Taliban reclaims Afghanistan

[a fan]

You know they don't have the capability to do it without us. .

I actually don't. It's why I asked.....I barely know how to use a gun.

If all it takes is 2,500 US troops---why can't those 2,500 troops be NATO? And NATO doesn't have planes and such?

Thanks for the answer.

[old salt]

You know they don't have the capability to do it without us. .

I actually don't. It's why I asked.....I barely know how to use a gun.

If all it takes is 2,500 US troops---why can't those 2,500 troops be NATO? And NATO doesn't have planes and such?

Thanks for the answer.

That's 2,500 US troops in addition to the 7000 NATO troops continuing doing what they were doing.

[a fan]

]That's 2,500 US troops in addition to the 7000 NATO troops continuing doing what they were doing.

Ooooooh. 7,000?? I had no idea. Well that answers that, thanks.

But still----if all they need is another 2,500 guys, and some hardware...why isn't NATO doing that? They're already 70%ish of the way home, right?

[old salt]

]That's 2,500 US troops in addition to the 7000 NATO troops continuing doing what they were doing.

Ooooooh. 7,000?? I had no idea. Well that answers that, thanks.

But still----if all they need is another 2,500 guys, and some hardware...why isn't NATO doing that? They're already 70%ish of the way home, right?

It's not just the number of boots on the ground. They don't have the technical capability, air power, air lift, in flight refueling tankers, intell gathering, drones, precision munitions, etc. They augment US forces but can't replace them totally.

[old salt]

]That's 2,500 US troops in addition to the 7000 NATO troops continuing doing what they were doing.

Ooooooh. 7,000?? I had no idea. Well that answers that, thanks.

But still----if all they need is another 2,500 guys, and some hardware...why isn't NATO doing that? They're already 70%ish of the way home, right?

It's not just the number of boots on the ground. They don't have the technical capability, air power, air lift, in flight refueling tankers, intell gathering, drones, precision munitions, etc. They augment US forces but can't replace them totally.

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/2021 ... o-convince

[a fan]

]That's 2,500 US troops in addition to the 7000 NATO troops continuing doing what they were doing.

Ooooooh. 7,000?? I had no idea. Well that answers that, thanks.

But still----if all they need is another 2,500 guys, and some hardware...why isn't NATO doing that? They're already 70%ish of the way home, right?

It's not just the number of boots on the ground. They don't have the technical capability, air power, air lift, in flight refueling tankers, intell gathering, drones, precision munitions, etc. They augment US forces but can't replace them totally.

I guess my point is: maybe they should? But I guess they don't, so here we are....

Anyway, thanks for answering my questions.

[a fan]

]That's 2,500 US troops in addition to the 7000 NATO troops continuing doing what they were doing.

Ooooooh. 7,000?? I had no idea. Well that answers that, thanks.

But still----if all they need is another 2,500 guys, and some hardware...why isn't NATO doing that? They're already 70%ish of the way home, right?

It's not just the number of boots on the ground. They don't have the technical capability, air power, air lift, in flight refueling tankers, intell gathering, drones, precision munitions, etc. They augment US forces but can't replace them totally.

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/2021 ... o-convince

Well, I guess I"m not the only one asking these questions. Makes me feel bit better, thank you.

[old salt]

]That's 2,500 US troops in addition to the 7000 NATO troops continuing doing what they were doing.

Ooooooh. 7,000?? I had no idea. Well that answers that, thanks.

But still----if all they need is another 2,500 guys, and some hardware...why isn't NATO doing that? They're already 70%ish of the way home, right?

It's not just the number of boots on the ground. They don't have the technical capability, air power, air lift, in flight refueling tankers, intell gathering, drones, precision munitions, etc. They augment US forces but can't replace them totally.

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/2021 ... o-convince

Well, I guess I"m not the only one asking these questions. Makes me feel bit better, thank you.

If this prompts our NATO allies to invest more in defense, that would be a good thing. I'd like to see more NATO missions with an EU commander. The carrier strike group in W Pac right now, centered on the Brits' new aircraft carrier, with an air wing including RAF & USMC F-35s, with US & other NATO navy warships as escorts is encouraging.
https://www.stripes.com/branches/marine ... 64216.html
https://warontherocks.com/2021/08/why-i ... o-pacific/

[jhu72]

The decision to abandon Bagram will come back to bite Biden in the ass. That is the single event that proved Biden had lost control of our exit from Afghanistan.

Yep. The decision to close Bagram & reduce troop strength from 2500 down to 650, nearly 2 mos before we had to -- before we had our people & critical equipment out, was a green flag to the Taliban & a surrender flag to the ASF. It was totally unnecessary, as we subsequently demonstrated when we evacuated & retrograded 6000 troops & their equipment in 3 days, at the end of the massive civilian airlift, from just one urban airport under siege. Just imagine what we & our allied nations could have airlifted in those final days out of Bagram, Mazir-i-Sharif, Shindand, Herat & HKIA, had we planned it that way.

I think we're going to find out one of three possibilities:

1. Biden relied on military Generals who told him that the "Afghan army" we armed, trained, and bankrolled for 20 years would be able to hold these facilities for a few months with ease, or...

2. Biden overruled them all to get us out before something changed, leaving any and all F ups during his first year if office, knowing full well that come next election, all Americans will remember is that we're out of Afghanistan. In other words, it won't matter because it's off the front page a year+ before the next election. A political calculation overruling anything else. Presidents handle war like this all the time, timing their decisions around election concerns.

3. A combination of both.

My money is on #3, leaning heavily toward #2.

... welcome back.

#3 is the correct answer. You know #1 is true because the military has been selling the lie as long as we have been training the Afghan Army. They are not going to just up and admit they have been lying all along. We are out because finally a President had the balls to call the bluff.

[cradleandshoot]

Being an incompetent moron equates to having the guts? Who knew???

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-repor ... am-sources

If the Taliban needs cash they found a new love interest with lots of it.

[youthathletics]

Being an incompetent moron equates to having the guts? Who knew???

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-repor ... am-sources

If the Taliban needs cash they found a new love interest with lots of it.

This is the next phase in the new war plan, remember GWAT is shutting down and now its the GPC: viewtopic.php?f=66&t=3031

[cradleandshoot]

Being an incompetent moron equates to having the guts? Who knew???

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-repor ... am-sources

If the Taliban needs cash they found a new love interest with lots of it.

This is the next phase in the new war plan, remember GWAT is shutting down and now its the GPC: viewtopic.php?f=66&t=3031

The Chicoms sure are getting themselves a wonderful facility to help them with their foothold in the region. The Taliban will be paid handsomely for allowing the Chicoms access to a state of the art airbase. I thought this might have concerned dementia Joe. He has already put his f**k up in Afghanistan in the rear view mirror. Time to switch gears to more important stuff. Covid vax for federal employees and saving the planet. . Why did the Chicoms give the ketchup kid the cold shoulder? I'm guessing climate change is not very high on their list of priorities. I wonder if the ketchup kid cried when the Chicoms told him to pound sand? The kid gets a zoom meeting with some low level Chicom flunkie. Says everything anyone needs to know about what the Chicom thought process is.

[youthathletics]

Being an incompetent moron equates to having the guts? Who knew???

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-repor ... am-sources

If the Taliban needs cash they found a new love interest with lots of it.

This is the next phase in the new war plan, remember GWAT is shutting down and now its the GPC: viewtopic.php?f=66&t=3031

The Chicoms sure are getting themselves a wonderful facility to help them with their foothold in the region. The Taliban will be paid handsomely for allowing the Chicoms access to a state of the art airbase. I thought this might have concerned dementia Joe. He has already put his f**k up in Afghanistan in the rear view mirror. Time to switch gears to more important stuff. Covid vax for federal employees and saving the planet.

The more important and potential issue....if China snuggles up and supports the new regime in Afghanistan it benefits both sides. The Afghanis get cash and support and China can negotiate for all those precious metals on their land.....with a damned airport at their disposal. Setting up a tipping point for the GPC, with Russia trying to figure out how to pit us against each other.

[MDlaxfan76]

Hopefully this Taliban-approved evacuation flight of Americans and other allies to Quatar today will be the first of many.

Others are crossing the border into Pakistan.

Hope those other private rescue flights that have been held up are allowed in and out safely.

Meanwhile, "patriots" root for disaster...

[Brooklyn]

The Chicoms sure are getting themselves a wonderful facility to help them with their foothold in the region. The Taliban will be paid handsomely for allowing the Chicoms access to a state of the art airbase. I thought this might have concerned dementia Joe. He has already put his f**k up in Afghanistan in the rear view mirror. Time to switch gears to more important stuff. Covid vax for federal employees and saving the planet. . Why did the Chicoms give the ketchup kid the cold shoulder? I'm guessing climate change is not very high on their list of priorities. I wonder if the ketchup kid cried when the Chicoms told him to pound sand?

Laughable.

To think that Afghanistan under the ultra Orthodox Taliban is going to allow itself to be dictated to by a sectarian government that has a history of trouble with orthodoxy in its Western provinces displays unsurpassable ignorance. Pathetic, just pathetic.

[cradleandshoot]

Being an incompetent moron equates to having the guts? Who knew???

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-repor ... am-sources

If the Taliban needs cash they found a new love interest with lots of it.

This is the next phase in the new war plan, remember GWAT is shutting down and now its the GPC: viewtopic.php?f=66&t=3031

The Chicoms sure are getting themselves a wonderful facility to help them with their foothold in the region. The Taliban will be paid handsomely for allowing the Chicoms access to a state of the art airbase. I thought this might have concerned dementia Joe. He has already put his f**k up in Afghanistan in the rear view mirror. Time to switch gears to more important stuff. Covid vax for federal employees and saving the planet.

The more important and potential issue....if China snuggles up and supports the new regime in Afghanistan it benefits both sides. The Afghanis get cash and support and China can negotiate for all those precious metals on their land.....with a damned airport at their disposal. Setting up a tipping point for the GPC, with Russia trying to figure out how to pit us against each other.

Have Joe's advisors informed him of these new developments? The last we heard from Joe he was advocating Covid vax for all federal employees.

[jhu72]

Being an incompetent moron equates to having the guts? Who knew???

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-repor ... am-sources

If the Taliban needs cash they found a new love interest with lots of it.

This is the next phase in the new war plan, remember GWAT is shutting down and now its the GPC: viewtopic.php?f=66&t=3031

The Chicoms sure are getting themselves a wonderful facility to help them with their foothold in the region. The Taliban will be paid handsomely for allowing the Chicoms access to a state of the art airbase. I thought this might have concerned dementia Joe. He has already put his f**k up in Afghanistan in the rear view mirror. Time to switch gears to more important stuff. Covid vax for federal employees and saving the planet.

The more important and potential issue....if China snuggles up and supports the new regime in Afghanistan it benefits both sides. The Afghanis get cash and support and China can negotiate for all those precious metals on their land.....with a damned airport at their disposal. Setting up a tipping point for the GPC, with Russia trying to figure out how to pit us against each other.

... too much is being made of the Afghan rare earth metals. There is no infrastructure for extraction and processing. Will be expensive in an era where others are better positioned to extract from other deposits around the globe more cheaply.

[youthathletics]

Being an incompetent moron equates to having the guts? Who knew???

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-repor ... am-sources

If the Taliban needs cash they found a new love interest with lots of it.

This is the next phase in the new war plan, remember GWAT is shutting down and now its the GPC: viewtopic.php?f=66&t=3031

The Chicoms sure are getting themselves a wonderful facility to help them with their foothold in the region. The Taliban will be paid handsomely for allowing the Chicoms access to a state of the art airbase. I thought this might have concerned dementia Joe. He has already put his f**k up in Afghanistan in the rear view mirror. Time to switch gears to more important stuff. Covid vax for federal employees and saving the planet.

The more important and potential issue....if China snuggles up and supports the new regime in Afghanistan it benefits both sides. The Afghanis get cash and support and China can negotiate for all those precious metals on their land.....with a damned airport at their disposal. Setting up a tipping point for the GPC, with Russia trying to figure out how to pit us against each other.

... too much is being made of the Afghan rare earth metals. There is no infrastructure for extraction and processing. Will be expensive in an era where others are better positioned to extract from other deposits around the globe more cheaply.

Thanks Nostradamus.. . As afan likes to say.....the chinese can just wait everyone out. Much like a Lettuce inspection...btw, this is a great film.

[cradleandshoot]

Hopefully this Taliban-approved evacuation flight of Americans and other allies to Quatar today will be the first of many.

Others are crossing the border into Pakistan.

Hope those other private rescue flights that have been held up are allowed in and out safely.

Meanwhile, "patriots" root for disaster...

Nice attempt at spin. You don't have to be a patriot to understand what a disaster looks like. In case you didn't notice, which apparently you have not, the disaster already occured. The adults now have to try and clean up your girlfriend's f***up. Let's concentrate on Covid Vax for all federal employees. The clutch is engaged but you can hear the gears grinding in the Biden administration.

[cradleandshoot]

Being an incompetent moron equates to having the guts? Who knew???

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-repor ... am-sources

If the Taliban needs cash they found a new love interest with lots of it.

This is the next phase in the new war plan, remember GWAT is shutting down and now its the GPC: viewtopic.php?f=66&t=3031

The Chicoms sure are getting themselves a wonderful facility to help them with their foothold in the region. The Taliban will be paid handsomely for allowing the Chicoms access to a state of the art airbase. I thought this might have concerned dementia Joe. He has already put his f**k up in Afghanistan in the rear view mirror. Time to switch gears to more important stuff. Covid vax for federal employees and saving the planet.

The more important and potential issue....if China snuggles up and supports the new regime in Afghanistan it benefits both sides. The Afghanis get cash and support and China can negotiate for all those precious metals on their land.....with a damned airport at their disposal. Setting up a tipping point for the GPC, with Russia trying to figure out how to pit us against each other.

... too much is being made of the Afghan rare earth metals. There is no infrastructure for extraction and processing. Will be expensive in an era where others are better positioned to extract from other deposits around the globe more cheaply.

Thanks Nostradamus.. . As afan likes to say.....the chinese can just wait everyone out. Much like a Lettuce inspection...btw, this is a great film.

The Chicoms don't have to wait for much. Biden is handing them everything they could have ever dreamed for on a silver platter. A bit off topic but how much will it cost the American taxpayer to save the planet? The Chicoms dont care. They are more interested in running the planet.