Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Omaha Steve

(99,077 posts)
Fri Jul 2, 2021, 06:56 AM Jul 2021

US hands Bagram Airfield to Afghans after nearly 20 years

Source: AP

By KATHY GANNON

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — After nearly 20 years, the U.S. military left Bagram Airfield, the epicenter of its war to oust the Taliban and hunt down the al-Qaida perpetrators of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, two U.S. officials said Friday.

The airfield was handed over to the Afghan National Security and Defense Force in its entirety, they said on condition they not be identified because they were not authorized to release the information to the media.

One of the officials also said the U.S. top commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Austin S. Miller, “still retains all the capabilities and authorities to protect the forces.”

Miller met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Friday and according to a Dari-language tweet by the presidential palace the two discussed “continued U.S. assistance and cooperation with Afghanistan, particularly in supporting the defense and security forces.”



A gate is seen at the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Friday, June 25, 2021. In 2001 the armies of the world united behind America and Bagram Air Base, barely an hours drive from the Afghan capital Kabul, was chosen as the epicenter of Operation Enduring Freedom, as the assault on the Taliban rulers was dubbed. It’s now nearly 20 years later and the last US soldier is soon to depart the base. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/taliban-afghanistan-f6da97f3bde5b50b6d029185c9eb385d

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
US hands Bagram Airfield to Afghans after nearly 20 years (Original Post) Omaha Steve Jul 2021 OP
Doesn't seem like it but it has been a LONG 20 years BumRushDaShow Jul 2021 #1
How many $billions have we dumped into the Afghan fiasco? captain queeg Jul 2021 #2
About two and a quarter trillion dollars GregariousGroundhog Jul 2021 #10
I doubt they will make it. Its a shame oldsoftie Jul 2021 #3
Sad, but it's not our problem Polybius Jul 2021 #12
Actually we really are. The UN is powerless without us. oldsoftie Jul 2021 #15
If Russians and/or Chinese step in we may have to Polybius Jul 2021 #17
Operation Enduring Freedom did not endure sanatanadharma Jul 2021 #4
Yep. Iraq ruined it all. Took our "eye off the ball" oldsoftie Jul 2021 #16
this country llashram Jul 2021 #5
No one even knows what the mission was over there IronLionZion Jul 2021 #6
The Mission McKim Jul 2021 #7
I'm glad the word finally filtered down through the ranks ... marble falls Jul 2021 #8
Taliban takes over Bagram in 3.....2.....1...... AZ8theist Jul 2021 #9
Yup, had the exact same thought. I give it a week, tops. Jedi Guy Jul 2021 #11
I feel so bad for the women who will be back under Taliban rule. Marrah_Goodman Jul 2021 #13
Merry Christmas from U.S. taxpayers Mysterian Jul 2021 #14

captain queeg

(10,036 posts)
2. How many $billions have we dumped into the Afghan fiasco?
Fri Jul 2, 2021, 08:07 AM
Jul 2021

The rethugs have always loved the military. Till now. They’ve proven their contempt for the military and the police.

GregariousGroundhog

(7,498 posts)
10. About two and a quarter trillion dollars
Fri Jul 2, 2021, 11:13 AM
Jul 2021

Per the Military Times, $433 billion from The Pentagon's base budget, $933 from congressional allocations to the war in Afghanistan, $296 billion to care for veterans, and $530 billion in interest expenses because of borrowing used to pay for the costs.

oldsoftie

(12,410 posts)
3. I doubt they will make it. Its a shame
Fri Jul 2, 2021, 08:33 AM
Jul 2021

Sorry, but some countries just cant be left to themselves. Taliban is already going back on their pledges made earlier. As expected. And the people will suffer because they have no way to stand up without us there. women will suffer the most

oldsoftie

(12,410 posts)
15. Actually we really are. The UN is powerless without us.
Fri Jul 2, 2021, 03:05 PM
Jul 2021

And few other countries will respond to a calamity. If Afghanistan falls into a terrorist training ground again, back we go. Or if we start to see a wholesale slaughter of people by the Taliban, I dont think Pres Biden will ignore it
If the US isnt the worlds policeman, the russians & Chinese will step in and fill that need. And then they'll take over whatever country it is. Which in turn puts us in a tougher spot little by little. Its one of the 3 & we're the bets option.

Polybius

(15,239 posts)
17. If Russians and/or Chinese step in we may have to
Fri Jul 2, 2021, 03:09 PM
Jul 2021

But if the Taliban is being violent against the "infidels", we need to stay out. A huge percentage of that country likes the Taliban. If it were 1 or 2%, it might be a different story. Hard to educate people who with no education that have their minds made up.

sanatanadharma

(3,639 posts)
4. Operation Enduring Freedom did not endure
Fri Jul 2, 2021, 09:10 AM
Jul 2021

Bagram Air Base ... was chosen as the epicenter of Operation Enduring Freedom

If the USA had not invaded Iraq and instead spent that money in Afghanistan, enduring freedom might have had a chance of success, but no, the PNAC pin-heads prevailed and now we have 21st century enduring crisis, death, destruction and decay, there and here.

llashram

(6,265 posts)
5. this country
Fri Jul 2, 2021, 09:47 AM
Jul 2021

will be another Vietnam. Many thousands dead and wounded, untold treasure wasted and all for what? Holding the line? Well, that line is blurred or has disappeared altogether. Hell, we even have domestic terrorists threatening death and destruction in this land for a sexual predator, conman and his grifter family. 640 million made personally by this family, Ivanka and Kushner specifically while 'advisors' and Inauguration fund custodians for THE LOSER. He's certified as a blabbering, drivelling idiot living in his gilded bunkers around the country. And millions of loser Russian operatives back this guy in their quest for racial supremacy...again. Which will never happen!!! Without a huge, bloody fight, that is...again.

Won't be picnicking like the First Battle of Bull Run either...

IronLionZion

(45,264 posts)
6. No one even knows what the mission was over there
Fri Jul 2, 2021, 09:49 AM
Jul 2021

US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan was looking a lot like Vietnam. Obama put Biden in charge of the Iraq withdrawal. Good that Biden finally ended Afghanistan too. The taliban are shitty as always, but they probably won't be as bad of a threat outside that area as ISIS was.

McKim

(2,412 posts)
7. The Mission
Fri Jul 2, 2021, 10:12 AM
Jul 2021

The Mission was to destroy any viable country that was a threat to our power in the region or a threat to the power of our allies in the Middle East.

Jedi Guy

(3,171 posts)
11. Yup, had the exact same thought. I give it a week, tops.
Fri Jul 2, 2021, 12:07 PM
Jul 2021

They'll be as giddy as kids on Christmas morning when they start rooting through all the bang-bangs and boom-booms we left behind.

Mysterian

(4,524 posts)
14. Merry Christmas from U.S. taxpayers
Fri Jul 2, 2021, 02:01 PM
Jul 2021

We could have gone in, destroyed terrorist training camps, killed terrorists, captured Bin laden, not built any bases and had the troops home for Christmas. These forever occupations never turn out well.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»US hands Bagram Airfield ...