It is good that we are getting out of Afghanistan, if we are. But this rout was eminently avoidable, if our military leaders spent less time ensuring ideological conformity among the troops and more time on their actual military responsibilities.
“Taliban Seizes US Weapons and Military Equipment as Afghan Takeover Accelerates,” by Adam Kredo, Washington Free Beacon, August 12, 2021:
The Taliban has seized scores of American weapons and military equipment from Afghan security forces as the terrorist group accelerates its takeover following the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country.
Taliban terrorists are now in possession of U.S.-made military vehicles, anti-aircraft guns, armored tanks, and artillery. The munitions were provided to Afghan security forces to secure the country as the United States ends its two-decade war there. The Taliban have overwhelmed Afghan forces, taking over key Afghan provinces and using U.S. weapons to power the offensive.
“These captured systems will increase the mobility and lethality of the Taliban, making them a more formidable adversary,” said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “We have already seen the Taliban using captured humvees to patrol Kunduz and Sar-e Pol.”
With the situation in Afghanistan deteriorating, the United States announced that it is sending 3,000 troops back into the country to help evacuate the vulnerable American embassy in Kabul. President Joe Biden left for vacation shortly after the announcement. Vice President Kamala Harris dodged questions about the situation on Thursday afternoon, when a reporter asked if “Afghanistan is lost to the Taliban.” Harris would not answer, but said she would be briefed on the matter.
Military experts fear Afghanistan will once again become a breeding ground for terrorists and militant groups like al Qaeda.
Annie Aleman, a GOP strategist with the American Security Project, predicted on Thursday that Kabul could soon fall to the Taliban.
“It is very reasonable to expect that Kabul will fall by the 20th anniversary of 9/11 this year,” Aleman said….
Stephen Tanner says
Does anyone remember Saigon in 1975? We are watching it happen AGAIN.
gravenimage says
Yes and no. Many Vietnamese genuinely opposed Communism; *very* few Afghans actually reject Islam. Some do oppose the Taliban, but this is mostly on tribal or sectarian basis, not an actual opposition to Jihad and Shari’ah.
David says
I would say that young girls would reject islam if it didn’t mean instant death.
David says
Half my comment disappeared. Try again:
I would say that young girls would reject islam if it didn’t mean instant death.
Regarding US equipment: It was not left for the Taliban to use. It was meant to be used by the Afghan government, which appears to have given up in fear, and without a fight. They should have disabled the equipment. The soldiers are probably on a death list. A bit like becoming a muslim. “Join us or die”.
gravenimage says
Not all, David. Sadly, many Muslims women embrace lslam just as Muslim men do–and sre fine with imposing it on other females.
bill says
The Taliban have two aces. One, the Afghan soldiers know what will happen to them if captured, so just give up, rather like the Iraqi army did when ISIS came along. Two, the Taliban jihadis do not care if they get killed as they will go to paradise as ‘martyrs’. and so are more aggressive.
I also believe many of the Afghan army joined for the pay packets not because they want to fight. I am sure there were many good men trained by the US army but not enough.
gravenimage says
Not just that–many Muslims actually agree with pious Muslims like ISIS and the Taliban, and do not want to oppose them. Many Muslims in the Iraq and Afghan militaries have defected and joined the Jihadists.
JR says
Very very true. Could not agree with you more.
Do not ever be conned by some of their women folk wearing jeans etc sans headcover. They wholeheartedly endorse jihad ideology. Only in countries like America , India and Europe they can have the cake and eat it too.
gravenimage says
Not all, JR–but too many do.
gravenimage says
Afghanistan: Taliban seizes US weapons and military equipment as takeover accelerates
……………
That we left weapons and equipment out where the Taliban could take them is insanity.
Infidel says
Yeah, arming the Ghani regime was a bad call by everybody who did it, whether it was us, India, Russia or anyone else. The Afghan military does not have the will to fight, and folded pretty easily and quickly, in sharp contrast to the ’90s, when the non-Pashtun militias formed the Northern Alliance and held it together. Today, there’s nothing like it to oppose the Taliban
Instead of sending troops back, we should send in guided missiles to destroy our own equipment that’s fallen to the Taliban
maria says
Biden and the whole Demon Rats party destroy the US. They the worst traitors of the American people.
We got rid of Cuomo, now the American people must get rid of Newscum and the whole DemonRats government.
Giacomo Latta says
Couldn’t we just switch some icons around like ‘Gun lock’ and ‘Fire incessantly’ on the equipment first then let the Taliban have their fun?
Walter Sieruk says
The thieving Taliban the US military trucks and other American equipment they has stolen for furthering their brutal cruel harsh Islamic oppression of Sharia law on the people of Afghanistan who trapped and force to exist in the land that they have taken over.
This wasn’t what so many American soldiers had died and many are maimed for life for..
This is worse the sad ,terrible tragic . It all comes down to fault of and blame of that death cult of a religion which is Islam.
Phil Copson says
“….Vice President Kamala Harris dodged questions about the situation on Thursday afternoon, when a reporter asked if “Afghanistan is lost to the Taliban….”
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Should have left answering the tricky questions to Jen Psaki – she’ll doubtless be along at any moment to assure the world that “It’s only a symbolic annexation”.
(Next on stage will be Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, etc announcing that they’re all off to Afghanistan to congratulate the leaders of the new “Islamic democracy” / Joe, Jill, and Hunter “the Bag-man” Biden announcing the US tax-payer funded $42 trillion Islamic infrastructure package (less 20% “handling charges”) / followed by Ben and Jerry announcing the new franchise holder for Kabul and their new range of halal-certificated “We put the ISIS in ice-cream” flavours.)
David M says
Kamala was probably busy raising bail for Antifa rioters & looters. Hard to say if Dementia Joe or Cackling Kamara would be the worse President. When they haul old Joe off to the dementia home we will find out though.
David says
I would say that young girls would reject islam if it didn’t mean instant death.
Regarding US equipment: It was not left for the Taliban to use. It was meant to be used by the Afghan government, which appears to have given up in fear, and without a fight. They should have disabled the equipment. The soldiers are probably on a death list. A bit like becoming a muslim. “Join us or die”.
Infidel says
I doubt that the Afghan troops are competent enough to disable the equipment, and even if they did , the Taliban would threaten to execute them if they didn’t re-enable them, and then execute them anyway after they did. Our mistake – one emulated by India, Russia and other countries that supported this government – was giving them those weapons: they were bound to be captured by the Taliban, just like ISIS ended up w/ our weapons
David says
Regarding US equipment: It was not left for the Taliban to use. It was meant to be used by the Afghan government, which appears to have given up in fear, and without a fight. They should have disabled the equipment. The soldiers are probably on a death list. A bit like becoming a muslim. “Join us or die”.
OLD GUY says
Our intelligence agencies should have known that the Taliban was going to take over and that the propped up Afghan government would give as soon as they were challenged. If you can haul it over there you can haul it out or destroy what is not worth bringing back. Don’t supply your enemy, but then again it is just tax payer money paying for it all.
God bless our men and women who served and died over there. Lets be a little more careful of where we send them in the future.
gravenimage says
+1
Brenrod says
The important unanswered question is who funds and controls the Taliban?
gravenimage says
The Taliban’s main sources of funding are drug trafficking, protection money, and donations from other pious Muslims.
https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/how-rich-is-the-taliban-and-where-does-their-money-come-from-1840658-2021-08-13
David M says
And they get protection & actually live in Pakistan, who receive funding from the US. So indirectly the US is funding the Taliban.
gravenimage says
Cutting all aid to Pakistan is the best thing. Never happen under Biden, though.
Mike Kaliz says
UK/ USA naivity. Afghans have traditionally fought through various wars for centuries which have warlike groups such as the Pathans. They didn’t shelter Bin Laden who happily resided with his huge extended family in Pakistan. The Taliban now have their Islamic Emirate State. Mercenaries previously labelled under the (Western invented) ISIS which was a daft repitition of Islamic State/ Islamic State. The real name Daesh! Bottom line , just like Apartheid in South Africa, extreme Muslims are racist and biased against any other religion including various other different Muslim Sects being in their domain. Rule for us is to keep separate to keep safe because you are not wanted even if God made you a fellow human being! Peace to all from Mike.