Afghanistan - 20 years on

Freddie1980 · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:17

Radio silence on this matter from the usual Democrat rabble raises.

Minusorange · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:19

Semple said:
There are women in the ANA albeit very small numbers. They're obviously now very fearful for their lives. The Taliban aren't likely to look kindly at a woman who's also been combat trained.

Like you say in small numbers, not enough to really do anything especially if 70% of your comrades just give up and surrender without firing a single shot

Johno please? · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:24

Theyre already trying to kill gay people... oh my bad this was Birmingham.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-58228598

VincentHanna · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:27

Freddie1980 said:
Radio silence on this matter from the usual Democrat rabble raises.

OK?

What would you like them to say?

chrismscotland · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:27

Semple said:
There are women in the ANA albeit very small numbers. They're obviously now very fearful for their lives. The Taliban aren't likely to look kindly at a woman who's also been combat trained.

Yeah its something like 1.5%; there's a female soldier interviewed in the Telegraph saying that they're scared that because they were soldiers they'll be assaulted/murdered by the Taliban

Merlin5 · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:27

Some historian and author on talkradio just now told Ian Collins that the western world will now be less safe than even before 9/11. I think I might need to reduce my regular london underground photography journeys, you never know if and when a train or bus will suffer another terrorist bomb.

Dis86 · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:28

Johno please? said:
Theyre already trying to kill gay people... oh my bad this was Birmingham.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-58228598

Not condoning the assault at all...but that shirt was quite provoking!

kitkat9933 · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:28

Dis86 said:
Not condoning the assault at all...but that shirt was quite provoking!

Well it is a shirt covered in *insert male chicken name* pics.

chrismscotland · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:31

Merlin5 said:
Some historian and author on talkradio just now told Ian Collins that the western world will now be less safe than even before 9/11. I think I might need to reduce my regular london underground photography journeys, you never know if and when a train or bus will suffer another terrorist bomb.

I don't buy it personally; there's no danger that a Terror Training Camp in Afghanistan will last long before US, RAF or Cruise Missile strikes blow it off the face of the earth.
There's much, much more threat from ISIS and jihadi's based in the Middle East and North Africa than there ever was before the Arab Spring; I think the terror threat has been critical since 9/11; I don't see that the Taliban re-taking Afghanistan is going to make any real difference.
Did the Taliban not running Afghanistan prevent the Manchester Bombing, The Paris Attacks or the Brussels Airport Bombing?

Semple · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:33

Merlin5 said:
Some historian and author on talkradio just now told Ian Collins that the western world will now be less safe than even before 9/11. I think I might need to reduce my regular london underground photography journeys, you never know if and when a train or bus will suffer another terrorist bomb.

As much as the Taliban don't have too many brain cells between them, they'd be stupid to start up terrorist attacks on the west again knowing that the US/Allies could redeploy back in Afghanistan and drive them back towards the hills for another 20 years.

chrismscotland · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:34

Semple said:
As much as the Taliban don't have too many brain cells between them, they'd be stupid to start up terrorist attacks on the west again knowing that the US/Allies could redeploy back in Afghanistan and drive them back towards the hills for another 20 years.

The Taliban never started terror attacks on the west in the first place; they did however allow Bin Laden and Al Queda to make a home in Afghanistan; I don't think they'll make that mistake again.

dowie · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:37

ltron said:
It's not irrelevant because it means that these surrender deals have been in the works for quite a while, they have not just happened very recently when Biden announced he was extending Trump's original deadline from at the latest the 1st of May to at the latest the 1st of September and bringing everyone out.

It's an important point.

Not particularly, he's not in power. The manner in which they withdrew, when they withdrew etc.. is all down to the current administration. Ultimately the buck stops with the person in command right now, he had any number of options to choose from, can't just blame the previous guy as though the most powerful man in the world has no agency here.

One More Solo · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:45

Freddie1980 said:
Radio silence on this matter from the usual Democrat rabble raises.

I don't think this is a partisan issue, both the Republicans and Democrats have overseen and contributed to this mess.

Minusorange · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:54

One More Solo said:
I don't think this is a partisan issue, both the Republicans and Democrats have overseen and contributed to this mess.

And Labour and Conservatie too

JohnG7 · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:55

One More Solo said:
I don't think this is a partisan issue, both the Republicans and Democrats have overseen and contributed to this mess.

Why did he not invite them on his talk show?

Colonel_Klinck · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:57

dowie said:
Not particularly, he's not in power. The manner in which they withdrew, when they withdrew etc.. is all down to the current administration. Ultimately the buck stops with the person in command right now, he had any number of options to choose from, can't just blame the previous guy as though the most powerful man in the world has no agency here.

What would you have done differently dowie? Scrapped the withdrawal so ending the fragile peace? Performed some miracle that meant the Afghan army wouldn't just capitulate? What would you have done that would have bought about a different outcome?

To me Biden's biggest mistake was saying it would be fine and what has happened wouldn't happen. Who ever advised him to say/believe that needs sacking.

deuse · 16 Aug 2021 at 15:58

Somnambulist said:
Entirely unsurprising, this is the White House these days:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1424876221704331268

wtf...Please tell me that is made up

Tuppy_Glossop · 16 Aug 2021 at 16:04

I don't know, if the west hadn't been involved at all after the Soviet withdrawal, there is a reasonable chance the Taliban would have been in charge since the early nineties anyway.

Robbo · 16 Aug 2021 at 16:05

Let's not beat about the bush, the Taliban are evil savages who will pillage the country.

The US have thrown them to the dogs. This will lead to a serious humanitarian and refugee crisis and we'll be left picking up the pieces, while Islamic terrorism has a place to thrive.

Just brilliant, really.

Roar87 · 16 Aug 2021 at 16:06

Colonel_Klinck said:
What would you have done differently dowie? Scrapped the withdrawal so ending the fragile peace? Performed some miracle that meant the Afghan army wouldn't just capitulate? What would you have done that would have bought about a different outcome?

To me Biden's biggest mistake was saying it would be fine and what has happened wouldn't happen. Who ever advised him to say/believe that needs sacking.

Biden isn't responsible for the words coming out of his mouth then and someone else needs sacking lol