Afghanistan - 20 years on

while he is not necessary wrong about the unclear objectives and nation building etc - its very disappointing to hear, we encouraged the Afghans to choose our way for decades and in the process made them into targets and left them to the wolves
while its true AQ got dismantled in Afghanistan - this last week will encourage more extremists

im glad he is owning it though in terms of his choice to pull out - but he needs to own the failure of the withdrawal as well
he is right about the ANSF giving up and Ghani not making a deal then running away

I just think the status quo was being maintained for little cost, every day it lasted is one more day of education and freedom for these people
 
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chrismscotland said:
To be honest its refreshing to see him calling out the Afghans; if they won't fight for themselves why the hell should anyone else
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There were plenty prepared to fight despite a lot who weren't and while some of it was due to Afghanistan government incompetence and corruption, etc. the US government had a lot to do with leaving in a manner which minimised the chances even for those who would fight putting them in an untenable position.
 
gettothechopper said:
while he is not necessary wrong about the unclear objectives and nation building etc - its very disappointing to hear, we encouraged the Afghans to choose our way for decades and in the process made them into targets and left them to the wolves
while its true AQ got dismantled in Afghanistan - this last week will encourage more extremists

im glad he is owning it though in terms of his choice to pull out - but he needs to own the failure the withdrawal as well
he is right about the ANSF giving up and Ghani not making a deal then running away

I just think the status quo was being maintained for little cost, every day it lasted is one more day of education and freedom for these people
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Good post
 
Rroff said:
There were plenty prepared to fight despite a lot who weren't and while some of it was due to Afghanistan government incompetence and corruption, etc. the US government had a lot to do with leaving in a manner which minimised the chances even for those who would fight putting them in an untenable position.
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Didn't their own president bugger off too? I doubt that instilled much hope in the people seeing your leader just fly away and leave you all to it. :(
 
KiNgPiN83 said:
Didn't their own president bugger off too? I doubt that instilled much hope in the people seeing your leader just fly away and leave you all to it. :(
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He left quite late after talking big and doing apparently little - most had given up any thought of fighting by then except a small number of SOF and pilots.
 
MatsyLR said:
He basically said its pointless trying to fight their civil war for them if their own people wont do it.
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We really haven't been warfighting for a while, it was mainly small SF style work with air power and Kabil security for a good few year now. They are talking like it's Helmand 06/09 every year. It was a strategic level position to be in and now we have little influence on the back foot geopolitically

Edit. Either way, it's still not a good explanation of the sheer balls up the evacuation has been, I.e. no plan and hope for the best
 
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