Wars & Rumours of Wars

nivek

As Above So Below
20210829_180632.jpg

The $100bn spoils of war: Taliban militants help themselves to helicopters, hi-tech radios and armored vehicles amid ramshackle withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan

When British soldiers deployed to Helmand 15 years ago their Taliban counterparts were shabbily dressed in tattered traditional outfits and armed with decades-old Russian rifles and grenade launchers. While they possessed guile in spades, and knew every inch of the jungle-like 'Green Zone' where battles were fought, they were poorly equipped and poorly trained.

Now, following the ramshackle withdrawal of international forces, the Taliban has been bequeathed a £62billion bounty of military equipment, including hundreds of fixed-wing aircraft and tactical helicopters, tens of thousands of armoured vehicles and hundreds of thousands of weapons.

The transformation in the group's appearance and capability could scarcely be more vivid or disturbing. Sandals and shalwar kameez have been replaced by combat boots and tailored camouflage uniforms. Ancient AK47s are nowhere to be seen. Instead today's Taliban carry US Green Beret-issue M4 carbines with telescoping stocks.

The Taliban of 15 years ago were seldom if ever seen wearing helmets. But today their headwear is more expensive and more advanced than that worn by most British troops.


(More on the link)

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AD1184

Celestial
The $100bn spoils of war: Taliban militants help themselves to helicopters, hi-tech radios and armored vehicles amid ramshackle withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan

When British soldiers deployed to Helmand 15 years ago their Taliban counterparts were shabbily dressed in tattered traditional outfits and armed with decades-old Russian rifles and grenade launchers. While they possessed guile in spades, and knew every inch of the jungle-like 'Green Zone' where battles were fought, they were poorly equipped and poorly trained.

Now, following the ramshackle withdrawal of international forces, the Taliban has been bequeathed a £62billion bounty of military equipment, including hundreds of fixed-wing aircraft and tactical helicopters, tens of thousands of armoured vehicles and hundreds of thousands of weapons.

The transformation in the group's appearance and capability could scarcely be more vivid or disturbing. Sandals and shalwar kameez have been replaced by combat boots and tailored camouflage uniforms. Ancient AK47s are nowhere to be seen. Instead today's Taliban carry US Green Beret-issue M4 carbines with telescoping stocks.

The Taliban of 15 years ago were seldom if ever seen wearing helmets. But today their headwear is more expensive and more advanced than that worn by most British troops.


(More on the link)
It seems that the Afghan armed forces were oversupplied with equipment, if anything.

Were defence companies taking advantage of them, or of the US government if it was footing the bill on the Afghans' behalf? Apparently most Afghan soldiers were illiterate, and unable to use the more complicated military equipment provided to them.

Is there going to be any acknowledgement from people who supported this war that the Coalition efforts to create, supply, and train an Afghan military were a complete and utter waste of time, money, and lives (several trainers were killed by Taliban loyalists in the units they were attempting to train)? What a ridiculous charade.

All of these people are getting bent out of shape that the war is not being continued, but where were those people while the war was going on, scrutinizing how it was actually being waged, or blowing the whistle that it was not? They were quite happy for the stage theatre to continue at the time, with everyone pretending that they were building a nation when they were doing no such thing.
 
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pigfarmer

tall, thin, irritable
It seems that the Afghan armed forces were oversupplied with equipment, if anything.

Were defence companies taking advantage of them, or of the US government if it was footing the bill on the Afghans' behalf? Apparently most Afghan soldiers were illiterate, and unable to use the more complicated military equipment provided to them.

Is there going to be any acknowledgement from people who supported this war that the Coalition efforts to create, supply, and train an Afghan military were a complete and utter waste of time, money, and lives (several trainers were killed by Taliban loyalists in the units they were attempting to train)? What a ridiculous charade.

All of these people are getting bent out of shape that the war is not being continued, but where were those people while the war was going on, scrutinizing how it was actually being waged, or blowing the whistle that it was not? They were quite happy for the stage theatre to continue at the time, with everyone pretending that they were building a nation when they were doing no such thing.

Business was good for arms and equipment manufacturers and the host of private contractors employed over there. Still is for a few.

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-r...precipitously-as-biden-pushes-withdrawal-plan

"We're still working out what that contract support is going to look like," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters earlier this month. "Many of those contractors are still there providing that kind of support to the Afghans and the Afghan air forces as you and I speak. And we are actively working ways in which that contract support can be done remotely or virtually or even physically outside the country."

Among the other tactics the Biden administration has boasted in recent weeks is its decision to provide 37 additional Blackhawk helicopters to the Afghan air force to bolster its existing force. Yet, again, no clear plan is currently in place for who will maintain those sophisticated aircraft once the U.S. leaves.
 

HAL9000

Honorable
Business was good for arms and equipment manufacturers and the host of private contractors employed over there. Still is for a few.

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-r...precipitously-as-biden-pushes-withdrawal-plan



Among the other tactics the Biden administration has boasted in recent weeks is its decision to provide 37 additional Blackhawk helicopters to the Afghan air force to bolster its existing force. Yet, again, no clear plan is currently in place for who will maintain those sophisticated aircraft once the U.S. leaves.

Maybe they should wait a while to see how things are going to shake out before doing anything like that.

Chances are that these helicopters would finish up being used against any allied forces that may end up sack in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Air Force will become the Taliban Air Force quickly enough.
 

pigfarmer

tall, thin, irritable
Maybe they should wait a while to see how things are going to shake out before doing anything like that.

Chances are that these helicopters would finish up being used against any allied forces that may end up sack in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Air Force will become the Taliban Air Force quickly enough.

Things already shook out - that article was from July 21.

Some of the vehicles and helicopters will be used because there apparently is private support available for those that can pay - that's what that article was talking about. The gadgets are impressive but only with all the support that goes along with them. That will go on a while until they can't do it anymore. I suspect when the money gets tight is when we'll be hearing about hostages.

There is a lot of communications gear also. I welcome them to use it all, in fact encourage it. We made it. Not hard to see the potential tactical problem there.

Without the hostages that I believe we assuredly will be hearing about in a few weeks or less we could probably turn all that shit off from 'over the horizon' with relative ease and make them regret using any of the radio and comms gear. The literal mountains of small arms are a different story. Seems to me they still have plenty of old Soviet weaponry available that's working fine. I suppose one positive note from that is that the various factions that will result from this will be able to kill one another more easily.
 

HAL9000

Honorable
I don't agree that things have shaken out yet.. Not by a long stretch.

I think the only way the Taliban can gain any credence is by turning Afghanistan into another Pakistan.

They could do this if they could hold back on the really hard line stuff.

We will have no idea until they have had the place to themselves for a while.

But the odds are it will become a pariah country. An Islamic Caliphate of the worst kind.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
Most disgraceful, Biden fears the terrorists and abandoned American citizens and allies, leaving them in the hands of the Taliban and ISIS...Its just a matter of time before we see the hostages on tv or worse...

Last US flights slip out of Afghanistan 24 hours ahead of deadline: 250 citizens and thousands of Afghan friendlies are left facing nightmare under Taliban, who celebrate America's final retreat from 20-year war with wild gunfire
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Biden breaks promise to 'stay' in Afghanistan until every American evacuated

President Biden appears to have broken his promise to stay in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated. Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. announced Monday evening that the last of the U.S. troops stationed at the Kabul airport had left, completing the military’s drawdown in the country, even though hundreds of Americans likely remain.

McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, said some American citizens who wanted to leave Afghanistan remain in country. "We did not get everybody out that we wanted to get out," he said.

President Joe Biden told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos during an interview on Aug. 18 that the U.S. military objective in Afghanistan was to get "everyone" out, including Americans and Afghan allies and their families.

"That's what we're doing now, that's the path we're on. And I think we'll get there," he said. "If there's American citizens left, we're gonna stay to get them all out."

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wwkirk

Divine
Most disgraceful, Biden fears the terrorists and abandoned American citizens and allies, leaving them in the hands of the Taliban and ISIS...Its just a matter of time before we see the hostages on tv or worse...

Last US flights slip out of Afghanistan 24 hours ahead of deadline: 250 citizens and thousands of Afghan friendlies are left facing nightmare under Taliban, who celebrate America's final retreat from 20-year war with wild gunfire
_________________

Biden breaks promise to 'stay' in Afghanistan until every American evacuated

President Biden appears to have broken his promise to stay in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated. Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. announced Monday evening that the last of the U.S. troops stationed at the Kabul airport had left, completing the military’s drawdown in the country, even though hundreds of Americans likely remain.

McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, said some American citizens who wanted to leave Afghanistan remain in country. "We did not get everybody out that we wanted to get out," he said.

President Joe Biden told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos during an interview on Aug. 18 that the U.S. military objective in Afghanistan was to get "everyone" out, including Americans and Afghan allies and their families.

"That's what we're doing now, that's the path we're on. And I think we'll get there," he said. "If there's American citizens left, we're gonna stay to get them all out."

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That. And I wouldn't be the least surprised if there are more than 250 Americans stranded there.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
More deflection and lies from this administration...

 

nivek

As Above So Below
Folk singer Fawad Andarabi dragged from home and shot after Taliban outlaw music | News | The Times

Folk singer Fawad Andarabi dragged from home and shot after Taliban outlaw music

Taliban fighters have shot dead an Afghan folk singer after it outlawed music and women’s voices on television and radio in the bellwether province of Kandahar, laying the ground for a nationwide ban in an echo of the brutal Islamist regime of 20 years ago.

They also executed an Afghan comedian who was making jokes up until his death...

Taliban captures and executes well-known Afghan comedian - who told jokes as they dragged him away

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wwkirk

Divine
They also executed an Afghan comedian who was making jokes up until his death...

Taliban captures and executes well-known Afghan comedian - who told jokes as they dragged him away

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Not just comedians are targets. Imagine a religion that is against music!*
Taliban kill folk singer days after banning music in Afghanistan, family says


*Apparently, there is controversy within Islam over the permissibility of music, with some sects/schools banning it, others not.
 
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nivek

As Above So Below
Taliban STOP six planes carrying American citizens and allies from leaving Afghanistan airport: Top Republican says passengers are being 'held hostage for demands'



Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the top Republican on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that the group included Americans and they were sitting on the planes, but the Taliban were not letting them take off, effectively 'holding them hostage.' He did not say where that information came from. It was not immediately possible to reconcile the accounts. The final days of America's 20-year war in Afghanistan were marked by a harrowing airlift at Kabul's airport to evacuate tens of thousands of people - Americans and their allies - who feared what the future would hold, given the Taliban´s history of repression, particularly of women. When the last troops pulled out on August 30, though, many were left behind. The U.S. promised to continue working with the new Taliban rulers to get those who want to leave out, and the militants pledged to allow anyone with the proper legal documents to leave. But McCaul told 'Fox News Sunday' that American citizens and Afghan interpreters were being kept on six planes. 'The Taliban will not let them leave the airport,' he said, adding that he´s worried 'they´re going to demand more and more, whether it be cash or legitimacy as the government of Afghanistan.' He did not offer more details.

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Kchoo

At Peace.
I feel like the media is over foused on badmouthing this thing at the end of the line. The truth is, nothing about the entire last 20 years has gone well on this from any of the political leadership.
The troops and flight logistics teams have been the only thing commendable about it. They are they only ones who deserve any credit for getting those people out safe.

Why the Taliban made it so difficult to withdraw is the real question though. You would think they would gladly let people leave who don't want to stay, but no... they gotta make it a show of power, in the same faulted way they always do.
The news should be focused on that a little more, and a little less badmouthing anything about the U.S. method. Our troops should be recognized, and we should be more supportive of the people that want out. But the news media can't seem to report news, other than to cast doubt about U.S. Leadership? Not impressed with them at all. Sensationalist should not be running the news . They do just as much harm in these situations, using the worst depictions of their own Country.
 
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