NPR

tc27 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 27, 2021 3:35 pm Pulling the last troops out is going to be a delicate operation - presumably the yanks will have to be last out as they probably are the only ones with enough helicopters to get everyone out with the runway overwhelmed.

Thankfully seems to have gone off without a hitch.

Bet this bloke arse was still twitching a bit though

Yeah fair play I suspect the Taliban had were controlling the perimeter at this point.

tc27 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 8:45 pm Yeah fair play I suspect the Taliban had were controlling the perimeter at this point.

The Taliban were controlling the perimeter the entire time. That this didn't turn into bloodbath some minor miracle. The howling of the western media completely disconnected from the reality of the situation. You're talking about an enemy you've droned killed for 20 years FFS. And they let the US walk out. The handwringers and finger pointers need to go to the US negotiator and say... thank you very much for a job well done.

Flockwitt wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 10:14 pm

tc27 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 8:45 pm Yeah fair play I suspect the Taliban had were controlling the perimeter at this point.

The Taliban were controlling the perimeter the entire time. That this didn't turn into bloodbath some minor miracle. The howling of the western media completely disconnected from the reality of the situation. You're talking about an enemy you've droned killed for 20 years FFS. And they let the US walk out. The handwringers and finger pointers need to go to the US negotiator and say... thank you very much for a job well done.

It's in the Taliban's interest to let them go without a hitch. I assume they will have agreed the precise time in advance etc.

They are on a little bit of a PR campaign to look credible on the world stage and attacking any tail elements of the US forces as they left would only have brought punitive strikes down on themselves. They've already won, so it would serve no purpose for them.

Margin__Walker wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 10:20 pm

Flockwitt wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 10:14 pm

tc27 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 8:45 pm Yeah fair play I suspect the Taliban had were controlling the perimeter at this point.

The Taliban were controlling the perimeter the entire time. That this didn't turn into bloodbath some minor miracle. The howling of the western media completely disconnected from the reality of the situation. You're talking about an enemy you've droned killed for 20 years FFS. And they let the US walk out. The handwringers and finger pointers need to go to the US negotiator and say... thank you very much for a job well done.

It's in the Taliban's interest to let them go without a hitch. I assume they will have agreed the precise time in advance etc.

They are on a little bit of a PR campaign to look credible on the world stage and attacking any tail elements of the US forces as they left would only have brought punitive strikes down on themselves. They've already won, so it would serve no purpose for them.

Yep, it was managed with the Taliban, negotiating with and legitimizing them. That was the way it had to be.

But can you imagine what would have happened if the US had back tracked? If they hadn't got out? If Biden had torn up the general agreement Trump was working towards? I've yet to see anybody paint a credible picture of what an alternative was to the current situation.

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Mon Aug 30, 2021 6:45 pm

Openside wrote: ↑Mon Aug 30, 2021 6:20 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 4:54 pm
It seems unlikely he was responsible for leaving any of his staff behind?

He wasn't - they had visas , Taleban wouldn't let them through.

If they had all gone straight to the airport on Monday instead of waiting 2 days while the Egomaniac shouted at the world’s press, the Taliban wouldn’t have had a chance to stop any of them.

Yup thats my take on it. Sounds like a bit of a nasty piece of work. I guess you have to be a bit of an oddball to do what he was doing though...

From our correspondent on the ground:


I hear plenty of criticism of Biden for his handling of the pullout, much of it justified: it has been a bit of a shit show that could have benefitted from a little bit of forethought.

What I do find astonishing, though, is the suggestion that Trump would have handled it better. Trump's past history leads me to think that he would have had zero compunction about leaving American citizens on foreign soil if it suited him, much less Afghanis.

The phrase "They knew what they'd signed up for" comes to mind.

As for the plight of women in Afghanistan under the Taliban, I guess we all know his opinion on that.

tc27 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 8:45 pm Yeah fair play I suspect the Taliban had were controlling the perimeter at this point.

They always were. Fuck stagging on rubbing shoulders with those cunts, would have made things slightly easier the majority of those there wouldn't have done HERRICK.

Rinkals wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:24 am The phrase "They knew what they'd signed up for" comes to mind.

He'd have called them losers for being stuck there, as you know surviving a POW camp doesn't make you a war hero, it makes you a loser for being captured

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 11:35 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 4:54 pm

Lobby wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 11:01 am Not only did he leave his Afghan staff behind, and threaten to ‘destroy’ the FO staff given the unenviable task of trying to assist the entitled twat, the likelihood is that most of the animals will have to put down when they arrive here.

It seems unlikely he was responsible for leaving any of his staff behind?

How much time did he spend lobbying the Home Office to get his staff on flights; versus the time he spent getting a few cats & dogs on them ?

My understanding was the staff were already granted leave: it was the Taliban who stopped them?

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 05, 2021 6:47 am

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 11:35 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 4:54 pm
It seems unlikely he was responsible for leaving any of his staff behind?

How much time did he spend lobbying the Home Office to get his staff on flights; versus the time he spent getting a few cats & dogs on them ?

My understanding was the staff were already granted leave: it was the Taliban who stopped them?

Perhaps it would have been a better idea to send his staff to the airport ASAP in a time-pressured situation instead of dicking around with a collection of mangy animals.

Our man in Kabul seems to be having a good time

Rinkals wrote: ↑Mon Sep 06, 2021 5:15 am Our man in Kabul seems to be having a good time

Unless I see his boat, I’m calling that a photoshop and a fake!

Rinkals wrote: ↑Mon Sep 06, 2021 5:15 am Our man in Kabul seems to be having a good time

Yeah, he seems to be having fun.

Looks like Panjshir has fallen so it is 100% game over now.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 06, 2021 11:02 am Looks like Panjshir has fallen so it is 100% game over now.

Fallen with a little help from the Taliban's Pakistani friends who as well as providing supplies provided direct air support

Calculon wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:46 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 06, 2021 11:02 am Looks like Panjshir has fallen so it is 100% game over now.

Fallen with a little help from the Taliban's Pakistani friends who as well as providing supplies provided direct air support

Indeed.

Calculon wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:46 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 06, 2021 11:02 am Looks like Panjshir has fallen so it is 100% game over now.

Fallen with a little help from the Taliban's Pakistani friends who as well as providing supplies provided direct air support

Yeah; Pakistan now has Nuclear weapons; an Intelligence agency run by people who treat elected Politicians as disposable puppets; & now a neighbouring country where it can continue to train terrorists .... what could possibly go wrong ?

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 2:12 pm

Calculon wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:46 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 06, 2021 11:02 am Looks like Panjshir has fallen so it is 100% game over now.

Fallen with a little help from the Taliban's Pakistani friends who as well as providing supplies provided direct air support

Yeah; Pakistan now has Nuclear weapons; an Intelligence agency run by people who treat elected Politicians as disposable puppets; & now a neighbouring country where it can continue to train terrorists .... what could possibly go wrong ?

Well, they are our allies so they will get a free pass, including when it all blows up (like Saudi Arabia after 9/11).

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 2:12 pm

Calculon wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:46 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 06, 2021 11:02 am Looks like Panjshir has fallen so it is 100% game over now.

Fallen with a little help from the Taliban's Pakistani friends who as well as providing supplies provided direct air support

Yeah; Pakistan now has Nuclear weapons; an Intelligence agency run by people who treat elected Politicians as disposable puppets; & now a neighbouring country where it can continue to train terrorists .... what could possibly go wrong ?

They might even win a Test series too.

robmatic wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 2:27 pm

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 2:12 pm

Calculon wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:46 am

Fallen with a little help from the Taliban's Pakistani friends who as well as providing supplies provided direct air support

Yeah; Pakistan now has Nuclear weapons; an Intelligence agency run by people who treat elected Politicians as disposable puppets; & now a neighbouring country where it can continue to train terrorists .... what could possibly go wrong ?

Well, they are our allies so they will get a free pass, including when it all blows up (like Saudi Arabia after 9/11).

As I mentioned on PR; the Pakistan nuclear program was financed by the Al Sauds; & assisted by cross cooperation with the North Koreans; all with the goal of getting an; "Islamic Bomb".

If the CIA were running around like lunatics trying to secure nukes when the USSR went belly up; it''s hard to imagine why anyone could be happy with the people who supported & hid the guy behind 9/11, having a bunch of terrorist mates, & easy access to nukes.

Turning Point of Netflix is a great series if you have a few hours to spare

Calculon wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:46 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 06, 2021 11:02 am Looks like Panjshir has fallen so it is 100% game over now.

Fallen with a little help from the Taliban's Pakistani friends who as well as providing supplies provided direct air support

Sad considering the Russians were never able to take it

mat the expat wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 5:08 am

Calculon wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:46 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 06, 2021 11:02 am Looks like Panjshir has fallen so it is 100% game over now.

Fallen with a little help from the Taliban's Pakistani friends who as well as providing supplies provided direct air support

Sad considering the Russians were never able to take it

It might not be all done. Talibs control the only through route but questionable whether they have control over all of the finger valleys that run off that in every direction.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 11:12 am

mat the expat wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 5:08 am

Calculon wrote: ↑Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:46 am

Fallen with a little help from the Taliban's Pakistani friends who as well as providing supplies provided direct air support

Sad considering the Russians were never able to take it

It might not be all done. Talibs control the only through route but questionable whether they have control over all of the finger valleys that run off that in every direction.

I imagine that's right - with Hinds/Floggers and Fencer support, if Russia couldn't manage total control, it's unlikely

mat the expat wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 11:40 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 11:12 am

mat the expat wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 5:08 am

Sad considering the Russians were never able to take it

It might not be all done. Talibs control the only through route but questionable whether they have control over all of the finger valleys that run off that in every direction.

I imagine that's right - with Hinds/Floggers and Fencer support, if Russia couldn't manage total control, it's unlikely

The Russian occupation turned into a kind of reverse terrorism campaign, against the Afghans. The use of Anti-Personnel mines disguised a childrens toys, & dolls, was about the lowest form of warfare I can imagine.

Ian Dunt sums up Raab, & the dog lovers performance pretty well.

Enzedder wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 3:52 am Turning Point of Netflix is a great series if you have a few hours to spare

It's very good. I've done a lot of reading on the war on terror over the years, and this show summarises the entire thing nicely.

It's actually quite astounding how badly organised the entire thing was, and what a resounding defeat it has turned out to be for the US.

The military industrial complex got their money in the US and financed their bought and sold politicians. All those trillions went somewhere. A forever war, never actually succeeding? Yes please!

Flockwitt wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 10:23 am The military industrial complex got their money in the US and financed their bought and sold politicians. All those trillions went somewhere. A forever war, never actually succeeding? Yes please!

Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan...... the gifts that keep giving to the US arms industry.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 11, 2021 5:09 pm

Flockwitt wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 10:23 am The military industrial complex got their money in the US and financed their bought and sold politicians. All those trillions went somewhere. A forever war, never actually succeeding? Yes please!

Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan...... the gifts that keep giving to the US arms industry.

*cough* Iron Curtain *cough*