Taliban reclaims Afghanistan

[runrussellrun]

open road....vs an airport ?

cradle, sorry, your "story" smells like fear porn. "blame Joe"

[cradleandshoot]

Maybe there are more details available, but I would be interested in knowing such things as how did this sniper know this individual was a suicide bomber? What was his degree of confidence he was correct? Where was the suicide bomber standing in proximity to American troops and other civilians, including children? If the sniper fired and missed, might he have hit an innocent person? Might his bullet have gone through the suicide bombers and then hit an innocent person?

I hope I didn't hurt your feelings?

I am by no means an expert on suicide bombers, but as understand it, they often keep their finger on the detonator so that if they are shot, the detonator is released and the bomb goes off. If that was the scenario here, shooting the guy would’ve resulted in the bomb going off anyway. In other words, shooting him wouldn’t have changed the outcome at all. Now, if the bomber was standing all alone with no one near him, maybe it would have, but that seems unlikely.

As I recall the surrounding events, this would’ve been right on the heels of the Americans blowing up a car they thought contained a suicide bomber or other terrorist, but it turned out it was a civilian family. Maybe there was a reluctance to possibly once again commit a fatal mistake.

+1 common sense questions.

If you read the marine sergeant snipers own recollection of that day your common sense questions are answered. He did not happen on the suicide bombers they were being tracked and all of their movements were known. This brave marine lost a leg and an arm and was horribly injured by all the ball bearings imbedded in his body. I believe MD that this Marine has skin in the game. Not even YOU can question the validity of this marines " OPINION" that won't stop you from trying though. Your common sense answers are right in front of your face. Bottom line MD, he asked for permission to take the shot . His request was declined. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6. Your dead ass wrong and your too arrogant to admit it. My new moniker for you is now FONZI...your both NEVER wrong...

[MDlaxfan76]

Maybe there are more details available, but I would be interested in knowing such things as how did this sniper know this individual was a suicide bomber? What was his degree of confidence he was correct? Where was the suicide bomber standing in proximity to American troops and other civilians, including children? If the sniper fired and missed, might he have hit an innocent person? Might his bullet have gone through the suicide bombers and then hit an innocent person?

I hope I didn't hurt your feelings?

I am by no means an expert on suicide bombers, but as understand it, they often keep their finger on the detonator so that if they are shot, the detonator is released and the bomb goes off. If that was the scenario here, shooting the guy would’ve resulted in the bomb going off anyway. In other words, shooting him wouldn’t have changed the outcome at all. Now, if the bomber was standing all alone with no one near him, maybe it would have, but that seems unlikely.

As I recall the surrounding events, this would’ve been right on the heels of the Americans blowing up a car they thought contained a suicide bomber or other terrorist, but it turned out it was a civilian family. Maybe there was a reluctance to possibly once again commit a fatal mistake.

+1 common sense questions.

If you read the marine sergeant snipers own recollection of that day your common sense questions are answered. He did not happen on the suicide bombers they were being tracked and all of their movements were known. This brave marine lost a leg and an arm and was horribly injured by all the ball bearings imbedded in his body. I believe MD that this Marine has skin in the game. Not even YOU can question the validity of this marines " OPINION" that won't stop you from trying though. Your common sense answers are right in front of your face. Bottom line MD, he asked for permission to take the shot . His request was declined. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6. Your dead ass wrong and your too arrogant to admit it. My new moniker for you is now FONZI...your both NEVER wrong...

simple, common sense questions...I don't have the answers, but You obviously think you do.

[Brooklyn]

Funny how the far right continues to live under the delusion that Biden "effed" up the withdrawal when he had, in fact, adhere to tRump's withdrawal plan. Whether anyone likes to believe it or not, he did precisely what tRump would have done. Of course, had Donnie Dimwit been in the White Wash House and done it, he would have been called a hero by the far right delusionals.

Actually Donald would have been even more haphazard. He sided with the Taliban and drew down as fast as possible.

Frankly, so did I. After all, the Taliban had the majority of Agfhanis on their side. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, has a right to invade a country, impose a corrupt puppet regime, and then expect the people to knuckle under to such Quisling traitors. Every body knows fully well that the puppet regime was favored only in the cities, not in the rural areas where the majority live. Bush's imperialist invasion was no more benign that Hitler's march into Poland or Russia. The traitor needs to be held accountable for his crimes against those innocent people and to pay reparations as well.

[cradleandshoot]

Maybe there are more details available, but I would be interested in knowing such things as how did this sniper know this individual was a suicide bomber? What was his degree of confidence he was correct? Where was the suicide bomber standing in proximity to American troops and other civilians, including children? If the sniper fired and missed, might he have hit an innocent person? Might his bullet have gone through the suicide bombers and then hit an innocent person?

I hope I didn't hurt your feelings?

I am by no means an expert on suicide bombers, but as understand it, they often keep their finger on the detonator so that if they are shot, the detonator is released and the bomb goes off. If that was the scenario here, shooting the guy would’ve resulted in the bomb going off anyway. In other words, shooting him wouldn’t have changed the outcome at all. Now, if the bomber was standing all alone with no one near him, maybe it would have, but that seems unlikely.

As I recall the surrounding events, this would’ve been right on the heels of the Americans blowing up a car they thought contained a suicide bomber or other terrorist, but it turned out it was a civilian family. Maybe there was a reluctance to possibly once again commit a fatal mistake.

+1 common sense questions.

If you read the marine sergeant snipers own recollection of that day your common sense questions are answered. He did not happen on the suicide bombers they were being tracked and all of their movements were known. This brave marine lost a leg and an arm and was horribly injured by all the ball bearings imbedded in his body. I believe MD that this Marine has skin in the game. Not even YOU can question the validity of this marines " OPINION" that won't stop you from trying though. Your common sense answers are right in front of your face. Bottom line MD, he asked for permission to take the shot . His request was declined. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6. Your dead ass wrong and your too arrogant to admit it. My new moniker for you is now FONZI...your both NEVER wrong...

simple, common sense questions...I don't have the answers, but You obviously think you do.

I am very aware of the concept of what a strategic withdrawal is all about. Rule # 1 is never let the other side know what your doing until you've done it. Do you understand why that is so important?? Every swinging dick in Afghanistan knew what we were doing, how we were going to do it, when we were going to do it and how we were going to do. That is not me having any answers MD, I'm just pointing out the stupidity involved in the decision making process. We had to pretty much beg the Taliban to not bother us while we bugged out. I even have an example that you might possibly understand. When the British 1st Airborne failed in their mission to capture Arnhem they were surrounded and beaten. They conducted a brilliant strategic withdrawal by using a number of wounded to convince a superior force they were still aggressively defending. You do notice they never told the German army what they were doing, when they were going to do it, how they were going to do it and most importantly WHEN they were going to do. If there had actually been a plan in place MD, which our leaders had months to put into place, this withdrawal could have happened on our terms. Instead our leaders rushed blindly to reach a designated withdrawal date. Washington allowed the Taliban to dictate the terms of our leaving and we could not even turn tail and leave with any dignity and respect. All of that sailed right over your head. . I know you don't have any answers, I know you are not even concerned about asking any questions.

I suggest you read the brilliant Cornelius Ryan book " A Bridge Too Far" Even a guy like you who instinctively knows everything needs to understand the concept of what a strategic withdrawal is all about. You apparently have no clue. Your confused about what a strategic withdrawal looks like. You think it resembles the cluster fudge that took place in front of your own eyes. I'm certain that not too far down the road some of our military leaders that served in Afghanistan ,( after they retire) will have answers to those questions that I'm sure you will do your best to spin and ignore. Because that is how you roll.

[MDlaxfan76]

Another screed claiming you could have done so much better. No nuance.

Obviously things went wrong. That’s a reality in war.

We can second guess out the Ying Yang. And I’m all for post action analysis, but playing politics is just dumb.

[Brooklyn]

Obviously things went wrong. That’s a reality in war.

“God has promised us victory, and Bush has promised us defeat. We'll see which promise is more truthful,” Mullah Omar. Thus spaketh Allah.

[cradleandshoot]

Another screed claiming you could have done so much better. No nuance.

Obviously things went wrong. That’s a reality in war.

We can second guess out the Ying Yang. And I’m all for post action analysis, but playing politics is just dumb.

This wasn't an active combat situation. This was the US government allowing the Taliban to dictate the terms of retreat and surrender. I made a valiant attempt to enlighten you what a tactical withdrawal means. I might as well have been talking to the wall. The wall would understand my point. Carry on sir with your blissful ignorance, it fits you very well. There is no second guessing that should be needed. A tactical withdrawal is not rocket science MD. Step # 1 involves having a plan in place. Step # 2 is keeping that plan under your hat until you have to execute it. I'm going insert my own opinion here and say your plan need not be broadcast to the bad guys. Announcing that we will leave by such and such a day at such and such a time is not necessary. All that needs to be said is we will leave sooner rather than later at a time and place that provides the greatest security for military family. This cluster fudge bug out is right up there in the league of Dunkirk. The exception was the bad guys were too busy laughing at having humiliated the US that taking potshots at our people was not necessary.

[MDlaxfan76]

Another screed claiming you could have done so much better. No nuance.

Obviously things went wrong. That’s a reality in war.

We can second guess out the Ying Yang. And I’m all for post action analysis, but playing politics is just dumb.

This wasn't an active combat situation. This was the US government allowing the Taliban to dictate the terms of retreat and surrender. I made a valiant attempt to enlighten you what a tactical withdrawal means. I might as well have been talking to the wall. The wall would understand my point. Carry on sir with your blissful ignorance, it fits you very well. There is no second guessing that should be needed. A tactical withdrawal is not rocket science MD. Step # 1 involves having a plan in place. Step # 2 is keeping that plan under your hat until you have to execute it. I'm going insert my own opinion here and say your plan need not be broadcast to the bad guys. Announcing that we will leave by such and such a day at such and such a time is not necessary. All that needs to be said is we will leave sooner rather than later at a time and place that provides the greatest security for military family. This cluster fudge bug out is right up there in the league of Dunkirk. The exception was the bad guys were too busy laughing at having humiliated the US that taking potshots at our people was not necessary.

Yup, you know so much better than all those in the Pentagon tasked with the withdrawal.

I simply don't have your arrogance.

I guess they should have not told those American contractors and NGO's that they needed to leave by a particular date as there wouldn't be second chances, shouldn't have told the Afghan gov't and military and translators they were leaving...and certainly Trump shouldn't have told the Taliban they were leaving by a specific date...

Nope, they shouldn't have ...left...gotta stay in order to keep it 'strategic'....

As to "war", I'd remind you of the number of casualties in simple training, movement of troops exercises...happens frequently, including on American soil. Roughly a thousand deaths per year. And that's without a hostile force eager to create chaos.

[Typical Lax Dad]

Another screed claiming you could have done so much better. No nuance.

Obviously things went wrong. That’s a reality in war.

We can second guess out the Ying Yang. And I’m all for post action analysis, but playing politics is just dumb.

This wasn't an active combat situation. This was the US government allowing the Taliban to dictate the terms of retreat and surrender. I made a valiant attempt to enlighten you what a tactical withdrawal means. I might as well have been talking to the wall. The wall would understand my point. Carry on sir with your blissful ignorance, it fits you very well. There is no second guessing that should be needed. A tactical withdrawal is not rocket science MD. Step # 1 involves having a plan in place. Step # 2 is keeping that plan under your hat until you have to execute it. I'm going insert my own opinion here and say your plan need not be broadcast to the bad guys. Announcing that we will leave by such and such a day at such and such a time is not necessary. All that needs to be said is we will leave sooner rather than later at a time and place that provides the greatest security for military family. This cluster fudge bug out is right up there in the league of Dunkirk. The exception was the bad guys were too busy laughing at having humiliated the US that taking potshots at our people was not necessary.

[Typical Lax Dad]

Old news:

The US–Taliban deal also dealt with the withdrawal from Afghanistan of "all military forces of the United States, its allies, and Coalition partners, including all non-diplomatic civilian personnel, private security contractors, trainers, advisors, and supporting services personnel". The Trump administration agreed to an initial reduction of US troops in Afghanistan from 13,000 to 8,600 within 135 days (i.e., by July 2020), followed by a full withdrawal within 14 months (i.e., by 1 May 2021), if the Taliban kept its commitments.[53] NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg pledged to bring down NATO's numbers to about 12,000 from roughly 16,000 troops.[15] The United States also committed to closing five military bases within 135 days.[12] On March 10, 2020, the US started withdrawing some soldiers.[22]

On July 1, 2020, the US House Armed Services Committee overwhelmingly voted in favor of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to restrict President Trump's ability to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan below the 8,600 that had been acted on.[54][55]

On 20 January 2021, at the inauguration of Joe Biden, there were 2,500 US soldiers still in Afghanistan. Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said that the administration would review the withdrawal agreement.[56] On 14 April 2021, the Biden administration said the US would not withdraw the remaining soldiers by 1 May, but would withdraw them by 11 September.[57][58] On 8 July, Biden specified a US withdrawal date of 31 August.[59]

Other Western forces set their own withdrawal timetables. Germany and Italy withdrew their troops from Afghanistan on 2 July 2021.[60] Australia completed its withdrawal on 15 July.[61] The final British flight was on 28 August.[62]

Throughout August 2021, the Taliban rapidly took control of the country by force. The remaining US soldiers were withdrawn by August 30, 2021.[63]

[Brooklyn]

Funny how the right wing hates government intervention in their lives but happily applaud government intervention overseas. Contrary to their hate filled prejudices and delusionalism, the Taliban victory is a win for the vast majority of the people in that country. This is self determination (a professed ideal of the right wing) in full force. On that basis, the delusionals of the far right should be applauding the win for those patriotic Talibanis and their disciples.

Oh by the way, why haven't the right wingers demanded that terrorist Bush pay reparations for the all the harm he and his allies created?

[cradleandshoot]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/un ... 04d0&ei=28

And if you leave those billions of dollars in weapons behind i promise you someday they will be used against your grandchildren and mine. Too bad Joe didn't take his own advice from way back in 2007. :roll

Joe Biden through his own admission understood leaving Afghanistan would take time and strategic planning. He ignored his own 2007 advise and let it turn into a cluster f**k.

[Brooklyn]

Many view the war in Afghanistan and its key goals as unsuccessful
Two-thirds say the American war in Afghanistan was not worth fighting, and most say the U.S. was unsuccessful in our foreign policy goals in Afghanistan.


https://apnorc.org/projects/many-view-t ... uccessful/


More adults view Afghanistan as an adversary than an ally, and two-thirds say the American war in Afghanistan was not worth fighting, according to a new Pearson Institute/AP-NORC Poll.

While 46% of adults believe the U.S. was successful in apprehending or eliminating those responsible for the 9/11 attacks during the war, less than a quarter say the U.S. was successful in its mission to develop a functioning government or improve opportunities for women in Afghanistan.

Regarding current foreign policy goals in Afghanistan, majorities say it is at least somewhat important to eliminate the threat of Islamic extremists taking shelter (77%) and advance the rights of women and girls (74%). Majorities of adults report hearing at least some news about recent events in Afghanistan such as the 2021 U.S. troop withdrawal (68%) and the Taliban restricting the rights of Afghan women (64%).

When it comes to the broader U.S. role in international affairs, there is no public consensus on the right approach as 24% say the U.S. should be more active, 42% say its current role is about right, and 33% say it should be less active. Those who say the U.S. should take a more active role in solving the world’s problems are more likely to rate U.S. foreign policy goals in Afghanistan as important.

Adults who view the war in Afghanistan as worthwhile are more likely to feel the U.S. successfully achieved key policy objectives during the war and to say foreign policy goals in Afghanistan are important.

The nationwide poll was conducted by the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research from September 21 to 25, 2023, using AmeriSpeak®, the probability-based panel of NORC at the University of Chicago. Online and telephone interviews using landlines and cell phones were conducted with 1,191 adults. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.8 percentage points.




Contrary to the mythic beliefs and delusionalism of so many on this forum, more war does not serve to benefit society or the rest of the world. Only those who own stock in the military industrial complex celebrate the continuation and spreading of more war. No doubt that this is the reason why they are clamoring for more war.

[youthathletics]

BIO Below of man being interviewed. I am about 45 minutes in, interesting conversations about all things ME, Taliban, their ultiate goal, connections of Taliban in the US....of note the DOHA Agreement and its terms discussed and how it played out.



"Legend" is a former US Army Intel NCO and key member of Vets4NRF (National Resistance Front of Afghanistan). Legend joined the US Army at age seventeen and served on multiple deployments to the Middle East under the Department of of Defense during the Global War on Terror. He now supports the NRF, the last resistance against Taliban rule in the region.

Legend is risking his anonymity to bring information to light for the American people. Much in line with recently surfaced news reports, he provides an alternate account of the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. Most frighteningly, he reveals that the United States is sending over forty million taxpayer dollars, per week, directly to the Taliban regime. Legend also shares the growing threats that Chinese alliances are building in the region.


00:00 - Introduction
04:18 - Backstory
10:00 - Afghanistan Withdraw
20:45 - DOHA Agreement
37:06 - The goal of the Taliban
49:35 - Known intel at Abbey Gate
58:18 - What happened to our weapons?
1:10:45 - China’s role & U.S. funding
1:32:04 - No freedom of speech in Afghanistan
1:36:13 - Passport department
1:56:44 - Political influence
2:09:47 - A word to Veterans

[Typical Lax Dad]