Afghanistan 2021 Onwards
LB, Vice Admiral Key is Chief of Joint Operations, so I assume is 'running the operation' means oversight from Northwood. IM(H)O, CJO is the obvious choice for a high profile purple operation. Makes me feel less old seeing a serving flag officer who is nearly the same age as me.
Is it just me that thinks it is refreshing to see the responsible VSO front and centre, and not someone more junior who is being lined up to carry the can if the operation goes tits up?
Is it just me that thinks it is refreshing to see the responsible VSO front and centre, and not someone more junior who is being lined up to carry the can if the operation goes tits up?
Jack
We have a 'leader' who's forgotten how to lead.
China must be laughing...
I have planned many a NEO and executed quite a few of them in all sorts of places. I also happened to be amongst the first in AFG in the autumn of 2001 and enjoyed Christmas dinner that year at Bagram, when it was basically nothing but mines and Soviet scrap.
Whilst some of my planning involved some out-of-the-box thinking I must confess that none of my plans started with the sudden evacuation of all military assets first, before finally turning my attention to all those pesky non-combatants left behind.
The US has in recent days managed to fly in a few thousand troops, some of whom had only just left, yet are still vastly outnumbered by the US citizens still stuck places various around Afghanistan. This is way beyond leaving your house and carelessly forgetting your wallet. This could be the prelude to the biggest loss of US citizens since, or even exceeding, the terrible events of 9/11.
Whilst some of my planning involved some out-of-the-box thinking I must confess that none of my plans started with the sudden evacuation of all military assets first, before finally turning my attention to all those pesky non-combatants left behind.
The US has in recent days managed to fly in a few thousand troops, some of whom had only just left, yet are still vastly outnumbered by the US citizens still stuck places various around Afghanistan. This is way beyond leaving your house and carelessly forgetting your wallet. This could be the prelude to the biggest loss of US citizens since, or even exceeding, the terrible events of 9/11.
I fear the run up to the Taliban deadline [sheesh! imagine that!] will be more dreadful by the day. Stone age fanatics versus a nation concerned by micro-aggressions , cultural misappropriations. and self-identification as a green wheelybin.
Thank you. About as good as it gets in a dire situation.
I fear the run up to the Taliban deadline [sheesh! imagine that!] will be more dreadful by the day. Stone age fanatics versus a nation concerned by micro-aggressions , cultural misappropriations. and self-identification as a green wheelybin.
I fear the run up to the Taliban deadline [sheesh! imagine that!] will be more dreadful by the day. Stone age fanatics versus a nation concerned by micro-aggressions , cultural misappropriations. and self-identification as a green wheelybin.
First off, as previously mentioned, there is "Fighting Season" and a 'stay home' season in Afghanistan. This administration chose to leave at the height of the 'Fighting Season' - what could possibly go wrong 
.
Second, they left the military airbase in the middle of the night last month - instead of using it as a base of operations to get the civilians out.
Third, they pulled out all the military and then moved to get the civilians - which then required them to bring the military back in. What sort of planning is that?
Several military leaders warned Biden and company that what they were doing was going to be a disaster and were ignored.
Pathetic lack of leadership and huge embarrassment to the US.
I shudder to think of what China, Russia, North Korea, and the various terrorists groups are planning after seeing this.
.Second, they left the military airbase in the middle of the night last month - instead of using it as a base of operations to get the civilians out.
Third, they pulled out all the military and then moved to get the civilians - which then required them to bring the military back in. What sort of planning is that?
Several military leaders warned Biden and company that what they were doing was going to be a disaster and were ignored.
Pathetic lack of leadership and huge embarrassment to the US.
I shudder to think of what China, Russia, North Korea, and the various terrorists groups are planning after seeing this.
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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The intelligence agencies side of the story. Worth reading in full for the explanations of the Taliban finances and PR network.
https://www.justsecurity.org/77801/c...ng-much-worse/
CIA’s Former Counterterrorism Chief for the Region: Afghanistan, Not An Intelligence Failure — Something Much Worse
While it’s certainly convenient to depict the shock and miscalculation U.S. officials claim over Afghanistan’s tragic, rapid fall to the Taliban as an intelligence failure, the reality is far worse. It’s a convenient deflection of responsibility for decisions taken owing to political and ideological considerations and provides a scapegoat for a policy decision that’s otherwise unable to offer a persuasive defense.….
…Operating in the shadows and “supporting the White House” will prevent the intelligence community from publicly defending itself. But the failure was not due to any lack of warning, but rather the hubris and political risk calculus of decision makers whose choices are too often made in their personal and political interest or with pre-committed policy choices, rather than influenced by (sometimes inconvenient) intelligence assessments and the full interests of the country.
https://www.justsecurity.org/77801/c...ng-much-worse/
CIA’s Former Counterterrorism Chief for the Region: Afghanistan, Not An Intelligence Failure — Something Much Worse
While it’s certainly convenient to depict the shock and miscalculation U.S. officials claim over Afghanistan’s tragic, rapid fall to the Taliban as an intelligence failure, the reality is far worse. It’s a convenient deflection of responsibility for decisions taken owing to political and ideological considerations and provides a scapegoat for a policy decision that’s otherwise unable to offer a persuasive defense.….
…Operating in the shadows and “supporting the White House” will prevent the intelligence community from publicly defending itself. But the failure was not due to any lack of warning, but rather the hubris and political risk calculus of decision makers whose choices are too often made in their personal and political interest or with pre-committed policy choices, rather than influenced by (sometimes inconvenient) intelligence assessments and the full interests of the country.
Extender alert
Went for stroll on Tuesday muggy Suffolk to see the alert birds (7 from Golden Gate and 1 from Bon Jovi Land )
Speaking to one enthusiast, reckoned the crews were kipping inside since arriving and getting fed and watered from base, hence alert.
Rumor mill reckons they be supporting Fairfords finest as opposed to any AT support (30 x C-17A in/out of Ramstein).
cheers
Speaking to one enthusiast, reckoned the crews were kipping inside since arriving and getting fed and watered from base, hence alert.
Rumor mill reckons they be supporting Fairfords finest as opposed to any AT support (30 x C-17A in/out of Ramstein).
cheers
D Tel today
Amid the widespread panic, chaos, and looting of Afghanistan’s capital by murderous Taliban thugs, 900 British military personnel are undertaking a desperate airlift mission. The urgent evacuation of as many as 4,000 British citizens, as well as thousands of entitled Afghan civilians who were employed by the British over the last twenty years, is well underway.
The soldiers, primarily drawn from Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade, have been supporting efforts to secure Hamid Karzai International Airport, with patrols in its dusty surroundings, and helping to pick-up an estimated and pre-identified 6,000 British and Afghan civilians to evacuate.
Approximately 1,200 people have now been evacuated since Sunday. Whilst other nation’s flights out of Kabul may appear (one German plane carried just seven evacuees, while an Australian Hercules aircraft departed with 26) the British effort is on track to successfully evacuate roughly 1,000 people per day over the coming weeks.
These figures are doubly impressive given that this week saw only 600 British troops deployed in the first wave, the bulk from the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment.
In the guts of the airport, the troops, with remnants of the diplomatic staff, headed by the steadfast British ambassador Sir Laurie Bristow, are also assisting with the processing of visa documents, biometric details, and the administrative paperwork for the evacuating Afghans.
Infantry soldiers, trained to conduct high intensity land warfare operations in complex terrain, are coming off mentally exhausting operations - including the extraction of civilians from the streets of Kabul - to help with this processing effort, before the air crew fly the civilians out under the cover of darkness due to the Taliban artillery now in Kabul.
Whilst the military and remaining diplomatic effort are working incredibly hard, they have been let down by the hurried nature of this airlift deployment. In following America’s lead on this, Westminster has turned what should have been a simple operation into a fraught quagmire.
Of all the singular events which will come to define Britain’s twenty year Afghan campaign, none will be remembered as much as the unnecessary and rushed US-led troop withdrawal. As was noted in The Telegraph yesterday, its consequences will live on for decades to come.
But our men and women on the ground, making sure those at risk of Taliban vengeance are ushered to safety, are reminding us why Britain’s military is so well regarded around the world. They are acting with courage, humility and a quiet strength - and showing up the military leadership of countries which should be contributing more to the effort. May they return home safe in the knowledge that they’ve made us proud.
Amid the widespread panic, chaos, and looting of Afghanistan’s capital by murderous Taliban thugs, 900 British military personnel are undertaking a desperate airlift mission. The urgent evacuation of as many as 4,000 British citizens, as well as thousands of entitled Afghan civilians who were employed by the British over the last twenty years, is well underway.
The soldiers, primarily drawn from Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade, have been supporting efforts to secure Hamid Karzai International Airport, with patrols in its dusty surroundings, and helping to pick-up an estimated and pre-identified 6,000 British and Afghan civilians to evacuate.
Approximately 1,200 people have now been evacuated since Sunday. Whilst other nation’s flights out of Kabul may appear (one German plane carried just seven evacuees, while an Australian Hercules aircraft departed with 26) the British effort is on track to successfully evacuate roughly 1,000 people per day over the coming weeks.
These figures are doubly impressive given that this week saw only 600 British troops deployed in the first wave, the bulk from the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment.
In the guts of the airport, the troops, with remnants of the diplomatic staff, headed by the steadfast British ambassador Sir Laurie Bristow, are also assisting with the processing of visa documents, biometric details, and the administrative paperwork for the evacuating Afghans.
Infantry soldiers, trained to conduct high intensity land warfare operations in complex terrain, are coming off mentally exhausting operations - including the extraction of civilians from the streets of Kabul - to help with this processing effort, before the air crew fly the civilians out under the cover of darkness due to the Taliban artillery now in Kabul.
Whilst the military and remaining diplomatic effort are working incredibly hard, they have been let down by the hurried nature of this airlift deployment. In following America’s lead on this, Westminster has turned what should have been a simple operation into a fraught quagmire.
Of all the singular events which will come to define Britain’s twenty year Afghan campaign, none will be remembered as much as the unnecessary and rushed US-led troop withdrawal. As was noted in The Telegraph yesterday, its consequences will live on for decades to come.
But our men and women on the ground, making sure those at risk of Taliban vengeance are ushered to safety, are reminding us why Britain’s military is so well regarded around the world. They are acting with courage, humility and a quiet strength - and showing up the military leadership of countries which should be contributing more to the effort. May they return home safe in the knowledge that they’ve made us proud.
Amen to the last sentiment
Dire situation unfolding at Kabul Airport right now - totally avoidable if Biden hadn't ordered abandonment of Bagram with all the Force Protection in place in the middle of the night a few weeks ago.
Kabul Airport now overrun by civilians and operations have been suspended.
At least one person has died after clinging to a C-17A as it took off.
Reportedly, around 800 people were allowed to get in a single C-17A yesterday (accordingly to comms monitoring).
(6) Aurora Intel on Twitter: "And from another angle https://t.co/4q4reOBcaT" / Twitter
Kabul Airport now overrun by civilians and operations have been suspended.
At least one person has died after clinging to a C-17A as it took off.
Reportedly, around 800 people were allowed to get in a single C-17A yesterday (accordingly to comms monitoring).
(6) Aurora Intel on Twitter: "And from another angle https://t.co/4q4reOBcaT" / Twitter
Last edited by AnglianAV8R; 20th Aug 2021 at 11:22.
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So Tragic, 
finally free and a bright future ahead.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...shire-58269533
finally free and a bright future ahead.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...shire-58269533
A five-year-old boy who fell to his death from a Sheffield hotel window was an Afghan refugee, police have said.
Emergency services were called to the OYO Metropolitan Hotel in Blonk Street, Sheffield, at about 14:30 BST on Wednesday.
It is reported that the child fell from a ninth-floor room where he was staying with his mother.
A fellow Afghan staying in the hotel said the boy's family only arrived in the UK 15 days ago.
The man, who worked as an interpreter for the British Army in Afghanistan, said one of his children alerted him to the boy falling and he went outside to help.He was later asked to accompany the boy's mother to hospital to translate.
He said everybody in the hotel had been left shocked by the incident.
Emergency services were called to the OYO Metropolitan Hotel in Blonk Street, Sheffield, at about 14:30 BST on Wednesday.
It is reported that the child fell from a ninth-floor room where he was staying with his mother.
A fellow Afghan staying in the hotel said the boy's family only arrived in the UK 15 days ago.
The man, who worked as an interpreter for the British Army in Afghanistan, said one of his children alerted him to the boy falling and he went outside to help.He was later asked to accompany the boy's mother to hospital to translate.
He said everybody in the hotel had been left shocked by the incident.
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They have named one of the men that fell from the c17, he was an Afghan youth team football player.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58272740
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58272740
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
USA charging for evacuation flights.
From today’s Politico London Playbook.
An absolute shocker of a story from my U.S. colleagues on POLITICO’s National Security Daily newsletter.
They report: “Even though U.S. officials tell NatSec Daily and others that evacuation flights from Kabul will be free, people trying to catch a plane in the Afghan capital say differently. One person said State Department staff were seeking large payments — up to $2,000 — from American passengers and even more from non-U.S. citizens.
When we relayed what this person told us to the State Department, a spokesperson didn’t deny that this is happening.
“U.S. law requires that evacuation assistance to private U.S. citizens or third country nationals be provided ‘on a reimbursable basis to the maximum extent practicable.’ The situation is extremely fluid, and we are working to overcome obstacles as they arise”, the spokesperson said.
From today’s Politico London Playbook.
An absolute shocker of a story from my U.S. colleagues on POLITICO’s National Security Daily newsletter.
They report: “Even though U.S. officials tell NatSec Daily and others that evacuation flights from Kabul will be free, people trying to catch a plane in the Afghan capital say differently. One person said State Department staff were seeking large payments — up to $2,000 — from American passengers and even more from non-U.S. citizens.
When we relayed what this person told us to the State Department, a spokesperson didn’t deny that this is happening.
“U.S. law requires that evacuation assistance to private U.S. citizens or third country nationals be provided ‘on a reimbursable basis to the maximum extent practicable.’ The situation is extremely fluid, and we are working to overcome obstacles as they arise”, the spokesperson said.
Drain Bamaged
USA charging for evacuation flights.
From today’s Politico London Playbook.
An absolute shocker of a story from my U.S. colleagues on POLITICO’s National Security Daily newsletter.
They report: “Even though U.S. officials tell NatSec Daily and others that evacuation flights from Kabul will be free, people trying to catch a plane in the Afghan capital say differently. One person said State Department staff were seeking large payments — up to $2,000 — from American passengers and even more from non-U.S. citizens.
When we relayed what this person told us to the State Department, a spokesperson didn’t deny that this is happening.
“U.S. law requires that evacuation assistance to private U.S. citizens or third country nationals be provided ‘on a reimbursable basis to the maximum extent practicable.’ The situation is extremely fluid, and we are working to overcome obstacles as they arise”, the spokesperson said.
From today’s Politico London Playbook.
An absolute shocker of a story from my U.S. colleagues on POLITICO’s National Security Daily newsletter.
They report: “Even though U.S. officials tell NatSec Daily and others that evacuation flights from Kabul will be free, people trying to catch a plane in the Afghan capital say differently. One person said State Department staff were seeking large payments — up to $2,000 — from American passengers and even more from non-U.S. citizens.
When we relayed what this person told us to the State Department, a spokesperson didn’t deny that this is happening.
“U.S. law requires that evacuation assistance to private U.S. citizens or third country nationals be provided ‘on a reimbursable basis to the maximum extent practicable.’ The situation is extremely fluid, and we are working to overcome obstacles as they arise”, the spokesperson said.
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Afghanistan: General David Petraeus raises prospect of Western troops returning
General David Petraeus, the US former commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, tells Sky News that "time will tell" whether the US and UK military will again have to be deployed.The ex-head of the NATO mission in Afghanistan has raised the prospect of Western forces having to return to following the country's "disastrous" takeover by the Taliban.
General David Petraeus, the US former commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, told Sky News that "time will tell" whether the US and UK military will again have to be deployed.
The Taliban's swift capture of Afghanistan, following the final pull-out of western troops, has been a "tragic, heartbreaking and quite disastrous outcome", Gen Petraeus said.
The former CIA director said he understood there had been some "pretty significant warnings" by US military and intelligence officials about the extremist group's ability to retake control of the country prior to their dramatic capture.
And Gen Petraeus also questioned US President Joe Biden's assertion that Afghan forces were "not willing to fight" to push back the Taliban's advance.
Why on earth would anyone want to deploy alongside the US again, knowing fully well what happened this time in that the US pulled the rug out from under NATO's feet and left them hanging in the breeze with no other option but to leave as well.
I'm getting fed up with the likes of Tom Tugendhat and Rory Stewart making arguments like this...
which completely ignore the loss rate being suffered by Afghan forces and civilians:
and also ignore the incorrigible corruption of the former government, which was causing those selfsame forces to go unpaid and underfed, and was making local communities fed up with being shaken down for cash and food by those who were supposedly protecting them. For men who are praised for their supposed insight to Afghanistan and its problems, their case for the West to have stayed shows a remarkable naivety.
It's also fair to say that Biden has completely misjudged his communications by blaming Afghan forces for cowardice, when he should have been blaming corrupt Afghan governance (which, together with Western failure to acknowledge it) is at the heart of the matter.
which completely ignore the loss rate being suffered by Afghan forces and civilians:
and also ignore the incorrigible corruption of the former government, which was causing those selfsame forces to go unpaid and underfed, and was making local communities fed up with being shaken down for cash and food by those who were supposedly protecting them. For men who are praised for their supposed insight to Afghanistan and its problems, their case for the West to have stayed shows a remarkable naivety.
It's also fair to say that Biden has completely misjudged his communications by blaming Afghan forces for cowardice, when he should have been blaming corrupt Afghan governance (which, together with Western failure to acknowledge it) is at the heart of the matter.
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Tom Tugendhat and Rory Stewart