Afghanistan 2021 Onwards
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mil-26Man View Post
They wouldn't have to dictate terms, he would have given them exactly what they wanted in the first place.
He did dictate/negotiate terms with them. 'We' should have been out by May 31st by his timescale.
Originally Posted by Mil-26Man View Post
They wouldn't have to dictate terms, he would have given them exactly what they wanted in the first place.
He did dictate/negotiate terms with them. 'We' should have been out by May 31st by his timescale.
Just as an aside ,it was the RAF that historically carried out the first emergency air evacuation of 586 UK and other European Diplomatic Staffs and their families from 23 December 1928 to 25 February 1929,in the light of fears for their safety if cut off by rebel forces.
From Kabul.
,
From Kabul.
,
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Easy_Street,
I have indeed read it. I note the very first section states that a comprehensive peace agreement is made of four parts which are interrelated.
The agreement covered the first two parts only. I can find no pronouncements that the Taliban adhered to or implemented any of their obligations under the second of the two parts covered by the initial agreement. Regarding the third and fourth interrelated parts, the fourth part required a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire which never occurred. The agreement as a whole is therefore null and void.
I would agree that facts on the ground, and politics at home, precluded the USA maintaining a permanent presence of troops in the ground. However what we are discussing is the plan for withdrawal, it’s steps and it’s timetable. A sensible plan would have had the firsts steps being the evacuation of US citizens and Afghan staff who wished to depart, a draw down of military to defensible airheads in secure areas where a final departure could have been made after handing over to the Afghan forces - such as Bagram.
It should be noted, therefore, that the promises made by the US government to ensure all sanctions against the Taliban and rewards against such individuals are also null and void - and indeed the current administration has stated that an6 such actions will depend upon the future actions of the Taliban.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/21/b...n-economy.html
I have indeed read it. I note the very first section states that a comprehensive peace agreement is made of four parts which are interrelated.
The agreement covered the first two parts only. I can find no pronouncements that the Taliban adhered to or implemented any of their obligations under the second of the two parts covered by the initial agreement. Regarding the third and fourth interrelated parts, the fourth part required a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire which never occurred. The agreement as a whole is therefore null and void.
I would agree that facts on the ground, and politics at home, precluded the USA maintaining a permanent presence of troops in the ground. However what we are discussing is the plan for withdrawal, it’s steps and it’s timetable. A sensible plan would have had the firsts steps being the evacuation of US citizens and Afghan staff who wished to depart, a draw down of military to defensible airheads in secure areas where a final departure could have been made after handing over to the Afghan forces - such as Bagram.
It should be noted, therefore, that the promises made by the US government to ensure all sanctions against the Taliban and rewards against such individuals are also null and void - and indeed the current administration has stated that an6 such actions will depend upon the future actions of the Taliban.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/21/b...n-economy.html
I can find no pronouncements that the Taliban adhered to or implemented any of their obligations under the second of the two parts covered by the initial agreement. Regarding the third and fourth interrelated parts, the fourth part required a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire which never occurred. The agreement as a whole is therefore null and void.
As to the intra-Afghan ceasefire. My bold above. You're wrong. It merely required that (quoting directly) "A permanent and comprehensive ceasefire will be an item on the agenda of the intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations." That those negotiations were completely unproductive is beside the point. And of course, the Taliban will soon be in a position to declare an unconditional, permanent and comprehensive ceasefire having exploited the terms of the deal to significantly strengthen their negotiating position during the last 18 months
Last edited by Easy Street; 26th Aug 2021 at 08:47.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Farthing and his pet convoy stuck outside the airport behind thousands of other desperate Afghans. Now pleading directly to the Taliban to get him to the gates.
The British forces say they can do nothing. They are not considered at risk and are not, therefore, considered a priority by the US controlling the airport.
In summary, You don’t get to jump the queue over women and children just because you have a puppy on your lap. Not sure what the Taliban response will be.
https://inews.co.uk/news/pen-farthin...t-news-1168665
https://www.independent.co.uk/world/...-b1908980.html
The British forces say they can do nothing. They are not considered at risk and are not, therefore, considered a priority by the US controlling the airport.
In summary, You don’t get to jump the queue over women and children just because you have a puppy on your lap. Not sure what the Taliban response will be.
https://inews.co.uk/news/pen-farthin...t-news-1168665
https://www.independent.co.uk/world/...-b1908980.html
Islam isn't very keen on dogs..................
I'm sorry but that's crazy. There are thousands of people's lives heavily at risk and probably about to be lost and they want to get priority for some pets (however cute they may be) over those?!
Where is he proposing to fly the menagerie to? I take it if they came to U.K. quarantine rules would apply. Finding a facility to place them wouldn’t be straight forward notwithstanding the cost.
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SUICIDE BOMB ATTACK AT KABUL AIRPORT
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ent...b092664349298d
Graphic images of the dead and wounded on the above links TWITTER LINK, beware.
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ent...b092664349298d
The Taliban say at least 13 have been killed in the suspected suicide bombing after two explosions on Thursday.
- ISIS suicide bomber reported to have been responsible for the explosion.
- UK defence source said one explosion occurred near Barons Hotel, followed by a small arms firm, while a second was reported at Abbey Gate.
- US Embassy warned all US citizens at ‘Abbey Gate, East Gate or North Gate’ to “leave immediately”.
- An emergency hospital in Kabul said 30 people arrived with injuries after the explosion. Six were dead on arrival.
- A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed the bombing has resulted in a number of US and civilian casualties and was the result of a “complex attack”.
- One US serviceman is reportedly seriously injured and US casualties are expected to rise, according to reports.
- The BBC’s Nasfiseh Kohnvard tweeted: “Those inside Kabul airport were warned of a possible rocket attack. Soldiers ask people to take cover, a source inside the airport tells me.”
- Local residents are directing traffic outside the emergency hospital so those who are injured can enter safely.
- US president Joe Biden was briefed on the explosion by an official.
- No.10 spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister has been updated on the situation at the airport in Kabul and will chair a COBR later this afternoon.”
- Two explosions went off near Baron Hotel outside the airport – the place where UK troops have been processing evacuees.
- Taliban updates death toll to at least 13 people including children.
- All US diplomatic personnel safely accounted for, but three were injured. No UK or French nationals were among the injured.
- The Russian Foreign Ministry has said a suicide attack has killed at least two people and wounded 15. This was the first official report of casualties from the explosion.
- The Taliban say at least 11 have been killed, including foreigners and children, and that members of the Taliban have been injured. US officials say there is no information about US citizens yet, and there are injuries about Afghans.
- A witness told AP news agency that several people appear to have died and others have lost limbs.
- The injured are now being attended to outside the airport by Abbey gate.
- The blast is believed to have been triggered by a suicide bomber.
- US official says initial reports are that two or three US service people were injured in the attack.
- UK defence ministry says it is working urgently to establish details.
- Defence minister Ben Wallace said: “We are working urgently to establish what has happened in Kabul and its impact on the ongoing evacuation effort.
- “Our primary concern remains the safety of our personnel, British citizens and the citizens in Afghanistan. We are in close contact with our US and other Nato allies at an operational level on the immediate response to this incident.”
- There were breaking reports of ongoing gunfire after the explosion at the airport
Last edited by NutLoose; 26th Aug 2021 at 16:25.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Evacuation flights continue. N9 word on how in-processing of evacuees has been effected - or if they have been terminated.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/afghani...on-11629976397
Not a surprise. Guessing that IS-K took advantage of the chaos of the past few weeks to strike a blow.
Black eye to the Taliban.
ANA didn't like them. Taliban doesn't like them. Northern Alliance didn't like them. The US doesn't like them.
(Between 2015 and 2018 IIRC the US took out three or four of their leaders with air strikes).
The Taliban have just been told: you haven't won yet.
Kabul Airport Explosions Kill Four U.S. Marines, at Least 60 Afghans
Kabul Airport Explosions Kill Four U.S. Marines, at Least 60 Afghans
Numerous Afghans seeking evacuation flights killed in blasts that followed warnings of possible Islamic State attack
Black eye to the Taliban.
ANA didn't like them. Taliban doesn't like them. Northern Alliance didn't like them. The US doesn't like them.
(Between 2015 and 2018 IIRC the US took out three or four of their leaders with air strikes).
The Taliban have just been told: you haven't won yet.
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US Serviceman killed, lots of scenes on CNN, those dead and wounded appear to be in a canal of sewage, one hopes Biden can sleep tonight…
RIP to all those that lost their lives or have suffered life changing injuries, Servicemen, Women, Children, Men and heck even the odd Taliban, so sad and so avoidable.
RIP to all those that lost their lives or have suffered life changing injuries, Servicemen, Women, Children, Men and heck even the odd Taliban, so sad and so avoidable.
While I share your opening sentiment, I am not sure that this was avoidable given the amount of disorganization this uncoordinated transfer of power between previous government and Taliban has been characterized by. Terrorists are a tough nut to crack when things are stable; during a chaotic time, or a period of transition, their opportunities to slip through a gap expand.
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I mean avoidable as in the timing of the evacuation during the fighting season and after the military evacuation, not before.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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Latest figures include 12 US servicemen killed and 15 injured. Many civilian casualties.
Two suicide bombers, one at the US Abbey gate, the other by the Baron hotel used by British forces. Gunmen opened up after the bombs detonated.
No indication as to why the US forces suffered such heavy casualties whilst the British troops seem, thankfully, to have escaped unscathed.
Boris has stated that UK evacuation operations are continuing as planned.
US commanding general, McKenzie, says that attacks were expected - and that more are expected to continue during the next few days.
He also, interestingly, stated that combat operations have not ceased in Afghanistan and the attackers will continue to be sought - and will be attacked as and when located.
Two suicide bombers, one at the US Abbey gate, the other by the Baron hotel used by British forces. Gunmen opened up after the bombs detonated.
No indication as to why the US forces suffered such heavy casualties whilst the British troops seem, thankfully, to have escaped unscathed.
Boris has stated that UK evacuation operations are continuing as planned.
US commanding general, McKenzie, says that attacks were expected - and that more are expected to continue during the next few days.
He also, interestingly, stated that combat operations have not ceased in Afghanistan and the attackers will continue to be sought - and will be attacked as and when located.
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https://inews.co.uk/news/real-life/p...celled-1170058
Afghanistan: Pen Farthing’s truck shot at in Kabul chaos as plane to evacuate staff and animals is cancelled
The former Royal Marine said ‘All of a sudden we heard gunshots and our vehicle was targeted’
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I didn’t think things could get much worse…. A trending tweeted announcement from US Congress I think.
The Afghan Forces and Police were left with 85 billion usd worth of kit consisting of :-
1/ Over 200 Aircraft
2/ 75,000 vehicles
3/ 600,000 small arms and ammunition
4/ 16,000 night vision goggles
5/ Body Armour
And
6/ Biometric kit complete with the biometric data of every Afghan Forces member trained in the last 20 years!
Apparently, no plans in how to retrieve any of this kit.
Words fail me! 😡
The Afghan Forces and Police were left with 85 billion usd worth of kit consisting of :-
1/ Over 200 Aircraft
2/ 75,000 vehicles
3/ 600,000 small arms and ammunition
4/ 16,000 night vision goggles
5/ Body Armour
And
6/ Biometric kit complete with the biometric data of every Afghan Forces member trained in the last 20 years!
Apparently, no plans in how to retrieve any of this kit.
Words fail me! 😡