easy Corpman and Marines. Heaven has 13 more heroes guarding the gates tonight.

 

[otto]

It seems that a list of USA citizens, Green Card holders and translators who helped foreign military has been provided by the USA military to the Taliban. The Taliban said they preferred that Afghan professionals remained behind to rebuild the country, but foreigners could leave.

Did the Taliban ask for a list of names, agree that they could leave, and then make it impossible for them to get to the airport ... before blowing up a populated USA manned entrance?

"The White House contends that limited information sharing with the Taliban is saving lives; critics argue it's putting Afghan allies in harm's way.
...

U.S. officials in Kabul gave the Taliban a list of names of American citizens, green card holders and Afghan allies to grant entry into the militant-controlled outer perimeter of the city’s airport, a choice that's prompted outrage behind the scenes from lawmakers and military officials."​

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

 

[otto]

He's in a very difficult position

"Biden, 78, looked lost for words after being asked if he bore responsibility for an ISIS-K suicide attack at Kabul Airport on Thursday that killed 13 US service personnel, before bowing his head and clutching a file tightly around his hands.

He did so moments after raising eyebrows by revealing he had been given a list of pre-approved journalists to call on, saying: 'Ladies and gentlemen, they gave me a list here. The first person I was instructed to call on was Kelly O'Donnell from NBC.' "​

Joe Biden has tense back-and-forth with 'most interesting guy' Steve Doocy of Fox News | Daily Mail Online

 

[shotgun09]

It seems that a list of USA citizens, Green Card holders and translators who helped foreign military has been provided by the USA military to the Taliban. The Taliban said they preferred that Afghan professionals remained behind to rebuild the country, but foreigners could leave.

Did the Taliban ask for a list of names, agree that they could leave, and then make it impossible for them to get to the airport ... before blowing up a populated USA manned entrance?

"The White House contends that limited information sharing with the Taliban is saving lives; critics argue it's putting Afghan allies in harm's way.
...

U.S. officials in Kabul gave the Taliban a list of names of American citizens, green card holders and Afghan allies to grant entry into the militant-controlled outer perimeter of the city’s airport, a choice that's prompted outrage behind the scenes from lawmakers and military officials."​

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

I am still letting that crazy fact roll around through my head! We GAVE the taliban our intelligence and information? Isn't that aiding and abetting the enemy? The taliban was our enemy, correct?

 

[otto]

I am still letting that crazy fact roll around through my head! We GAVE the taliban our intelligence and information? Isn't that aiding and abetting the enemy? The taliban was our enemy, correct?

It's looks like a capitulation around the world. Weaponry left behind, getting blown up at the gates as they were running. We don't know what could happen next, but everyone is worried.

 

[otto]

This goes well beyond the USA, and it's not a good narrative.

" Russia, China, the United States and Pakistan are interested in serving as mediators in resolving the crisis in Afghanistan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"We remain committed to the task of establishing peace and stability on Afghanistan's territory so that it poses no threats to the region," Lavrov said.

Lavrov also said Russia opposed the idea of allowing Afghan refugees enter Central Asia, the former Soviet region that lies between Russia and Afghanistan, or having U.S. troops there.

"If you think that any country in Central Asia or elsewhere is interested in becoming a target so that the Americans could fulfil their initiatives, I really doubt anyone needs that," he told a briefing during a visit to Hungary."
​

Reuters:

Russia says it and others ready to mediate in Afghanistan​

 

[book-thinker]

This is sickening how the withdrawal from Afghanistan was handled.
The United States administration and the military advisors should have evacuated the Americans including all Afghans who worked alongside the US military. This before the removal of all US troops from Afghanistan soil.
The military equipment should have been either removed from Afghan soil or complete destroyed.
Now it’s in the Talibans hands!

I heart goes out to the families of the twelve United States Marines and one Navy corpsman killed today in Afghanistan.

 

[otto]

This is sickening how the withdrawal from Afghanistan was handled.
The United States administration and the military advisors should have evacuated the Americans including all Afghans who worked alongside the US military. This before the removal of all US troops from Afghanistan soil.
The military equipment should have been either removed from Afghan soil or complete destroyed.
Now it’s in the Talibans hands!

I heart goes out to the families of the twelve United States Marines and one Navy corpsman killed today in Afghanistan.

Dumbfounded.

Handing over that level of military equipment to a small hostile country in the Middle East is bewildering, but it happened. It's a fact. Planes that have been evacuating people from Afghanistan have had to deploy anti-missile flairs during take off to avoid explosion from their own weapons. It's unbelievable. Everyone is curious about what happens next.

Will women be allowed to be Judges, journalists and news reporters in the new Afghanistan? I feel most sorry for those who were born in the last 20 years and who hoped for a different life.

 

[LietKynes]

Very disappointed about the needless loss of life in Afghanistan.
This was completely preventable.
Rest in peace to the U.S. servicemen and women and to all of the innocent nationals.

 

[LietKynes]

I'll respectfully disagree with your assessment of failure on the troops on the ground. They could not maintain a safe perimeter, nor were they given orders to do that. MOO

There's also the question of who they received their orders from, correct ?

 

[LietKynes]

I watched the POTUS give his speech live.
I just went to Youtube to rewatch it, under the U.S. Department of State

At 1:04:48 in the video
The POTUS stated after his speech, and just before taking 'questions' that ...." Ladies and Gentleman, they gave me a list here... The person I was instructed to call on is Kelly Odonnell from NBC".

I might ask, who instructed the President?
And who gave him a list? And, why was a pre-selected list approved during this time? Who approves or disproves the questions? Who is in charge?

Some good questions. ^^^
Also, would the military in Afghanistan be receiving orders ultimately from Washington, D.C. ?

 

[otto]

Maybe the Afghanistan generation that was born during the last two decades can phase out the old world ideas of culturally oppressing women as sex slaves.

 

[otto]

Some good questions. ^^^
Also, would the military in Afghanistan be receiving orders ultimately from Washington, D.C. ?

Military in Afghanistan is not receiving orders from any foreign country - not China, Russia, Pakistan or the USA.

Russia says it and others ready to mediate in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has been retaken by the Afghanis. Everyone who was trained for 20 years to be loyal to the USA is either dead or hiding. The USA handed over the names of Afghan nationals who worked as international translators. That's like a death sentence for Afghanis who were left behind. Who made the decision to betray war zone allies?

 

[Skigh]

Britain's Afghan evacuation will end 'in a matter of hours' amid fears ISIS will strike again | Daily Mail Online


The UK evacuation mission in Afghanistan will end 'in a matter of hours' and the 1,000 people already inside Kabul airport will be the last to be flown out, a British minister has revealed.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said British forces will try to 'find a few people in the crowds' that they are able to evacuate but admitted that not everyone will be flown out to safety.

The effort will now focus on evacuating UK nationals and others who have already been cleared to leave and are already at the airport.

It comes amid fears ISIS will strike again ahead of the Tuesday deadline for foreign troops to leave following the double suicide attack at Kabul airport which killed at least 108 people, including 13 American service personnel.

Mr Wallace said: 'We will process the people that we've brought with us, the 1,000 people approximately in the airfield now and we will seek a way to continue to find a few people in the crowds where we can, but overall the main processing is now closed and we have a matter of hours.'

'It is with deep regret that not everyone has been able to be evacuated during this process,' he added in a statement.

Mr Wallace said it is estimated that up to 1,100 Afghans who could be eligible for evacuation will be left behind by the UK.

He told LBC radio: 'We think down to approximately 100-150 British nationals left in the estimated pot, some of those are willingly staying.'

So far, Britain has evacuated more than 13,700 British nationals and Afghans, representing the second biggest airlift by the country's air force after the Berlin Airlift in 1949, the UK defence ministry said.

Mr Wallace later told Sky News that the attack had not sped up Britain's timetable for ending the evacuation operation. 'The explosion was horrendous, but it didn't hasten our departure,' he said, adding that the closure of a processing centre at Baron Hotel had happened on schedule.

The Defence Secretary warned that the threat of further attacks around Kabul airport will increase as Western troops get closer to leaving the country by the August 31 deadline.

'The threat is obviously going to grow the closer we get to leaving,' he said. 'The narrative is always going to be, as we leave, certain groups such as ISIS will want to stake a claim that they have driven out the U.S. or the UK.'

 

[Trident]

This morning when I awoke I felt as if I had been in a nightmare - then I realized it was true. Thirteen brave young men are dead, many more injured. Countless Afghanis are dead and injured. It was no nightmare, the horror had truly happened. I can only imagine how the loved ones of these butchered innocents must feel, there are no words.

A body must ask themselves why, dig deep, beyond the blather and lies. There is rot.

My opinion only