Afghanistan 2021 Onwards
My current reading on Kindle ...
Also listed as https://www.wdl.org/en/item/17742/
"In 1851, Sir John William Kaye (1814–76) published a two-volume History of the War in Afghanistan. Presented here is the “revised and corrected” edition of the same work, published in three volumes in 1857‒58. "
In those 'pre-woke days', he describes in plain words the duplicity and disloyalty of the Afghan tribal leaders, who changed sides opportunistically on a regular basis. I've only got as far as 1808, but much of what I've read resonates with the West's experiences in recent decades.
One barbarous practice was the blinding of deposed rulers of the former Kingdom ... little wonder that President Ghani legged it to the UAE.
Also listed as https://www.wdl.org/en/item/17742/
"In 1851, Sir John William Kaye (1814–76) published a two-volume History of the War in Afghanistan. Presented here is the “revised and corrected” edition of the same work, published in three volumes in 1857‒58. "
In those 'pre-woke days', he describes in plain words the duplicity and disloyalty of the Afghan tribal leaders, who changed sides opportunistically on a regular basis. I've only got as far as 1808, but much of what I've read resonates with the West's experiences in recent decades.
One barbarous practice was the blinding of deposed rulers of the former Kingdom ... little wonder that President Ghani legged it to the UAE.
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Originally Posted by NutLoose
Both have mentioned the appalling losses, T Tugendhat in admonishing Biden in his superb speech and R Stewart on Question Time? the other night.
Dept of State Air Wing Phrogs left behind
And in better news, former Corps Phrogs in use with DoS Air Wing as embassy support in-country have been abandoned....
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...HekIcFL-DIiVDM
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...HekIcFL-DIiVDM
Some small signs that the evacuation may be extended beyond the Kabul airport. Deutsche Welle:
I hope this can be implemented. I have no doubt that plans are being made for making helicopter airlifts safe and manageable. If the Bundeswehr can make it work, other forces will hopefully be able to join in.
German military sending helicopters to Kabul
The German military is sending two special forces helicopters to Kabul to assist with evacuations, the Defense Ministry said, confirming a report by Der Spiegel.
The choppers are specially designed for hostage rescues and can land in tightly packed cities.
The German Bundeswehr plans on using the helicopters to airlift small groups out of the Kabul airport and other Taliban-controlled areas in Afghanistan, Der Spiegel reported.
A German general later said that the helicopters will only be used in Kabul at the moment, not in other cities.
German military aircraft have so far evacuated more than 1,600 people since Monday.
German politicians have been calling for more evacuation flights, particularly in areas outside of Kabul.
There have been growing calls in recent days from German politicians for evacuations to be carried out in other parts of the country.
The German military is sending two special forces helicopters to Kabul to assist with evacuations, the Defense Ministry said, confirming a report by Der Spiegel.
The choppers are specially designed for hostage rescues and can land in tightly packed cities.
The German Bundeswehr plans on using the helicopters to airlift small groups out of the Kabul airport and other Taliban-controlled areas in Afghanistan, Der Spiegel reported.
A German general later said that the helicopters will only be used in Kabul at the moment, not in other cities.
German military aircraft have so far evacuated more than 1,600 people since Monday.
German politicians have been calling for more evacuation flights, particularly in areas outside of Kabul.
There have been growing calls in recent days from German politicians for evacuations to be carried out in other parts of the country.
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Edit - I'm deleting my comment on ops beyond the airport perimeter; it was merely reporting what was being speculated elsewhere by usually well-informed observers but on reflection I don't think it's wise to bring attention to such matters.
Last edited by Easy Street; 20th Aug 2021 at 16:58.
Originally Posted by John Marsh
Some small signs that the evacuation may be extended beyond the Kabul airport. Deutsche Welle:
I hope this can be implemented. I have no doubt that plans are being made for making helicopter airlifts safe and manageable. If the Bundeswehr can make it work, other forces will hopefully be able to join in.
I hope this can be implemented. I have no doubt that plans are being made for making helicopter airlifts safe and manageable. If the Bundeswehr can make it work, other forces will hopefully be able to join in.
I see Germany managed to get the beer out.. which is rightly causing some muttering.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/-ger...staff-/2338307
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/-ger...staff-/2338307
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Fuel's going to be an issue if they start doing lots of rotary ops. The heavies can come in with enough to get out again, but fuel will need to be flown in for the helicopters if they're to avoid yet another dependency on Taliban goodwill.
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Originally Posted by Easy Street
Fuel's going to be an issue if they start doing lots of rotary ops. The heavies can come in with enough to get out again, but fuel will need to be flown in for the helicopters if they're to avoid yet another dependency on Taliban goodwill.
Originally Posted by RAFEngO74to09
A few videos of German KSK H-145M
Kampfschwimmer - Kommando Spezialkräfte Marine - der Bundeswehr - YouTube
Helicopter H 145 M beim Tag der Bundeswehr in Faßberg - YouTube
Kampfschwimmer - Kommando Spezialkräfte Marine - der Bundeswehr - YouTube
Helicopter H 145 M beim Tag der Bundeswehr in Faßberg - YouTube
and close up at Airpower Zeltweg the following year
Though Hand in heart tbh too small for the tasking …like it or not better off with NH90TTH or even CH-53G/GA/GS
cheers
Just when I think the US couldn't 
this up any worse, they go and prove me wrong:
Reportedly so are the Germans.
US officials are still telling American citizens they are 'on their own' to get to the Kabul airport.
I've never been this embarrassed to be an American. It's as if this administration was trying to make Trump look good...
this up any worse, they go and prove me wrong:
British and French troops are going out into Kabul to rescue their citizens while the US sticks to the airport
Reportedly so are the Germans.
British and French troops are going out into Kabul to rescue their citizens while the US sticks to the airport
US officials are still telling American citizens they are 'on their own' to get to the Kabul airport.
I've never been this embarrassed to be an American. It's as if this administration was trying to make Trump look good...
To be perfectly honest I am surprised the Taliban are letting the evacuation happen at all, and now they are talking about bringing in helicopters and floating all about picking people up here and there as if it the situation is normal. I will be really surprised if they pull that one off. Yes it happened at the start but the Taliban were not in control then. I do hope I am wrong.
It also strikes me as crazy that one country is bringing in helicopters while another is destroying the assets they have on the ground before the evacuation is even complete, where is the logic in destroying the assets you have before the conclusion of your evacuation.
…
It also strikes me as crazy that one country is bringing in helicopters while another is destroying the assets they have on the ground before the evacuation is even complete, where is the logic in destroying the assets you have before the conclusion of your evacuation.
…
Last edited by NutLoose; 20th Aug 2021 at 20:03.
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Originally Posted by chopper2004
i have Seen their H145M LUH SOF at ILA Berlin 2018
and close up at Airpower Zeltweg the following year
Though Hand in heart tbh too small for the tasking …like it or not better off with NH90TTH or even CH-53G/GA/GS
cheers
and close up at Airpower Zeltweg the following year
Though Hand in heart tbh too small for the tasking …like it or not better off with NH90TTH or even CH-53G/GA/GS
cheers
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Originally Posted by tdracer
Just when I think the US couldn't this up any worse, they go and prove me wrong:Reportedly so are the Germans.
US officials are still telling American citizens they are 'on their own' to get to the Kabul airport.
I've never been this embarrassed to be an American. It's as if this administration was trying to make Trump look good...
this up any worse, they go and prove me wrong:Reportedly so are the Germans.US officials are still telling American citizens they are 'on their own' to get to the Kabul airport.
I've never been this embarrassed to be an American. It's as if this administration was trying to make Trump look good...
You voted for Trump, then you voted for Biden. It says so much…..
fled Kabul in a helicopter stuffed with $169million in cash and four cars
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Biden has lost it - either he has no contact with reality - or refuses to accept it. Even his own staff are contradicting him within minutes of his speech this evening…
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bid...vorced-reality
The USA hasn’t lost credibility - he obviously hasn’t been briefed on the response even in the UK Parliament, one of their closest allies.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bid...vorced-reality
The USA hasn’t lost credibility - he obviously hasn’t been briefed on the response even in the UK Parliament, one of their closest allies.
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Biden's comments on what's going on in Afghanistan have indeed been bizarre. However on the credibility issue there's only two measures which count, and they're the national security strategies and budgets of US allies and partners. Until either of those are seen to change, emotive rhetoric in Parliament and elsewhere is just that, probably for domestic consumption.
It was mostly historically illiterate rhetoric, too: as if the UK hadn't already been constrained by US strategies for 65 years, as if alliances and treaties hadn't already survived US withdrawal in disgrace from a failed nation-building project, and as if the US had never acted unilaterally on anything. Very surprising for a former PM and the chair of our Foreign Affairs committee to speak as if any of this were new. And when the Kabul shambles is over, Europe will still be reliant on the US for much of its homeland deterrence. Our politicians need to calm down on this.
It was mostly historically illiterate rhetoric, too: as if the UK hadn't already been constrained by US strategies for 65 years, as if alliances and treaties hadn't already survived US withdrawal in disgrace from a failed nation-building project, and as if the US had never acted unilaterally on anything. Very surprising for a former PM and the chair of our Foreign Affairs committee to speak as if any of this were new. And when the Kabul shambles is over, Europe will still be reliant on the US for much of its homeland deterrence. Our politicians need to calm down on this.
Last edited by Easy Street; 20th Aug 2021 at 23:03.
