The Fall of Kabul

[Ovidio]

Today, over 20 years of war, efforts, loss of life have gone to waste.
All my friends who serve in the Italian Army and Air Force, though today is a very higly regarded festivity here, were unanimously morally broke.
So do feel I myself…
Where is our western world going, my friends?
Is it possible to let all go to waste like this?
The rhetoric about human rights, democracy, freedom, equality…
Where are those who see discrimination everywhere, especially where there is none?
I feel like s…it today.
And I wasn’t even involved…

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[Flying10uk]

I would say that the "Western Allies" will find themselves in a position of having to go back into Afghanistan at some point in the future.

[RCS]

Someone on the news said it was like the fall of Saigon in 1975

[72 usmc]

Does Operation Frequent Wind ring a bell with the old boys....

[Fushigi Ojisan]

Someone on the news said it was like the fall of Saigon in 1975

Attachment 119403

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Originally Posted by RCS
Someone on the news said it was like the fall of Saigon in 1975

Amazon.com: Goodnight Saigon: The True Story of the U.S. Marines Last Days in Vietnam: 9780425224021: Henderson, Charles: Books
Excellent book on the subject.
Seems as though cannot impose freedom upon those who do not seek it.
Certain there are some there who do seek it and pray they find it. I suppose those who lost their lives falling from our aircraft truly sought freedom. Pray those who lost their lives. limbs, innocence in an effort to bring peace and a chance for freedom find peace themselves.

[Fushigi Ojisan]

Leaving a lot of stuff

Attachment 119402

[Aragorn243]

Mixed feelings about this. History told us this was going to end exactly this way no matter how long we stayed. Knowing this, I was all for turning it into a glass parking lot and being done with it but that isn't the way we do things in a civilized world. A problem when the civilized world meets the uncivilized one.

I read an expert saying this was exactly the wrong time to leave. The three month delay put it right at the peak of traditional Taliban activity. They apparently don't do squat in the winter so a few months delay would have given the Afghan military time to unify and prepare without our assistance until the spring and summer of next year. I don't know if it's accurate or not but I do know that sneaking off in the middle of the night without telling anyone isn't conducive to a smooth transition.

[Fushigi Ojisan]

Not sure if captured or surrendered Attachment 119404

[Daan Kemp]

History shows that Afghanistan doesn't change. Powers outside the area wanting either to conquer or help. British, Soviet, and now the West, went in and left, usually with considerable losses. Almost immediately it reverted to what it was. Include clandestine aid, training, etc from the West during the Soviet occupation and it becomes even more involved.
Afghanistan was one of the reasons for the downfall of the Soviet empire.