Collapse in Afghanistan

[Monash]

I'm wondering how long the Taliban will be able to maintain a unified government (or what passes for government in Afghanistan at least) in the face of their inability to maintain even the basic services provided by the former government. The major urban centers at least have enjoyed access to goods and services they won't have now. And I doubt the T will be able to maintain the phone system for long let alone airports, hospitals and other 'luxuries' like fuel and spare parts. How many skilled professionals would have left the country with their families as soon as things started going backwards.

Then there are the Hazaras and other groups/tribes who might feel they have been sidelined. Or at least worse off than they were before. Any bets on the T facing their own insurgency problem if not local rebellions in short order.

I can also see poppy production skyrocketing of course as they will need a cash crop.

So the US still has some chips on the table I guess. It has lots of ways of making life for a Taliban government hell without actually putting boots on the ground (well maybe some covert boots).

[Tronic]

I am hearing that Bagram was abandoned after the Taliban demanded it.. Gen Miller objected to it but was overruled by the state department. What in the actual fck?

[Versus]

Woke virtue signaling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNQoVdehnIQ

[Double Edge]

Biden is getting punked. With thousands of people trapped and potential hostages the Taliban feels able to make demands of the US.

Taliban warn of 'consequences' if US and Britain try to extend August 31 withdrawal deadline | Daily Mail Online

Opening line for negotiations. Let the haggling begin. They will miss the deadline and negotiate an extension.

The trouble isn't evacuation. The problem is getting to the airport at one's own risk.

Talibs can't hold any one hostage with the bulk of their state's assets abroad

[Albany Rifles]

I am hearing that Bagram was abandoned after the Taliban demanded it.. Gen Miller objected to it but was overruled by the state department. What in the actual fck?

Source?

[Albany Rifles]

How do you defense professionals view the idea of leaving a residual force of SOF troops and airbases? As a civie, I am pretty skeptical because I don't see what's protecting the outposts that will be necessarily thinly manned.

Nope

Place them over the horizon. Anything left behind is an Intel asset.

[zraver]

Taliban now saying (after meeting with the CIA chief), no more Afghans get to leave. Its put up or shut up time for Biden. I still support getting out, but this is a disaster that will crush our credibility for a generation if we don't get our allies out.

Taliban will no longer allow Afghans to go to Kabul airport for evacuation (cnbc.com)

[TopHatter]

Taliban now saying (after meeting with the CIA chief), no more Afghans get to leave. Its put up or shut up time for Biden. I still support getting out, but this is a disaster that will crush our credibility for a generation if we don't get our allies out.

Taliban will no longer allow Afghans to go to Kabul airport for evacuation (cnbc.com)

That's about the shape of it. This is where Biden reminds the Taliban that they've come out of their caves and hiding places and now they're in the open. To say nothing of all that gear captured from the ANA.

[Tronic]

Source?

Lara Logan. Not the most credible but it isn't so far fetched. I see Biden's politics dictating how Afghan evac is handled, not tactics or military strategy.

Miller did publicly allude how they didn't have a choice but to close Bagram due to Biden wanting a smaller troop presence in the country. I believe the man only wanted 700 soldiers initially.

[Tronic]

Biden is drawing down the evac op and is pulling out after the Taliban didn't agree to his deadline. This is a bloody capitulation, not a withdrawal!

Canada, Germany, UK and pretty much all of NATO were asking for an extension of the 31st deadline. This is how Sleepy Joe responds... "America is back" he had said after defeating Trump..

Edit: Had to edit out the post due to my outburst against Sleepy Joe. I've been on edge past few weeks seeing how he is handling Afghanistan, I can only imagine what veterans must be going through who sacrificed so much to build what Biden is undoing for his politics.

[Parihaka]

The NZDF have started talking about it so it looks like we've got everyone Kiwi-associated out of Bamyan and Kabul, we may be doing more with the Aussies.

[zraver]

That's about the shape of it. This is where Biden reminds the Taliban that they've come out of their caves and hiding places and now they're in the open. To say nothing of all that gear captured from the ANA.

I don't think he has it in him. I hope to be wrong but he will stat true to form and leave everyone else holding the bag.

I think its almost time for the hostage taking and public executions part of this drama.

[667medic]

Biden is drawing down the evac op and is pulling out after the Taliban didn't agree to his deadline. This is a bloody capitulation, not a withdrawal!

Canada, Germany, UK and pretty much all of NATO were asking for an extension of the 31st deadline. This is how Sleepy Joe responds... "America is back" he had said after defeating Trump..

Edit: Had to edit out the post due to my outburst against Sleepy Joe. I've been on edge past few weeks seeing how he is handling Afghanistan, I can only imagine what veterans must be going through who sacrificed so much to build what Biden is undoing for his politics.

I am just stunned by the way Biden has handled the whole pullout. His decision to pullout was correct but the manner of execution is pathetic. Since when do we pull out the military while leaving the civilians/non-combatants behind. Even the Germans in defeat fought delaying battles to buy as much time as possible for civilians to escape from the Russians. I was just shocked by the amount of military stuff that was left behind to the Taliban, I am still getting used to seeing an M16 in the hands of these people as I am more used to seeing Kalashnikovs. And we have the President bragging that America is back...

[667medic]

In their minds, Pakistanis have defeated another Superpower using jihad, expect Kashmir to burn. Already I am reading opinion pieces written by Pakistanis that India needs to learn a lesson from America. If America could be defeated, India doesn't stand a chance according to them....

[zraver]

I am just stunned by the way Biden has handled the whole pullout. His decision to pullout was correct but the manner of execution is pathetic. Since when do we pull out the military while leaving the civilians/non-combatants behind. Even the Germans in defeat fought delaying battles to buy as much time as possible for civilians to escape from the Russians. I was just shocked by the amount of military stuff that was left behind to the Taliban, I am still getting used to seeing an M16 in the hands of these people as I am more used to seeing Kalashnikovs. And we have the President bragging that America is back...

The UK had Dunkirk, we have Dumbkirk....