I do my best to give President Biden the benefit of the doubt, but regardless of the rate at which the Afghan forces were overwhelmed, I can't understand why every scripted scenario called for $80 Billion in advanced weaponry to be left behind. Nothing makes any sense.
more bad news for Yak US launches 'over-the-horizon' airstrike in Afghanistan — ISIS-K planner reportedly killed: Pentagon The United States launched an airstrike against an ISIS-K planner in Afghanistan, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Friday evening. "U.S. military forces conducted an over-the-horizon counterterrorism operation today against an ISIS-K planner," CENTCOM announced. "The unmanned airstrike occurred in the Nangahar Province of Afghanistan. Initial indications are that we killed the target. We know of no civilian casualties," CENTCOM added. The announcement was reported by Newshour and Politico. https://www.rawstory.com/us-airstrike-nangahar
Don't confuse the Democrats or the Republicans with the military. Our military, as good as it is, are still fighting last century's wars. The terrorists adapted to our military decades ago. Our military just hasn't adapted to them.
The military always leaves their hardware behind especially if they are leaving it in "friendly" hands. This always happens. Don't take my word for it, look it up. Ask any ranking military vet. They'll tell you the same thing. It actually costs more to ship it home than to buy new stuff. Makes no sense to you and I but that is the truth of it.
That won't last...and, Yes, these people will be fighting each other whether we're there or not. No one disagrees with that. Think about it like this... Biden is a gynecologist and the Military is the speculum...the first instrument to enter and the last instrument to leave...understand? That's how it works.
I'm afraid of what happens when our 6000 troops begin to leave the airport. The terrorists (whatever flavor) are embedded in a city of millions of civilians and armed to the teeth. I worry about force protection as the troops begin to leave. The planes are sitting ducks. The American citizens and Afghan translators left behind are dead. We gave the Taliban all their PII information and these people will be tortured/killed...beginning this Tuesday.
Perhaps a female President is a good idea after all. At least she has an innate understanding of Military tactics.
it takes "strong hands" to stay the course and get out of Afghanistan and not be lured into another war. Leadership.
Obama didn't have much history for me to judge by, so he got the benefit of the doubt. Biden was a completely different story . . . failures and / or insignificant contributions every step of the way. I don't give that guy any slack. He used up his Mulligans long ago.
That might make sense...if I could force my mind into some alternate reality. In my reality, both DoD and State Dept leadership repeatedly communicated to Biden that a rapid meltdown of Afghani forces was the most likely outcome as U.S. troops were withdrawn. In May, the Taliban rapidly advanced as the Trump agreement was ignored. Biden said he had contingency plans for all possible scenarios. Why didn't he put any of these contingency plans into effect as the reality on the ground changed? The generals all warned against withdrawing troops during "fighting season". And why didn't Biden even let our allies know what we had planned? You really have to wake up and ask yourself what's going on...and why.
Good News! I hope there wasn't much collateral damage. "A U.S. drone strike Sunday struck a vehicle carrying “multiple suicide bombers” from Afghanistan’s Islamic State affiliate before they could target the ongoing military evacuation at Kabul’s international airport, American officials said." https://www.marketwatch.com/story/t...rgeting-airport-01630245571?mod=mw_latestnews
My dear fellow board member Joe, and I acknowledge your choice of non-response until....in your opinion....I post something worthy of your personal acknowledgement, I do not hold the same response limitations as you self impose. You would benefit from reading the Ranger Handbook, concerning equipment. No, the Military does not always leave equipment behind in an enemy environment. Any equipment that can be used against friendly forces is to be destroyed if at all possible in the time allowed and with the personnel available and in a manner that does not endanger the life of friendly forces. It is factual, that the military does leave equipment behind for the use of friendly forces, when instructed to do so by civilian authority and as ordered to do so, and in the manner to do so, by POTUS. You may also benefit from reading Dr. Condolezza Rice, the person in the room discussing just this situation with Karzai. Nixon issued specific orders on equipment retrieval during the evacuation of Vietnam. POTUS Bush 1 and 2 issued equipment retrieval upon troop withdrawal. The myth, and I assume it is a google/FB/Twitter/Et Al thing, that all military equipment is left behind because it costs more to ship back is illogical and laughable. The very first time any POTUS suggested this as an operational method of withdrawal was 2013, under Orders from POTUS Obama. But.... a big but....it was DESTROYED...in accordance with military doctrine. Hope this is acceptable and worthy of posting for your reading pleasure. If not just ignore. PS: The Ranger Handbook is only 233 long, or so. Give me your address, if you can't find it at the library or on a credible on-line source.
I wonder what a Chinese Spy would do differently (as President) than Biden...and I can't think of a thing.