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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRush of troops to Kabul tests Biden's withdrawal deadline
https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-middle-east-evacuations-783b4aeabe20c709feed18129c49ac1e
The Pentagon also was moving an additional 4,500 to 5,000 troops to bases in the Gulf countries of Qatar and Kuwait, including 1,000 to Qatar to speed up visa processing for Afghan translators and others who fear retribution from the Taliban for their past work with Americans, and their family members.
The remainder 3,500 to 4,000 troops from a combat brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina were preparing Friday to depart for Kuwait in very short order. Kirby said the combat troops would be a reserve force on standby for whatever mission might be required in Kabul.
The temporary buildup of troops for U.S. evacuations highlights the stunning pace of the Taliban takeover of much of the country. Fridays latest significant blow was the Taliban capture of the capital of Helmand province, where American, British and other allied NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles in the past 20 years. Hundreds of Western troops died there during the course of the war, in fighting that often succeeded in knocking back Taliban fighters locally, only to have the Taliban move back in when a Western unit rotated out.
The State Department said the embassy in Kabul will remain partially staffed and functioning, but Thursdays decision to evacuate a significant number of embassy staff and bring in the thousands of additional U.S. troops is a sign of waning confidence in the Afghan governments ability to hold off the Taliban surge. The Biden administration has not ruled out a full embassy evacuation or possibly relocating embassy operations to the Kabul airport. There are a little over 4,000 personnel still at the embassy; the State Department has not said how many are being pulled out in the next two weeks.
The Biden administration warned Taliban officials directly that the U.S. would respond if the Taliban attacked Americans during the stepped-up deployments and evacuations.
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Rush of troops to Kabul tests Biden's withdrawal deadline (Original Post)
Rustyeye77
Aug 2021
OP
I tend to listen to those who have actual perspective that informs them, and us.
BannonsLiver
Aug 2021
#6
keithbvadu2
(36,360 posts)1. 1+
Rustyeye77
(2,736 posts)2. I think I'm going to faint.
Thank you. You're the first person to give me a +1.
Usually I'm a pariah.
Bettie
(15,995 posts)4. I don't see you as a pariah
But I don't see any other way this was ever going to go.
I wish I did.
Of course, even if I did, no one cares what I think, so there's that.
I admire that you are still looking for solutions to this horrible situation, still hoping for a better outcome. I can't see one.
Rustyeye77
(2,736 posts)5. Oh thank you.
Response to Rustyeye77 (Reply #2)
BannonsLiver This message was self-deleted by its author.
keithbvadu2
(36,360 posts)3. from someone who was there (not me)
https://democraticunderground.com/100215733100
I was deployed in Afghanistan in 2013
Specifically in Kabul training and advising their Air Force .and what is happening there was inevitable, whether we left in 2002, 2010, 2013, 2018, now, 2024, 2040 or whenever and regardless if there was a Republican or Democratic POTUS we were propping this weak military up .me and the others with me use to joke about how once we left that the taliban would take over very quickly .just interacting with people from the Afghan military you could tell that they were very weak and would fold; they were very undisciplined by military standards hell, even with us there, there were so many of them always going AWOL it doesnt surprise me that they would do the same with us not there.
--------------------------------------
Earlier articles and observers from years ago mentioned how the locals would change sides in their tribal fights/wars as it became convenient for the local leaders.
I find it interesting to see all those vehicles running around. Just how much gas/diesel do they have and how efficiently can it be distributed when the ruling gov't gets overthrown and infrastructure has no real leadership? Same with water and electricity.
I was deployed in Afghanistan in 2013
Specifically in Kabul training and advising their Air Force .and what is happening there was inevitable, whether we left in 2002, 2010, 2013, 2018, now, 2024, 2040 or whenever and regardless if there was a Republican or Democratic POTUS we were propping this weak military up .me and the others with me use to joke about how once we left that the taliban would take over very quickly .just interacting with people from the Afghan military you could tell that they were very weak and would fold; they were very undisciplined by military standards hell, even with us there, there were so many of them always going AWOL it doesnt surprise me that they would do the same with us not there.
--------------------------------------
Earlier articles and observers from years ago mentioned how the locals would change sides in their tribal fights/wars as it became convenient for the local leaders.
I find it interesting to see all those vehicles running around. Just how much gas/diesel do they have and how efficiently can it be distributed when the ruling gov't gets overthrown and infrastructure has no real leadership? Same with water and electricity.
BannonsLiver
(16,161 posts)6. I tend to listen to those who have actual perspective that informs them, and us.
Emotional arguments can also be powerful, but often they are illogical.
Rustyeye77
(2,736 posts)8. Great post.