Current Affairs Afghanistan

[BigMick]

The problem is mate, they are recruiting more, younger people in their place, and by all accounts at a faster rate than previously. The occupation is just annoying people, the pupped government they put in place relies upon explicit corruption, and alliances with warlords who's brutally makes the Taliban look like a hippies. The Taliban already de factor control large swathes of the country, and this was accepted by the occupying forces as the standard arrangement.

So it is just a massive waste of money for the UK/US. What probably needed to happen, was to completely re-adjust how the money was being spent, but it would require a fundamental re-adjustment of what had happened previously and an acknowledgement that it had failed badly.

In honesty, they would not have been able to stay another 20 years. There is a reason Trump/Biden are racing to leave and it's because the Taliban were getting increasingly confident. There would have been a match in Kabul and a defeat for the remaining troops had they stayed at some point in the future (within 20 years).

We have to shift our view that the Taliban are an isolated force with no support. They have mass support in tbe countryside, and are known for not being corrupt, their court system being untarnished with bribery (which The UK/US system upheld by their pipped government isnt) and of having 40 years of fighting against 1st Soviet then American occupying forces.

Not sure about mass support in the countryside or anywhere:



That was 2019. More recent polls suggest an acceptance of the Taliban in return for peace.





Those polls were weighted in favour of rural areas. I don't see any mass support for the Taliban there, but a weary acceptance of them in return for peace. After decades of war, who can blame them?

 

[BlueTX]

Only 4?

By my calculations you can go back as far as Jimmy Carter and Operation Cyclone.

Fair enough.

 

[Deleted member 48881]

@BlueTX

 

[PaddyJames]

Just ordered. Anyone read it?

Amazon product ASIN 1847923461

No mate.

 

[BlueTX]

@BlueTX

LOL. Friedman Units.

Urban Dictionary: friedman unit

friedman unit: A period of time equal to six-months, named in honor of New York Times columnist Tom Friedman for his repeated pronouncements that...

www.urbandictionary.com

 

[verreauxi]

To ignore or overturn the agreement made by the previous administration would invite a potential "imminent threat" possibly requiring either additional US or Allied troops or an even more hasty, ugly retreat.

Placing blame squarely on one man when there has been 20 years of miscalculation and arrogance (such as believing the allied West can impose its cultural will upon Afghanistan) over 4 US Administrations is folly.

I certainly agree Biden isn't solely to blame, but he could have definitely modified the time-line and given more thought to how to get people/troops out. It seemed very hasty and Trump's deal wasn't very solid nor in the best interest of the Afghan people; Biden could have reneged on the deal but he didn't. Much of the blame will fall on Biden, even if it's not deserved.

 

[BlueTX]

I certainly agree Biden isn't solely to blame, but he could have definitely modified the time-line and given more thought to how to get people/troops out. It seemed very hasty and Trump's deal wasn't very solid nor in the best interest of the Afghan people; Biden could have reneged on the deal but he didn't. Much of the blame will fall on Biden, even if it's not deserved.

Sure. History and nuance aren't strong suits of the media or the general American public.

Saw a report, cannot remember from whom, that said the three major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) during the period 2015-2019 devoted less than an hour of coverage to the Afghanistan war. Combined.

In far less than a Friedman unit, my guess is this will be off the radar for most of the country.

 

[verreauxi]

Fighting Like Taliban

Over the last month or so we have seen several reports out of Afghanistan registering the shock of the Americans, the Afghani government, and even the Taliban itself with the speed at which the Tal…

scholars-stage.org

That's a good read!

 

[Prevenger17]

I certainly agree Biden isn't solely to blame, but he could have definitely modified the time-line and given more thought to how to get people/troops out. It seemed very hasty and Trump's deal wasn't very solid nor in the best interest of the Afghan people; Biden could have reneged on the deal but he didn't. Much of the blame will fall on Biden, even if it's not deserved.

I think he deserves a fair chunk of it tbh. Trump's not in office anymore and Biden has overseen this disaster. If the shoe was on the other foot and this was Trump, and I have no doubt it would also be a complete catastrophe on his watch too, then I know what I'd be saying about it

 

[catcherintherye]

Not sure about mass support in the countryside or anywhere:

View attachment 136524

That was 2019. More recent polls suggest an acceptance of the Taliban in return for peace.

View attachment 136525

View attachment 136526

Those polls were weighted in favour of rural areas. I don't see any mass support for the Taliban there, but a weary acceptance of them in return for peace. After decades of war, who can blame them?

I think weary acceptance is probably fair. However in the quite binary choice they have, which is Taliban, government or Warlords the Taliban would likely win out.

People want a period of peace, and inward investment. That should be the focus for this country now.

 

[Yarrgh]

Sure. History and nuance aren't strong suits of the media or the general American public.

Saw a report, cannot remember from whom, that said the three major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) during the period 2015-2019 devoted less than an hour of coverage to the Afghanistan war. Combined.

In far less than a Friedman unit, my guess is this will be off the radar for most of the country.

As soon as the "evacuation" is complete and news crews are out, it's forgotten about.

I give it a week, maybe two. There'll be something new coming along presently. Hell more people on this forum are more annoyed about James not knowing who we play tomorrow than anything to do with Afghanistan.

 

[Del-boy]

Biden being doing a press conference now.. was asked a question by a reporter.. rambled on for 5 minutes then said what was your question again..

Leader of free world..

 

[BlueTX]

Biden being doing a press conference now.. was asked a question by a reporter.. rambled on for 5 minutes then said what was your question again..

Leader of free world..

That "question" from the AP reporter took 3 minutes to get out and touched on several aspects of the situation.

Biden could have chosen to ignore the first part and move on. He didn't.

Needless gripe...

 

[Pittsburgh Footy]

I think he deserves a fair chunk of it tbh. Trump's not in office anymore and Biden has overseen this disaster. If the shoe was on the other foot and this was Trump, and I have no doubt it would also be a complete catastrophe on his watch too, then I know what I'd be saying about it

Fair play to Biden saying "the buck stops with me" as opposed to TFG, who famously said "I don't take responsibility at all"

We can criticize how this train wreck is playing out, and indeed, many media outlets are.

It's good to be back to normal political debate after the cesspool we've had the last 5 years

 

[Deleted member 48881]

As soon as the "evacuation" is complete and news crews are out, it's forgotten about.

I give it a week, maybe two. There'll be something new coming along presently. Hell more people on this forum are more annoyed about James not knowing who we play tomorrow than anything to do with Afghanistan.

Nah. That pic with Afghans running behind the plane will be a meme for years to come.