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The Fall of Kabul

Started by Shiranu, August 15, 2021, 04:55:26 PM

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Shiranu


Just a few days ago the American government was telling it's people and everyone else they had within 90 days to flee the city before the Taliban arrived. I figured more accurately they had a week or two at best.

As of 3 hours ago, the Taliban have officially entered the Presidential Palace. As of an hour ago, there seem to be reports that the Taliban are beginning to lay siege to the airport, where thousands of people are fighting to board the limited number of planes. The embassy has issued a "shelter in place" to all Americans left in the city, because at this point it looks like there is no longer a way out. Absolutely no organization, just panicked Americans fleeing for their lives. If the Taliban can get heavy ordinance there... that is it.

Saad Mohseni on Twitter: "Another Saigon moment: chaotic scenes at Kabul International Airport. No security. None. https://t.co/6BuXqBTHWk" / Twitter

Anthea on Twitter: "Absolute madness as people try to flee to the remaining couple of aircraft leaving Kabul International Airport. https://t.co/BK76LUyMdo" / Twitter




As for people who had actually bought airline tickets... they were kicked out by the American forces that did make it there and told to move way for our people trying to flee. Now they are on roads blockaded by the Taliban with nowhere to go.

Aisha Ahmad on Twitter: "I could hardly managed to get out of the airport now! Gunshots along the road! #KabulHasFallen #Kabulfall #Kabul #Afghanistan Lost my hope! Back to hell😢😭😥 https://t.co/W0b2IniR52" / Twitter

Doge on Twitter: "Video of #Afghan's rushing to Hamid Karzai Int'l Airport in #Kabul in attempts to flee. Gunfire can be heard clearly in the background. https://t.co/g3CZ4P8TCb" / Twitter

Aisha Ahmad on Twitter: "Caught by a crossfire. #Kabul now #KabulHasFallen #Afghanistan Thanks for your help, cannot get help but now late! Buried my hope with this darkness.😢😥😭 https://t.co/PZq4Ci6VUn" / Twitter





This will go down not just as Biden's biggest failure but also one of the worst failures in American military history, rivaling the defeats in Vietnam and Korea.


And maybe I just don't know anything... but why the fuck were the military pulled out before the civilians? If anyone can explain how that is remotely a logical choice, for the love of god explain it to me like I'm an idiot.
"A little science distances you from God, but a lot of science brings you nearer to Him." - Louis Pasteur

Shiranu

To give Biden some credit, Trump had pulled out most of the troops and at the same time had released 5,000 Taliban prisoners back into Afghanistan. If I believed Trump had the brains for it, I would almost wager he set this entire thing up to fail on Biden's watch.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51689443

QuoteThe deal also provides for a prisoner swap. Some 5,000 Taliban prisoners and 1,000 Afghan security force prisoners would be exchanged by 10 March, when talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government are due to start.
"A little science distances you from God, but a lot of science brings you nearer to Him." - Louis Pasteur

Hydra009

Quote from: Shiranu on August 15, 2021, 04:55:26 PMThis will go down not just as Biden's biggest failure but also one of the worst failures in American military history, rivaling the defeats in Vietnam and Korea.
Yes, but there was never any outcome on the table but failure.  Afghanistan started with a Taliban regime and the US did not change the fundamental(ist) character of the country, so of course, the instant the US pulls out is the instant the Taliban is back in charge.


Hydra009



Not a good look for Biden or the US.

Mike Cl

Bush/Cheney got us into the Afgan war.  I cheered at first--Bush showed some backbone and went after Ben Laden.  And they had him cornered and could have killed him (according to a couple of accounts I'd read).  He got away into Pakistan and our govt let him go.  At the time, the world would have cheered if we had chased him into Pakistan and killed him there.  But then, those two war criminals were not really interested in catching the guy.  They were more interested in oil and taking it from Iraq.  How would we have known if we had 'won' in the Afgan war??  There was no objective--well, except for the actual one--fill the corporation coffers.   
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?<br />Then he is not omnipotent,<br />Is he able but not willing?<br />Then whence cometh evil?<br />Is he neither able or willing?<br />Then why call him god?

Draconic Aiur

I hope the whole infinity war in the Middle East gets over with but it's not likely. The whole mess was a massive shit storm coming before Biden ever took office.

Cassia

Quote from: Draconic Aiur on August 15, 2021, 09:53:50 PM
I hope the whole infinity war in the Middle East gets over with but it's not likely. The whole mess was a massive shit storm coming before Biden ever took office.
https://youtu.be/rwvoHP7bUAw

Mr.Obvious

#7
This will probably, in history, mark the end of Biden's presidential honeymoon.

Also, I agree this is, to say the least,  not handled well. But I do feel that every president since Bush has been passing the buck on this problem.
"If we have to go down, we go down together!"
- Your mum, last night, requesting 69.

Atheist Mantis does not pray.

SGOS

No president wants to be the one to pull out of a war, because this always happens and he gets the blame, but this pull out has the added dimension of being poorly planned to the point where it even seems there never was a plan. We would expect some casualties at the end, but this one is a cluster fuck.  I was waiting for reports of the Taliban capturing the air base, and I heard reports of diplomats trying to negotiate the safety of the remaining evacuees.  That was a grim moment for me because it was a last minute hopeless plea to an enemy we had been killing for the last 20 years.  There are going to be a lot of Americans killed now, not to mention a lot of helpless Afghans.


Cassia

Perhaps the supposedly "Anti-Taliban" forces made a deal with the Taliban in advance.

Hydra009

#10
Quote from: Cassia on August 16, 2021, 10:14:48 AM
Perhaps the supposedly "Anti-Taliban" forces made a deal with the Taliban in advance.
US forces have been doing that for years.  They tried this time, but talks failed because the Taliban sensed the potential for a military victory.  They sensed right.  Now it's a fait accompli.


Shiranu

Quote from: Hydra009 on August 16, 2021, 11:20:23 AM
Speak of the devil:  https://theweek.com/afghanistan-war/1003748/gop-takes-down-2020-page-touting-trumps-historic-peace-agreement-with-the

I saw a post earlier talking about this, and to just wait... in 2024, when this has all blown over, the GOP will be back to proclaiming it was them who got us out of Afghanistan under Trump's admin and Biden just took all the credit for it.
"A little science distances you from God, but a lot of science brings you nearer to Him." - Louis Pasteur

SGOS

Biden is talking.  I was hoping to be reassured that our people are safe.  I agree we need to be out, and should have been 10 years ago, but he sounds like thousands of people are going to be evacuated in the next few weeks.  I would like to think this is true, but I think that scenario may no longer be an option.

SGOS

My brother-in-law thinks there will be very orderly withdrawal and the Taliban will let Americans peacefully go.